Inspired or copied! Bengali movie posters with uncanny resemblance to Bollywood and Hollywood hits

The so-called inspiration is not just restricted to plotlines or music; even film posters are not spared. Often this uncanny resemblance can’t be ignored. Here’s a fun list of Bengali films that drew inspiration from Bollywood and Hollywood while designing movie posters:

How much can you really do with a doorknob? Turns out, a lot! The poster of Bheetu seems to be heavily inspired by the Hollywood venture, Dream House. From the colour palette and texture to the reflection on the knob, originality, it seems, is not for the faint-hearted!

In a world of movies where remakes and adaptations are the way to go, the poster of Sesh Anka almost had us floored. That is, until, we spotted the similarity in it with that of Hollywood movie Identity. BTW, did you notice the abundance of black and red in both?

Chak De! India. One of the biggest hits of 2007. Also, an inspiration to many. Not just in the obvious way — inspiring youngsters to take up the sport of their choice — but also for the poster makers of Lorai. Well, as long as the sun shines bright on all... *wink*

There’s the meek and docile hero. And then there’s the conniving villain whose sinister presence hovers over the hero’s head. The concept isn’t new. So, it was only inevitable that the poster won’t be too original. The pictures are here. We rest our case.

A collage of different expressions on the same face? Yes, that is effective, funny and definitely strikes the right chord in a movie-obsessed country where emotions run high. So we weren’t surprised at Khoka 420’s poster. But seriously, did they even have to copy the background pop colours? Or the expressions? Aren’t we Bengalis famous for making faces?

Nope, Fukrey is not the first time this style has been employed for a film poster. Caricature has always been a favourite tool of graphic artists. But for Bawal, it seems inspired, and we intend every pun you can think of here. Apart from the similarity in the style, you also can’t miss the one in the colour palette.

Dev. D, which released in 2009, seems to have inspired not only filmmakers but also graphic artistes. The poster of 3 Kanya features two faces, merging into each other, in a manner uncannily similar to that of Dev. D. Eyes-wide-shut much?

Genies do not come out of bottles anymore, however much you rub them. But ideas do, apparently! And in this case, we are still rubbing... our eyes! On the other hand, you can always argue that recipes are meant to be copied.