Veteran lyricist, poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar headlined when he revealed that the makers of “Border 2” had approached to rewrite the songs from the first part—J.P. Dutta’s directorial blockbuster Border. But hedeclined citing “creative bankruptcy.” Adding that he never felt the need to create “nostalgia.” Two decades ago, when Javed Akhtar’s son Farhan picked up Chandra Barot’s 1976 released caper “Don” featuring Amitabh Bachchan, for the remake, Javed Akhtar voiced that if given a choice,he wouldn’t go for a remake.
Amidst a Rediff interview, Javed Akhtar said, that perhaps not. He will see what Farhan’s point is, and it is totally valid. It is a good point. But if he had to choose from his own films, would pick one that after writing it and after watching it on screen, he felt, ‘Oh god, he should have done this or that.’ So he go in for a remake rewrite it to mend that mistake. As a writer, he doesn’t have a problem with Don, so why would he want to remake it?”
Javed Akhtar’s response came following his son Farhan reasoning why he chose Don for the remake. Continuing that Don is one film from that time in his mind lends itself to being remade today. For him it is a film that back then was a little afore its time. He doesn’t say so technically—not the way it was shot, or the sets, or whatever. But the way the story was told, the language the characters spoke, the writing style there was—it was very modern even for its time. So today, when you adapt it, it fits very easily into a contemporary space.
On the other hand, Javed Akhtar wanted to remake films like Yash Chopra’s 1979 released film.Kaala Patthar (1979), Mashaal (1984), and Rahul Rawail’s Arjun (1985).
It’s his feeling they were very good films; they were very good plots and interesting characters. However, somewhere around he missed the bus as a writer, especially in the second half. The mistakes were minor, but they could have been corrected. He argued that had he taken one avenue instead of another, those films could have been much better.
Javed Akhtar remained true to his words. Even last year, when Chandra Barot died, Javed wrote on X as part of his tribute: he will always be loyal to his Don which for him, is the 1978 original, a film written by Salim-Javed. The films made later by Farhan are definitely successful and well-made, but will stay loyal to his film.”
In 2006, Farhan Akhtar remade Don with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor were also a part of the film
News Edit KV Raman
