Indian movies have been known to seek inspiration from Hollywood movies. Of late, Indian networks have also started showing a tendency to adapt foreign shows, especially American, for the small-screen in India. Here are 7 Indian shows that were inspired by foreign TV series consisting of both official as well as unofficial adaptations:
“24” – 24
24 is an American crime-drama/thriller which aired on Fox network from 2001 to 2010 spanning over eight seasons. The series followed agent Jack Bauer in his various adventures with each of the 24 episodes in every season depicting an hour in one of Bauer’s action packed life. 24 earned critical acclaim and has won several accolades. A Hindi version of the show was produced after Anil Kapoor’s production house bought the rights for an adaptation in 2011. Its first season was telecast on Colors TV in 2013 and starred Anil Kapoor in the lead role as Jai Singh Rathode. The series was directed by Abhinay Deo and got fairly positive reception. The second season of the show started airing on July 23rd.
“Ek Nayi Ummeed – Roshni” – Grey’s Anatomy
Being one of the longest running series ever, Grey’s Anatomy needs no detailed introduction. The show is a medical-drama about a group of medical practitioners, detailing their personal and professional lives. It features a cast including Ellen Pompeo in the titular role of Meredith Grey and other actors like Katherine Heigl (seasons 1-6) and Patrick Dempsey (seasons 1-11). Now entering its thirteenth season, Grey’s Anatomy holds an iconic position in pop-culture. Although not an official remake, “Ek Nayi Ummeed – Roshni” shares a lot of similarities with Grey’s Anatomy and its influence could be seen in the former. Directed by Suhail Tatari and Shahab Ali Khan, the serial told the story of a doctor named Roshni played by Pooja Gaur. Ek Nayi Ummeed – Roshni ended in November, 2015 after remaining on air for five months.
“Khatron Ke Khiladi” – Fear Factor
Fear Factor is a game show which originally aired between 2001 and 2006 in NBC. Contestants in the show had to perform dangerous stunts to compete for grand prizes. Khatron Ke Khiladi is an Indian show which follows the same format of Fear Factor. It originally premiered on Sony TV but shifted to Colors TV in its later seasons under the title “Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi”. The show was hosted by big names from Bollywood like Priyanka Chopra, Rohit Shetty, and Akshay Kumar who has been the show’s poster boy in India. As of 2016, Khatron Ke Khiladi has completed seven seasons.
“Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi” – Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights was a two-part adaptation of a novel of the same name written by Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights’s plot is about a young man named Heathcliffe who falls in love with his foster sister and the consequences of their relationship. It starred Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, and Andrew Lincoln in the lead roles. The show earned mixed responses from critics upon its premiere. Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi presented a similar plot about a man named Ranveer who falls for his employer’s daughter. It was produced by Ekta Kapoor and starred Shakti Arora and Radhika Madan in the lead roles. The show ran for 446 episodes and concluded earlier this year in February.
”The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir” – The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is one of the most popular kids’ comedy ever made. The show was centered on the trouble-making twins, Zack Martin and Cody Martin, and their life at the Tipton Hotel. It ran for three season from 2005 to 2008 on Disney Channel and featured a cast including Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale, and Brenda Song, all of whom went on to become celebrated artists in the industry. The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir, an official remake of its American counterpart, was made by Disney Channel India. Child artists Namit Shah and Siddharth Thakkar played the lead roles in the show as the Indian equivalents of Zack and Cody. The show premiered in 2012 and ran till 2014 and spawned 50 episodes.
“Reporters” – The Newsroom
Created by Aaron Sorkin for HBO, The Newsroom was a political drama portraying events taking place at a fictional news channel called Atlantis Cable News which ran for three seasons. The Newsroom had an ensemble cast which was led by Jeff Daniels. It received mixed to positive response from critics but is held with high regard by a niche of fans. Reporters is an Indian serial based on The Newsroom which premiered on Sony Entertainment Television and was directed by Goldie Behl. The show was a newsroom drama which followed the lives of two reporters, Ananya Kashyap(Kritika Kamra) and Kabir Sharma(Rajeev Khandelwal). Reporters received appreciation for its fresh theme but was criticized for its lack of good content. The show ended in 2015 after 132 episodes.
“Tedi Medi Family” – The Middle
Warner Bros’ The Middle is a sitcom which showed the daily trials and tribulations faced by a working-class family, the Hecks, in a comedic manner. It has received highly positive reception from critics and viewers and the show will return with its eighth season this October. Tedi Medi Family is a Hindi adaptation of The Middle which dealt with similar plot and characters. It premiered on BIG Magic in 2015. It is directed by Neelesh Ambekar and uses the single-camera format. Tedi Medi Family starred actors like Ami Trivedi, Iqbal Azad, and Sushant Mohindru.
