When Bebo and Lolo Were South Indian Film Heroines (One Degree of Prakash Raj)

I've been enjoying all of the "Kapoor Khazana" posts, co-ordinated by Katherine at Totally Filmi,

and I've been trying to decide what to contribute that would have a connection back to the theme of my blog. I did a bit of searching to see if any of the Kapoors had ever appeared in South Indian films, but hit a dead end. Then it occurred to me that Kareena and Karisma Kapoor have been in a few remakes of South Indian hits.

Khushi (2003)

This was the very first Hindi film I ever saw in a theater. I convinced a friend to come along to the old multiplex in a dying mall, and a few moments into the film, we realized that there would not be subtitles. Fortunately, the story was fairly easy to follow, and product placement transcends languages.

I didn't realize until several years later who exaclty Kareena Kapoor was, and that this was a remake of a Tamil film starring Vijay and Jyothika (which I also enjoyed.) I do remember enjoying Kareena in this "Poo-with-a-heart" role, where she and Fardeen Khan meet-cute at college, fight, and ultimately make up. It actually wasn't a bad intro to classis Bollywood masala; there were song picturizations in exotic locales (Dallas-Fort Worth!) and young lovers brought together by destiny.

Hulchul (2004)

I watched Hulchul two summers ago, about the same time that I saw a two other Priyadarshan comedies (Hera Pheri and Chup Chup Ke.)  Of the three, Hulchul was the one that I actually enjoyed. Again, Kareena plays a headstrong college girl, who becomes her grandmother's main weapon in a factionalist feud with the Akshaye Khanna's family. 

This may not be one of Kareena's greatest roles, but I really appreciated that she played a strong female who had agency (actively participating in the feud) and a interesting character arc (as she realizes that she needs to help end the cycle of violence between the families.)

Check out bad-a## Bebo, arguing a case in her college law class in her first scene.

I was strangely fascinated by the factionalists with machetes and the Mumaith Khan item number, so when I later learned that this film was a remake of the 1991 Malayalam hit Godfather, all of the pieces fell into place.

Raja Babu (1994)

Raja Babu is a remake of a Tamil film, Raasu Kutti. I watched it on the UltraHindi youtube channel about a year ago, but sadly, I don't remember much of it (something about brain chemistry deleting any memories of David Dhawan films.) I took a quick peek at the end, and Karisma Kapoor does get to drive a horse-cart, Basanti-style, for the big finale.

Shakti: The Power (2002)

I wrote about Shakti: The Power, and its Telugu source material Antahpuram, when I watched them both in  January, 2011. I thought Soundarya was a bit better in the Telugu version, but Karisma held her own, especially with this scene when she stands up to the Nana Patekar's unhinged factionalist father:

She also gets points for being completely non-glamorous for the last third of the film:

Image pilfered from the review at the Shahrukh Is Love blog.

Finally, and most important of all, Shakti: The Power appears to be the first (and so far only) time that any of the Kapoors have been in a film with Prakash Raj: