It is possible for screenwriters to find inspiration in plays, music, true stories, and occasionally even apps. But literature continues to be the most common source of inspiration for movie makers. Translations from books to films frequently draw harsh criticism. While reading a book can take hours and hours, a movie simply doesn’t have that luxury. As a result, significant plot points are frequently omitted due to time constraints. That’s not to say there aren’t some undiscovered treasures out there. It’s also no secret, though, that some films adapted from books completely miss the mark or take questionable liberties by casting terrible actors, altering significant plot points, and making a tonne of historical errors.
Anyone who likes to read is a movie fanatic by default. You undoubtedly enjoy films if watching a faithful adaptation of a book you adore makes you feel better. Not just the grandeur of the pages coming to life on screen, but also the magnificent art of transforming written language into a visual representation of a wide range of characters, unsaid desires, and subtexts that find meaning through body language, is what inspires you. Numerous breathtaking films have been produced in the Hindi film industry as a result of the industry’s long-standing fascination with the gripping stories found in both Indian and international literature.This list of our top book to movie adaptations is by no means exhaustive (there are MANY), nor is it a ranking of the films we believe are the most faithful to the source material. Here is a list of notable Bollywood films and television shows that are based on books in case you’re not a big reader.
1) Tere Mere Sapne
Director: Vijay Anand
Cast: Dev Anand, Mumtaz Askari and Mahesh Kaul
The Citadel by A. J. Cronin was adapted into the 1971 Hindi film Tere Mere Sapne, which was directed by Vijay Anand. The book’s main character, Dr. Andrew Manson, goes to the countryside to assist other doctors. He conducts a scoliosis study with his wife Christine, a teacher, because they are concerned about the poor sanitation conditions. Andrew’s idealistic nature quickly overcomes his circumstances, and after running into a number of problems, he realises that the only thing that will solve all of his problems is money. The Hindi movie adaptation may have slightly different settings and post-climax events, but the core story is the same and is just as entertaining to watch as the original.
2) Omkara
Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor Khan
Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, was adapted into the 2006 Hindi film Omkara. Omkara is set in a traditional Indian village, in contrast to Othello, which is set in the Venetian culture between 1500 and 1750. Othello/Omkara is the revered leader of a band of outlaws. His two devoted men were Cassio (Keshav) and Iago (Ishwar). After falling in love with Dolly/Desdemona, Omkara marries her, but later murders her due to intense jealousy and an inferiority complex. Vishal Bharadwaj is able to successfully translate the Shakespearean tragedy into an Indian context while preserving its allure, despite the setting’s year and cultural differences.
3) Aisha
Director: Rajashree Ojha
Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol and Amrita Puri
This popular Jane Austen book Emma served as the inspiration for the Bollywood movie starring Sonam Kapoor. Emma Woodhouse, who sees herself as an expert matchmaker and is always trying to move people around, is the book’s protagonist. Mr. Knightley, a friend of hers, is critical of her work. In the interim, Emma comes to realise her love for Knightley. The Delhi-based film adaptation stars Aisha (Emma) and her wealthy neighborhood-dwelling friends. Despite the film’s unfavourable reviews, it significantly raised awareness of Jane Austen in India.
4) Saawariya
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salmaan Khan and Rani Mukerji
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky was transformed into the enchanted movie Saawariya by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. A man who falls in love with a woman who later gets engaged to another man is the main character of Dostoevsky’s story, which is told in the third person. Although the film’s main plot and the story’s main plot are the same, the setting is incredibly distinctive and has its own character arcs and musical elements. The movie served to highlight Bhansali’s obvious love for Dostoevsky and White Nights despite its lacklustre box office performance.
5) Haider
Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and Tabu
Even though the plot structure of Bharadwaj’s Haider is similar to that of the Shakespearean tragedy, the director added some Indian flavour to the script, which is a welcome change of pace. The play’s spirit is still there, though. After the passing of Haider’s father, Ghazala, like Hamlet’s mother, marries his uncle Khurram. Haider debates whether Khurram killed his father for a sizable portion of the story. Kashmir’s volatile region offers a startling comparison to Hamlet’s journey, with a different but equally significant climax. Shakespeare’s works are brought to life on screen through the talent of Bharadwaj, which only serves to highlight how relevant the Elizabethan author and his wide range of issues are today.
