Director Priyadarshan is better known for his comedy films especially Hera Pheri and the Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa. He has directed over 90 films in different Indian languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu.
Even though he’s known mostly for the comedies that he’s directed, there are some films where he has proved that he is much more than just a comedy film director. Here’s a list of some of our favorite Priyadarshan films.
Oppam
Image Credit: Movie – Oppam
Priyadarshan’s Oppam was a huge success. This Malayalam film starring Mohanlal is a thriller about a blind man who has a superior sense of smell.
Aakrosh
Image Credit: Movie – Aakrosh
Aakrosh was adapted from the Hollywood film called Mississipi Burning. While the Hollywood flick starred Gene Hackman and William Defoe, the Hindi remake starred Ajay Devgn and Akshaye Khanna. The film was about the issue of Hindu fundamentalists and honor killings. It was a well-made film.
Thalavattam
Image Credit: Movie – Thalavattam
Another Malayalam film inspired and adapted from a Hollywood flick titled One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. The film is about a man named Vinod (Mohanlal) who loses his sanity after he watches the woman he loves die. He’s in a mental asylum for treatment and there he falls in love with his doctor but the lady doctor’s father is against their relationship. The film was later adapted in Hindi titled Kyon Ki, starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor.
Bumm Bumm Bole
Image Credit: Movie – Bumm Bumm Bole
Bumm Bumm Bole was adapted from the Iranian classic Children of Heaven, by Majid Majidi. The film deals with the lives of two siblings and how their world comes crashing down when only one of the two can afford to wear shoes to school. The film starred child actors Darsheel Safary and Ziyah Vastani.
Kanchivaram
Image Credit: Movie – Kanchivaram
This film was made after Priyadarshan established himself as a comedy director with films like Malamaal Weekly, Chup Chup Ke, etc. Kanchivaram proved that Priyadarshan was far more capable than what the audience thought. This film was a beautiful story of about the life of a silk weaver played by Prakash Raj.
Virasat
Image Credit: Movie – Virasat
Virasat is one of my favorites, the film starred Anil Kapoor, Tabu, and Pooja Batra. The film was a remake of a Tamil film, Thevar Magan starring Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Hassan. The film was about a son reluctantly following the footsteps of his father. Both Tabu and Anil Kapoor gave a brilliant performance in the film.
There are talks that Priyadarshan will be making two Bollywood films soon; Bachchan Singh with Abhishek Bachchan and a remake of Oppam, with Ajay Devgn. However, there has been no official confirmation so far but we sure do hope he directs these films soon!
Here’s wishing Priyadarshan A Very Happy Birthday!
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