Movies with Inspired / Borrowed or Similar Themes - Released in 2009.
1. 3 Idiots – Based on Chetan Bahagat’s Novel “Five Point Someone”, written around a similar framework of “Munnabhai MBBS” (2003) and the sequence of sperms running towards becoming a child inspired from Woody Allen’s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex” (1972).
2. Paa – Basic Plot similar to “Jack” (1996) minus the make-up.
3. De Dana Dan – References from “Blame It on The Bellboy” (1992) & “The Towering Inferno” (1974) and “Screwed” (2000)
4. Kurbaan – Quite similar to Bollywood’s own “New York” (2009) (Read more)
5. Aao Wish Karein – Inspired from Tom Hank’s “Big” (1988)
6. London Dreams – Takes its major plot from “Amadeus” (1984)
7. All The Best – Inspired by the play “Right Bed Wrong Husband”
8. Blue – References of “Into The Blue” (2005) & “Torque” (2004)
9. Acid Factory – Entirely taken from “Unknown” (2006)
10. Do Knot Disturb – Main plot from “La Doublure” / “The Valet” (2006)(French)
11. What’s Your Raashee - Based on the same novel by eminent Gujarati writer Mr. Madhu Rye named 'Kimble Ravenswood' on which a famous Doordarshan’s serial “Mr. Yogi” was also made in 1989.
12. Dil Bole Hadippa! – Follows “She’s The Man” (2006)
13. Vaada Raha... I Promise – Based on a Russian Parable.
14. Chintuji - Inspired from “The Man Who Came To Dinner” (1942)
15. Three - Love, Lies, Betrayal – Glimpses of “A Perfect Murder” (1998) in the first half.
16. Daddy Cool – A remake of “Death At A Funeral” (2007)
17. Kaminey - On the lines of movies by Guy Ritchie & Quentin Tarantino, Vishal takes the “F” pronunciation reference from his own “Makdee” (2002) and the song “Dhan Tan Tan” is again a reworked composition of his own work in the T.V. serial “Gubbarey”.
18. Teree Sang– References of Juno (2007), Jeni Juno (2005) & Kya Kehna (2000)
19. Agyaat - On the lines of “The Blair Witch Project” (1999) and “The Thing” (1982)
20. Love Aaj Kal - References of “Zui Hao De Shi Guang” or “Three Times” (2005)
21. Luck – Basic plot inspired from “13-Tzameti” (2005) (French)
22. Paying Guests - Inspired from Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Biwi Aur Makaan” (1966).
23. Runway - Publicity Posters inspired from “Resident Evil” (2002) & Vin Diesel’s “XXX” (2002).
24. New York - Inspired Sequences from “Crash” (2004), “Rendition” (2007) and story plot similar to “Khuda Kay Liye” (2007).
25. Let's Dance - Basic storyline close to “Honey” (2003)
26. Karma - Crime Passion Reincarnation - Main plot similar to “Kudrat” (1981)
27. Detective Naani – The old lady’s detective character close to “Miss Marple” created by Agatha Christie.
28. 8x10 Tasveer – References of “The Butterfly Effect” (2004), “Flatliners” (1990), “Being John Malkovich” (1999) & publicity poster quite similar to “Instinct” (1999).
29. Ek - The Power Of One – References of “Kati Patang” (1970), “No Man Of Her Own” (1950) & “Assasins” (1995).
30. Straight – Main plot close to “40 Year Old Virgin” (2005)
31. Aloo Chaat – Uses the storyline of “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayege” (1995) with reversed genders.
32. Jai Veeru - Inspired from “Bulletproof” (1996)
33. Dhoondte Reh Jaoge – Inspired from “The Producers” (1968, 2005) & T.V. Serial “Yeh Shaadi Nahin Ho Sakti”
34. Kisse Pyaar Karoon – Based on “Saving Silverman” (2001).
35. Raaz - The Mystery Continues – Inspired sequences and characters from “The Ring” series (2002-05), “The Grudge” (2004), “The Final Destination” series (2000), “Mirrors” (2008), “Heroes” (T.V. series) & “Erin Brockovich” (2000).
36. Chandni Chowk To China – References of “Kung Fu Panda” (2008).
Real Life Inspirations
1. Coffee House – Inspired by the life and death of noted theatre activist, Safdar Hashmi, who faced his sad & controversial end in 1990.
2. Dev D – Modern take on “Devdas” with references of a famous Mobile Video Clip controversy.
3. The Stoneman Murders – Inspired from the true street killing incidents of 80s (in Mumbai).
4. Jugaad - Based on the recent Ceiling Act in Delhi which caused major destruction.
5. Firaaq – Talks about the aftermath of Gujrat Riots in 2002.
Remakes from Regional Movies
1. Kambakkht Ishq – Remake of “Pammal K. Sambandam” (Tamil)(2002)
2. Wanted – Remake of “Pokiri” (2006) already made in Telugu and Tamil,
3. Short Kut – Remake of “Udayananu Tharam” (Malyalam) (2005) which also takes references from “Bowfinger” (1999)
Above mentioned are the movies released in the year 2009, which more or less had some reel or real life inspirations behind their origin. However, a few of them did use their inspirational sources in a highly creative manner like Dev D, Raaz, Firaaq, New York, The Stoneman Murders, Love Aaj Kal, Kaminey, Wanted, Chintu Ji, All The Best, London Dreams, Paa and 3 Idiots but the rest of them just proved below average.
However, you don’t get to see the famous fun loving, jumping and falling Jackie Chan here for a change. THE KARATE KID has got a new and different Jackie, who is intelligent, calm and cool yet tough to deal with as a fighter. He is there as the Father Figure to the child who trains him how to fight both in the KUNG FU and in LIFE.