‘Forrest Gump’ is a classic American film that has been loved by generations worldwide. Tom Hanks, arguably one of Hollywood’s most admired actors, stars as a man who sits at a bus stop telling his life story to anyone who will listen when they wait for their bus to arrive. Though considered a man unlike everyone else, Forrest Gump lives an incredible life. Now, twenty-five years later, this film is getting a Bollywood remake!
Not being very familiar with Bollywood films, I have to stop and think about how this could impact the story and the film’s overall theme and perception. Even with that said, the film’s overall story can be told in any setting, with any kind of changes made, as long as the integrity is kept intact; a new spin can only amplify the message for a new generation of people, especially on a global scale. According to Lucille Bion (konbini.com), this new Bollywood remake will feature a familiar actor and director, drawing fans to the adaptation. She writes that the film will be “directed by Advait Chandan, already known for his his movie Secret Superstar”and will “…reunite with Indian superstar Aamir Khan…who will take over Tom Hanks’ role’ (Bion). I believe this actor and director reuniting for the remake of the film will be key to its success in theaters and beyond, because the chemistry between actors and directors across multiple films creates a consistent, pleasurable experience for the audience. People are drawn to actor-and-director movies because they come to rely on their chemistry and on the film being made in a style that appeals to them.
I have seen ‘Forrest Gump’ many times and is one of my favorite films because Forrest Gump is a sweet, though not always aware of how the other characters perceive him, man who has experienced going to war in Vietnam, meeting two Presidents, running across America just because he felt like it, and falling in love with a girl who did not always make the best decisions with her life but he loved her anyway.
This film shows that being different is nothing to be feared or made fun of, and that everyone deserves to find their own Jenny or Forrest, no matter the circumstances. I believe this remake can be just as fulfilling and heartwarming as the original, as long as the director keeps the film’s spirit in mind while still making it his own.
Though I am always a bit apprehensive of remakes, I always give them a chance, and this will be no exception, should it hit theaters in the U.S. at any point. I want to see Forrest and Bubba have that same chemistry of instant friends, even if it’s not on a shrimping boat. I want to see Lieutenant Dan curse Forrest for saving him instead of leaving him to die because he cannot possibly think to live without his legs and then thank him for saving him all those years later.
And I want to see Jenny and Forrest’s love story unfold with all of the same highs and lows, applauding when they are finally together and grabbing my tissues when Jenny’s time on Earth has expired. All the emotions, from laughter to tears, have to stay intact for this new film to have the same iconic feel that could eventually be written about if another remake is made in the future.
So to Advait Chandan and Aamir Khan, I say good luck, I look forward to seeing this on the big screen soon, and “Run Forrest Run!”
