Sometimes when watching certain movies/ tv shows, I find that some could be remade in a way that Desi culture us involved based on what the plot entails. These are some of the ones that I’ve thought of

The Graduate (Movie,1967): In the original story, Benjamin has finished college and his parents are proud of their son and throw a party and invite their friends. Mrs. Robinson, a family friend, is drunk and asks Benjamin to drop her off one night and tries to seduce him, as she feels neglected by her husband. They keep visiting each other, putting Benjamin in an awkward. His parents suggest that he dates Elaine the Robinson’s daughter. They go on a date and he doesn’t really like Elaine at first, but then they later fall in love. He decides that he should tell her the truth about her mother and him. She gets mad and accuses him of raping her. Mr. Robinson finds out about whats happening with his wife and daughter, making her drop out of school and has her marry her ex-boyfriend Carl. Benjamin goes to the Robinson’s house to find Elaine and sees Mrs. Robinson, who tells him that he can’t do anything to stop the wedding and that she will call the police, saying that she is being robbed. He heads to Berkley, Elaine’s college, and finds out from one of Carl’s fraternity brothers that it is the day of the wedding and that it’s in Santa Barbara, California. He gets there and tries to stop the wedding, but Elaine and Carl have already kissed and exchanged vows. As Elaine sees Benji, they both run out together.

Desi version: Benji would have finished med school and his parents want him to marry Elaine. He meets her parents when they come to his party and Elaine isn’t there because she’s dorming. Almost all the same things would be happening as they did in the original plot, except that Benji’s parents get involved with the whole Mrs. Robinson scandal.

Carrie (Movie, 1976): This was Stephen King’s first book that got published. Carrie gets made fun of at school by everyone for the way she looks and dresses. Life at home is no better as her mother is super strict , forces religion on her and abuses her. One day during gym class in the locker room, Carrie experiences menstruation for the first time, and freaks out as she has no knowledge of menstruation. The girls in the locker room throw pads and tampons at her. Their PE teacher gives Chris, one of the girls, detention, and she is banned from the prom. Sue, one of the other girls who made fun of Carrie, apologizes to her and decides that her boyfriend Tommy should go with Carrie. Chris hears about this and plans a prank of dumping pigs blood on Carrie at the prom. Carrie also learns that she has telekinetic powers and tries to keep them under control. On the night of the dance, Carrie’s mom forbids her from going and begs her to stay with her and pray, and guilt trips her by cutting herself. Carrie uses her powers on her mom and goes to the dance once she sees Tommy. When they get to the dance, Carrie is surprised of how nice everybody is to her. Tommy and Carrie even get nominated as prom king and queen. Once that happens, the pigs blood is dumped on her. Everybody starts laughing at her, she starts to cry, and then uses her telekinetic powers to get back at everybody who made fun of her and destroying the town.

Desi version: Carrie could be some Pakistani-American girl at an all white high school, so she would be dressing up conservatively and her classmates would make fun of her by imitating the Desi accent and saying she’s a prude. Her and her mom would be Muslim, her mom being really extreme by not letting her do anything fun and saying that it’s haram, making her wear hijab although she would take it off when she would go to school. Her telekinetic powers could be some jinn that her mom tries to exorcise out her. When she goes to the dance, her mom tells her she is going near zinaa and that her dress is not covered enough and that she will go to hell for disrespecting her mother.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Movie, 1958): Originally a play, the story is about the Pollitt family, a wealthy family living in the South. They find out that Big Daddy, the patriarch of the family, is celebrating his birthday after being released from the hospital and being told that he is in good health. However, the rest of the family knows the truth is that he is dying of cancer and do not tell him and his wife to spare them the trouble. He has two sons, Brick and Gooper. Maggie, Brick’s wife, hears Gooper and his wife Mae talk about them inheriting the family fortune and tells Brick about this. Maggie had grown up poor most of her life before marrying Brick and their relationship is difficult as they have not slept together in a long time. His friend Skipper recently committed suicide, causing him to engage in alchoholism. He ignores the fact that his brother wants to gain the family fortune which makes Maggie angry. One evening, the whole family gathers together to admit their problems. Everybody believes that Brick’s alcoholism is a result of Skipper’s suicide.Brick tells Big Daddy that Maggie was jealous of the close friendship between Brick and Skipper because she believed they were gay and that Skipper tried to sleep with Maggie to prove her wrong. He wasn’t able to do it and he was confused. Before committing suicide, Brick tells them that Skipper admit that he was gay for him, but that he rejected him. They admit to Big Mama and Big Daddy about the cancer. He gets angry and leaves the room, but then reappears and spills his plans of dying peacefully. Maggie then says that she is pregnant to gain the family fortune. Big Mama and Daddy believe this, but Mae, Brick, and Gooper know its a lie and Maggie says she will make it true.

Desi version: The whole premise itself is a typical plot for those shows on Star Plus, Zee TV, and Sony. The Pollits would be one of those rich families that live in those fancy bungalows. The show would focus more on Maggie’s obsession with gaining the inheritance money. You would see Maggie and Mae act catty towards each other. And what Indian drama isn’t complete without the MIL hating her DIL? Or at least we would see Big Mama act suspicious and stern towards Maggie, commenting on how she was poor and should be ashamed pf herself.

Spring Awakening (2006, Musical): The was originally a play released in the 1890’s and was very controversial due to the sexual topics of rape, incest, BDSM, teen pregnancy, homosexuality, masturbation, etc. In 2006 it was adapted as a rock musical, becoming a hit on Broadway. Spring Awakening tells the story of German schoolchildren in the 1890’s experiencing puberty, discovering their sexuality while being unaware of their actions, as the adults in their lives did little to inform them about sex. Because of this, all the dangers of sex occur and it ruins their lives.

Desi version: I’m not so sure how it would be pulled off, as Desi culture is very repulsive towards sex, moreso than Western society. But it was for that reason that I thought Spring Awakening could be a possible fit. The moral of the story was that adults should tell kids about sex because they will know better of how to deal with all the possible dangers of sex. For example, if a young girl got raped, how is she going to be able to explain, being that she doeesnt know wha intercourse is and how her body is designed to be. Anyways, from what I know, musical theatre is not exactly popular in India and Bollywood would only make it worse by hiring actors between 25-40 to act ‘hip and swagged out’, modernizing it, and who knows what else. It’s understandable that actual kids would be a problem as the story is about them having sex and there aren’t really any child actors in Bollywood or any of the other Indian movie industries. It could take place in the 1800’s, since India was under Victorian rule then, which was also partially responsible for instilling prudish views about sex. I can already imagine ‘ Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise)’ being sung in Hindi There’s even a part in the original story where one of the character commits suicide for failing the final exam of the year, as education is a big value in Indian culture. Of course, there’s also the whole ‘ your actions have a major effect on the family reputation because other people will find out’ factor as well.

That’s what I’ve been able to come with so far. What are some other Western works that you think should be adapted based on Desi culture and do you agree or disagree with my ideas ?