Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 14 hrs ago
Ram Charan’s 2013 Zanjeer remake drew criticism for losing the original’s essence
A retrospective review criticises the 2013 remake of Zanjeer, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and starring Ram Charan.
The original 1973 film starred Amitabh Bachchan as police officer Vijay Khanna and helped establish his career and the “angry young man” character type.
The remake was also made in Telugu as Thoofan, with Ram Charan playing Vijay, now an assistant commissioner fighting an oil mafia.
The filmmakers updated the story for audiences of the 2010s, changing the criminal world at its centre from illicit liquor to oil.
The review says the changes weakened the original and made the women less independent, contrasting Priyanka Chopra’s Mala with Jaya Bhaduri’s character in the first film.
The remake’s reception matters because Zanjeer helped shape Indian action films, according to the review; it does not describe any next step.
The 2013 remake of Zanjeer, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and starring Ram Charan, drew criticism in an Indian Express article for losing the original film’s essence.
The article says the remake updated the story by changing the illicit liquor mafia to an oil mafia and making Vijay Khanna an assistant commissioner of police.
It criticises the remake’s portrayal of women, including its item songs and Priyanka Chopra’s character Mala.
The article contrasts Ram Charan’s performance with Amitabh Bachchan’s stoic portrayal of Vijay Khanna in the 1973 film.
The original Zanjeer helped establish Bachchan as an actor and popularised the “angry young man” archetype, the article says.
- Who
- Ram Charan starred in the remake, which was directed by Apoorva Lakhia.
- What
- The 2013 remake of Zanjeer was criticised for changes that the article says weakened the original’s essence.
- When
- The remake was released in 2013; the original film was released in 1973.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The article argues that shallow updates, the portrayal of women and the performances detracted from the original.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Zanjeer was released, starring Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay Khanna.
Apoorva Lakhia’s remake, starring Ram Charan, was released.
- Original release
- 1973
- Remake release
- 2013
- Director
- Apoorva Lakhia
- Vijay Khanna in remake
- ACP, played by Ram Charan
- Mala in remake
- Priyanka Chopra
What people are saying
You had one job!
The call girl did it. I mean, a girl called, sir.