Harish Shankar, known for his outspoken personality, is no stranger to online criticism. The director, who frequently engages with social media users, has a history of responding to both praise and critique. His upcoming film, “Mr. Bachchan,” slated for release on August 15th, has reignited discussions about his penchant for remakes.
“Mr. Bachchan,” starring Ravi Teja and Bhagyashree Borse, is a remake of the Hindi film “Raid.” Shankar has found success with previous remakes, including “Gabbar Singh” (remake of “Dabangg”) and “Gaddalakonda Ganesh” (remake of “Jigarthanda”). He is also currently remaking “Theri” as “Ustaad Bhagat Singh” with Pawan Kalyan.
This focus on remakes prompted a social media user to urge Shankar to prioritize original content. The comment read, “I request you, Sir. Better be this will be the last remake from you. Mee writing ki you can do more magic on your own. Mirapakay, Shock inka brain lone thiruguthunnay. Come back with a banger. All the best for #MrBacchan.” (This translates roughly to, “You can do more magic with your own writing.”)
Shankar’s reply reflected his characteristic confidence: “Idhi choosi nuvvu remake ani feel aithe appudu maatlaadukundhaam bro. am the most social media-friendly director.. so u can communicate any time.” (“Once you see it, then you can talk about it being a remake, bro. I am the most social media-friendly director, so you can communicate anytime.”)
Despite the online debate, “Mr. Bachchan” has garnered significant pre-release buzz. Produced by TG Vishwa Prasad under People Media Factory, the film boasts a strong technical crew, including production designer Avinash Kolla, editor Ujwal Kulkarni, and music composer Mickey J Meyer. Presented jointly by Panorama Studios and T-Series, the film’s cinematography is handled by Ayanka Bose. With audience expectations high, “Mr. Bachchan” promises to be a major summer release.