Bollywood Remakes South Classic, Result: Disaster!

Bollywood has once again spoiled a South Indian classic. Prem Keetanu, the Hindi remake of the Malayalam hit Premalu, has opened to poor reviews, with criticism targeting its writing, humour, and overall treatment.

Premalu, starring Naslen and Mamitha Baiju and directed by Girish A.D., became one of Malayalam cinema’s most loved romantic comedies. The Hindi version stars Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Sayed and Aparshakti Khurana, with Apoorv Singh Karki directing.

Interestingly, there has been some confusion over its remake status. Several reports describe Prem Keetanu as the official Hindi adaptation of Premalu, while Veer Pahariya has publicly said that the film is an original story.

The film also had Salman Khan’s support. He attended its special screening and met the young cast, adding some star power to the release. However, that support has not translated into strong critical reception. Critics have slammed the film as bland, with the original’s magic completely missing in the remake.

Adding to the challenge, Prem Keetanu released on October 2 alongside Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam: The Conclusion. The Drishyam franchise itself began as a remake of the Malayalam original, showing how successful South-to-Bollywood adaptations can work when handled carefully.

With Prem Keetanu receiving harsh reviews and facing the Drishyam 3 wave, the film has once again raised questions about Bollywood’s approach to remaking successful South films.