Comparisons are inevitable when it comes to sequels or remakes, but Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 movie remains a masterpiece

A remake of a classic movie rarely matches or surpasses the original. Having said that, we feel this rule certainly does not apply to all films. Let’s take the case of the 1978 blockbuster hit ‘Don’ starring Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, and Pran and its 2006 sequel that had Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) in the lead role. Fans were divided in their allegiances when it came to SRK’s ‘Don’. While many of them wholeheartedly supported King Khan’s version, we are in favour of Bachchan’s Don, which became a cult classic after it was released. 

Now, we hear that filmmaker Farhan Akhtar is working on Don 3, and he is already receiving a lot of flak for replacing SRK with Ranveer Singh (RS). Hardcore fans are averse to the idea and cannot accept the fact that their favourite star is being replaced by Singh. In a recent interview, Akhtar explained that he ‘wanted to take a certain direction with the story, but somehow he and SRK couldn’t find common ground’. The director also said that he’s excited to have Singh on board to reprise the epic character. However, for us, whether SRK or RS or any other actor plays the part, no one can do Don like Big B. Those classic dialogues in the actor’s deep baritone voice and swashbuckling style like, “Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin namunkin hai” or “Don ka intezaar toh gyarah mulkon ki police kar rahi hai” are epic. 

There is so much to write about the original ‘Don’. How can we forget those unforgettable dialogues penned by scriptwriting duo Salim-Javed or the portrayal of memorable characters by Pran, Iftekhar, and Zeenat Aman, or songs like “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” which became an evergreen hit and is loved by music lovers even today? Legendary singer Kishore Kumar chewed a paan while recording the track as he wanted the playback to sound authentic. The original movie’s action scenes, car chases, and plot were fresh to the audience and it set the bar very high.

However, we would also consider giving the sequel a few brownie points. What cannot be denied is that SRK used his signature charm, swagger, and style to make the movie appealing and watchable. Moreover, some of the songs featured in the original ‘Don’ were recreated quite well. Hit tracks like “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” and “Arre Diwanon Mujhe Pehchano” or Asha Bhosle’s “Yeh Mera Dil” were made peppy, jazzy and energetic to keep with the times. 

Comparisons are inevitable when it comes to sequels or remakes. The original ‘Don’ was made at a time when an archetypal hero rebelling against the system and becoming a messiah to the poor greatly appealed to the audiences. While in ‘Don 2’, the characters and the backdrop have been given a glossy sheen to engage a new generation of cine-goers.

While both movies in the Don franchise are highly entertaining, it remains to be seen if Ranveer Singh’s version can touch similar heights. For us, the original is a classic and will remain our favourite pick.

(With inputs from Vishal Bheero)