Ram Gopal Varma has brought a candid perspective to the conversation around the early growth of South Indian cinema, claiming that much of its success during the 1970s and 1980s stemmed from remakes of Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic Hindi films. In a detailed interview with IndiaTV Showbiz, the filmmaker stated that all four major Southern industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam—were deeply influenced by the Bollywood superstar’s work.He specifically named actors like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, and Rajkumar as beneficiaries of this trend, noting that many of their career-defining roles were recreations of Bachchan's celebrated performances. According to him, these remakes contributed directly to their transformation into cultural icons and, eventually, near-mythical figures among fans.
Varma highlighted that during Amitabh Bachchan's five-year hiatus in the 1990s, the landscape of Indian cinema saw a shift. While Bollywood entered a period where music labels started financing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—citing Maine Pyar Kiya as a pivotal example—the South Indian industries stayed true to the mass-entertainment format, continuing to produce “masala” films modeled on Bachchan’s earlier style.
“The South never stopped making the so-called masala films,” Varma remarked, suggesting that this consistent approach was central to cementing the stardom of leading South actors. The remakes weren’t simply copies, he implied, but vehicles that allowed regional stars to become household names and, eventually, “demigods.”The director also pointed out a key difference in how filmmakers from both regions evolved. He said that Bollywood directors, particularly in the ’90s, had a more global cinematic awareness, partly due to their fluency in English and urban backgrounds. In contrast, many Southern filmmakers, according to him, were less exposed to international cinema and operated with a focus on grassroots storytelling. “They’re very close to the ground root,” he said, implying that their content remained more accessible and audience-driven.Ram Gopal Varma also recounted a striking anecdote from the time leading up to the release of Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun. He said that a producer, whom he did not identify, watched the film a few days before its release and strongly doubted its reception. According to Varma, the producer predicted that audiences would reject the film outright—not because of the actor’s performance, but due to the unconventional nature of the character, who chewed paan instead of fitting the usual six-pack-hero mold.“He was not referring to the actor,” Varma clarified. “They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes… that they can’t comprehend a hero chewing paan.” He noted that such criticism often stems from industry professionals projecting their own assumptions onto audiences, rather than engaging with the actual substance of the film.Varma’s remarks underscore a rarely acknowledged truth: while Bollywood is often criticized today for its over-reliance on remakes, the Southern industries once followed a similar trajectory. In those earlier decades, original scripts were a rarity across languages. As he put it, when a fresh concept—regardless of the language—achieved success, others quickly adopted and adapted it for their own audiences.
Varma highlighted that during Amitabh Bachchan's five-year hiatus in the 1990s, the landscape of Indian cinema saw a shift. While Bollywood entered a period where music labels started financing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—citing Maine Pyar Kiya as a pivotal example—the South Indian industries stayed true to the mass-entertainment format, continuing to produce “masala” films modeled on Bachchan’s earlier style.
“The South never stopped making the so-called masala films,” Varma remarked, suggesting that this consistent approach was central to cementing the stardom of leading South actors. The remakes weren’t simply copies, he implied, but vehicles that allowed regional stars to become household names and, eventually, “demigods.”The director also pointed out a key difference in how filmmakers from both regions evolved. He said that Bollywood directors, particularly in the ’90s, had a more global cinematic awareness, partly due to their fluency in English and urban backgrounds. In contrast, many Southern filmmakers, according to him, were less exposed to international cinema and operated with a focus on grassroots storytelling. “They’re very close to the ground root,” he said, implying that their content remained more accessible and audience-driven.Ram Gopal Varma also recounted a striking anecdote from the time leading up to the release of Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun. He said that a producer, whom he did not identify, watched the film a few days before its release and strongly doubted its reception. According to Varma, the producer predicted that audiences would reject the film outright—not because of the actor’s performance, but due to the unconventional nature of the character, who chewed paan instead of fitting the usual six-pack-hero mold.“He was not referring to the actor,” Varma clarified. “They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes… that they can’t comprehend a hero chewing paan.” He noted that such criticism often stems from industry professionals projecting their own assumptions onto audiences, rather than engaging with the actual substance of the film.Varma’s remarks underscore a rarely acknowledged truth: while Bollywood is often criticized today for its over-reliance on remakes, the Southern industries once followed a similar trajectory. In those earlier decades, original scripts were a rarity across languages. As he put it, when a fresh concept—regardless of the language—achieved success, others quickly adopted and adapted it for their own audiences.
The culture of adaptation, Varma suggests, was not a sign of creative bankruptcy but a strategic choice that shaped some of India’s biggest film legends. And while the industries have evolved, the legacy of that era continues to influence storytelling today.
