Originality has seldom been Bollywood's forte. So it doesn't come as a surprise to learn that the concept of
Vinod 'Sins' Pande's forthcoming film 'Red Swastik', starring newbie Sherlyn Chopra in the lead, bears an
uncanny resemblance to one of Hollywood's most controversial and initially banned movie 'I Spit On Your
Grave'.
The storylines are simple – A girl is brutally attacked by a group of boys. She manages to survive. What
follows are acts of revenge. She cleanses with blood!
Not only the storylines, but even the poster designs are identical – with the barely clad girl steadfastly
holding a knife to kill. Its time Bollywood starts being original.
When lead actress Sherlyn Chopra was asked, she replied, "In today's times, even originality is undetected
plagiarism. Most films are a reflection of life. Maybe we have to improve life before we can hope to improve
our films."
As for the plagiarism charge, she said, "My role in 'Red Swastik' is not only on the lines of 'I Spit On Your
Grave', but also derives inspiration from Oscar-winning Charlize Theron's character of a murderer highway
prostitute in the critically acclaimed 'Monster'. Copy from one, it's plagiarism; copy from two, it's
research."
Saturday, December 30, 2006 13:21 IST