William Shakespeare Adaptions in Bollywood
William Shakespeare – an English actor and writer has contributed a lot to English literature especially through his plays. His works include collaborations of approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
Some of his works include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida, All’s Well That Ends Well and more.
Today, we take a look at some of his works that have been adapted into Bollywood:
Maqbool
Maqbool
This 2003 Vishal Bhardwaj movie is based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth and stars Tabu as Nimmi (Lady Macbeth), Pankaj Kapoor as Abbaji (Duncan I of Scotland), Irfan Khan as Miya Maqbool (Macbeth), Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri.
Pankaj Kapur won a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) and a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Omkara
Omkara
This 2006 Vishal Bhardwaj directorial is based on Shakespeare’s Othello. The film starred Ajay Devgan as Omi Shukla (Othello), Kareena Kapoor Khan as Dolly Mishra (Desdemona), Konkana Sen as Indu (Emilia), Saif Ali Khan as Langda Tyagi (Iago), Vivek Oberoi as Kesu Firrangi (Cassio), Naseeruddin Shah as Bhaisaab (Duke of Venice), and Bipasha Basu as Billo Chamanbahar (Bianca).
The film won many accolades including 3 National Awards and 7 Filmfare Awards.
Haider
Haider
An adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Haider stars Tabu as Ghazala Meer (Gertrude), Shahid Kapoor as Haider (Prince Hamlet), Shraddha Kapoor as Arshia Lone (Ophelia) and Irfan Khan as Roohdarr (Ghost).
This 2014 film won five National Film Awards – Best Male Playback Singer, Best Dialogue, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, and Best Music Direction. It also won the People’s Choice Award at the Rome Film Festival.
Ram Leela & Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Ram Leela
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Both films have been dearly loved the audience once it released. They both dealt with the children of feuding falling in love with each other and then dying for the same love. Which William Shakespeare play does this remind you of?
Romeo and Juliet, is one of the most adapted plays of Shakespeare in India.
10 ml Love
10 ml Love
Director Sharat Katariya brought Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the silver screen in the form of a big Punjabi wedding. And it had some amazingly funny and clever moments.
This film deserves a mention as it is the only Indian adaptation of this play.
Which adaptation do you love the most? Tell us in the Comments below.
