Priyanka Chopra’s MADAMJI becomes victim of plagiarism

The recent news about Priyanka Chopra’s much ambitious film MADAMJI being shelved has opened a Pandora’s Box about plagiarism within the industry itself. Though plagiarism is a crime worldwide yet it is shamelessly being violated since ages. 

According to reports Priyanka Chopra’s MADAMJI was a critical look at the sudden and incredible rise of a bar dancer to a celebrated politician. The movie was to be produced by Priyanka Chopra’s under the competent direction of Madhur Bhandarkar, famous for making such movies. However after reports of Mallika Sherawat’s movie DIRTY POLITICS were releases Priyanka had to shelve the movie as its script is exceedingly borrowed from her subject.

Bollywood is a victim of such plagiarism since long. Several films in the past were announced and even their trailers were released but as the subjects were leaked these films had to be shelved. 

After the successful Munnabhai series Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi’s third installment called MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA was announced. In fact even its trailer was released along with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s EKLAVYA but when its director Raju Hirani got the news that the concept his movie about two Indian trying to bring peace in America was borrowed by Karan Johar in his Shah Rukh Khan starrer MY NAME IS KHAN, he dropped the movie. 

Likewise way back in the 50’s when the legendary filmmaker K Asif began his magnum opus MUGHAL-E-AZAM, staring Dilip Kumar, Prithivraj Kapoor and Madhubala, the story of the film got leaked and a love story with the backdrop of Mughal Empire was written in haste and released in 1953 with the title ANARKALI.

The film was directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal and based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. As per the legend Jahangir revolted against his father Akbar over his love for a common girl called ANARKALI. The movie had Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai and Mubark.

What is interesting in this case is that though ANARKALI was huge hit and had a similar plot to K.Asif’s MUGHAL-E-AZAM, butAsif sahib did not shelve his film out of fear of a debacle? 

He was confident that his film was magnum opus and had confidence in his abilities as a filmmaker. Thus despite filmmaker warning him to shelve the film K Asif went ahead and made the film. Rest is history MUGHAL-E-AZAM is still a hit while people rarely remember ANARKALI. 

In nut shell the only solution to curb plagiarism is to take it by its horn, as K Asif did, and prove our mastery over it, instead of running away from it!