Producer Aanand L Rai and his resident writer, co- producer Himanshu Sharma, appear to have drawn inspiration from a Southeast Asian country for their next project.
A few days ago, Rai and Sharma’s Colour Yellow Productions unveiled the trailer of their next film, Tu Yaa Main. Written by Himanshu Sharma and directed by Bejoy Nambiar, the film stars Shanaya Kapoor and Adarsh Gourav. Tu Yaa Main is set to release in theatres on 13 February.
Survival thrillers, especially creature films, enjoy strong popularity due to their high recall value. The idea of a young couple stranded in a deep swimming pool infested with a crocodile, which is later drained of water, is something Hindi cinema has not explored before. Netizens initially praised the novelty of the concept, but it did not take long for some to point out that Tu Yaa Main is inspired by the Thai film The Pool (2018). As is often the case, many were quick to label it a copy.
No Mention Of Original Writer In End Slate
Adding to the speculation was the absence of any mention of the Thai film or its original writer-director – Ping Lumpraploeng, in the teaser credits of Tu Yaa Main. Rather surprisingly, Himanshu Sharma is credited for story, while one Abhishek Arun Bandekar is credited for the screenplay and dialogues. On the surface, the story appears familiar, centering on a couple stranded in a swimming pool along with a crocodile.
Little Tweak From The Original
As is often the case, Indian filmmakers tend to tweak a few elements. The original film, starring Theeradej Wongpuapan as Day and Ratnamon Ratchiratham as Koi, is narrated from the hero’s point of view. Day is stranded in the draining pool first, and a few hours later, a crocodile dives in and then his girlfriend accidentally slips in as well. In Tu Yaa Main, it appears that the girl, played by Shanaya Kapoor, is the one initially trapped in the pool, and her boyfriend later ends up there with her as well. Maybe a female battling a female crocodile has a stronger appeal.
The Pool Makers Confirm Tu Yaa Main Being Official Remake
Since the Tu Yaa Main teaser carries no credit to the Thai film, media further asked Sukmanont whether the Indian project is an official Hindi remake of The Pool and if the Indian producers had obtained the rights? “Yes, they connect to Mono Film few years ago,” replied Sukmanont.
With Sukmanont’s clarification, it is clear that Tu Yaa Main is not a copy but an official Hindi adaptation of The Pool.
Over the years, Bollywood has leaned heavily on remakes, though not always with success. The more worrying issue is not the industry’s obsession with remakes, but how producers and filmmakers often overlook the fact that much of this successful international content is easily accessible to Indian viewers. In fact, the Hindi-dubbed version of The Pool is already available on YouTube.
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