Not just films, Indian TV shows are also imitating the West

Indian TV shows, Breaking Bad, Yudh, 24, Kumkum Bhagya, Sense and Sensibility, Ek Hasina Thi, Revenge, Comedy Nights With Kapil, The Kumars at No 42

Time and again, Bollywood has been blamed for not being able to come up with original ideas. The paucity of ideas is perhaps best reflected in films that derive their ‘inspiration' from the West. And as it turns out, our TV industry is suffering from the same scarcity. While a few original shows have made their mark, several TV productions have lifted their plotlines from international shows. But with the competition between channels heating up, it looks like TV shows would rather have high TRPs than worry about plagiarism.

The Hindi version of 24, starring Anil Kapoor, is the first adaptation of the show and its India rights were acquired from Fox and producer Howard Gordon by Anil Kapoor Films

Salil Sand, who has worked on many shows as a creative director, admits that the Indian TV industry lacks fresh ideas. "Writers here are not given the credit and importance that they deserve. When a show or a film is appreciated, its success is always attributed to the actors, directors or the producers. Rarely is the writer's role mentioned," he says. Hitlist tells you which fiction shows have been lifted from their international counterparts...

Kum Kum Bhagya
Lowdown: This show, that is currently airing on Zee TV, is apparently a copy of the TV series, Sense and Sensibility, which is, in turn, based on the famous Jane Austen novel of the same name. The show revolves around a family where a lady dreams about her two daughters leading happily married lives.

Kumkum Bhagya

Sense and Sensibility

Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi
Lowdown: As the name suggests, this show is essentially about a budding romance. It is said to be a copy of the TV series, Wuthering Heights, and is based on a book of the same name. It will be aired on Colors. The show tells the story of a servant boy who falls in love with a rich girl - his master's daughter.

Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi

Wuthering Heights

Yudh
Lowdown: This show, to be aired on Sony, has Big B playing the lead and Anurag Kashyap as series director. The show is apparently a copy of the Breaking Bad. It is about Yudhisthir Skarwar, an elite businessman who is caught in an emotional battle with his family even as he battles his rivals and health issues.

Yudh

Breaking Bad

Ek Hasina Thi
Lowdown: This show is currently aired on Star TV and it's said to be a copy of the American prime-time TV series, Revenge. Ek Hasina Thi is a suspense thriller based in Kolkata, but it's being shot in Mumbai. It it stars actors such as Sanjeeda Sheikh, Bhuvnesh Mann and Vatsal Seth in lead roles.

Ek Hasina Thi

Revenge

Comedy Nights with Kapil
Lowdown: Currently aired on Colors, Comedy Nights with Kapil is a copy of the famous British television show, The Kumars at No.42. An overwhelmingly popular show, it gave Kapil Sharma a big break and made him a star. Sharma has won awards and a great deal of recognition thanks to this highly rated show.

Comedy Nights With Kapil

The Kumars at No.42