With the release of Nivin Pauly’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, director Girish AD has just completed a unique record of having five back-to-back superhits.
The newly-released film has already collected upwards of ₹60 crore in the opening weekend and is well on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year. His earlier films too have generate a lot of popularity outside of Kerala, with his film Premalu turning into a big success in the two Telugu-speaking states, a unique feat for a Malayalam film.
What contributed just as much to the film’s success was the way it handled the mood and the sights of a city like Hyderabad. But can a director with so many idiosyncrasies in his filmmaking, ever remake his own film into another language? Similarly, will the jokes and the one-liners Girish has become such an expert at writing in films, translate well into another language, even if it’s being made by another director?
“A film is like a fingerprint,” says Girish in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India. One of his most successful films, Premalu, is getting a Hindi remake in Prem Keetanu, starring Veer Pahariya. The film will be released in theatres on October 2.
“I do not think anyone can remake or recreate the style of another director. In my case, I can tell that a film is made by a director like Venu Nagavalli in just one minute, even though I may not be able to explain why I’m able to make out that film was made by a director like him. I also believe that both a good director and a bad director will have their own signature.”
He believes that he himself maybe able to remake his films into another language, but that might not be the case with another director. In terms of remakes, he feels it’s a needless exercise to replicate one’s style. “Everyone should try to make films from within their own style and signatures,” he says.
“Quentin Tarantino, in that sense, might have been the most copied director in the planet. But when I see someone trying to imitate Tarantino’s style, I wonder why they do it so superficially. Just by copying a shot that he uses often or just by using a shot of someone’s feet, why do they feel they’re creating his same style? Are you watching his films as singular shots without understanding it in its entirety?" he muses.
"It’s the director’s personality and that’s why he can make films that look like that. Someone else will not be able to create that. But the good thing is, you too have a signature and can always try to take the effort to find it.”
Girish's other films include Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, Super Sharanya and I Am Kathalan.