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​Bollywood films that give old stories a new soul

Sonal Khandelwal
| ETimes.in | Last updated on - Jul 17, 2025, 16:00 IST
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1/5

Page to screen

Maqbool adapts Macbeth into Mumbai’s criminal underworld, exploring power, guilt, and ambition. Vishal Bhardwaj reimagines the Scottish play with a poetic Hindi screenplay, nuanced performances, and symbolic imagery, setting Shakespeare’s themes amidst gang wars and personal betrayals.

2/5

Rustic reinvention rules

Omkara brilliantly localises Othello in a politically charged UP setting. Power, jealousy, and identity politics unfold in raw dialect and rural realism. Bhardwaj’s adaptation uses caste and honour as cultural replacements for race, making the classic feel startlingly relevant and Indian.

3/5

Classic love recoded

Qarib Qarib Singlle subtly modernises the timeless idea of destined love. Inspired by vintage romance journeys, it replaces youthful infatuation with middle-aged warmth and emotional healing. The film redefines second chances and showcases how old-school storytelling evolves in a digital dating world.

4/5

Myth meets modernity

Raavan retells the Ramayana from the antagonist’s perspective, challenging black-and-white morality. Mani Ratnam’s layered storytelling and A. R. Rahman’s haunting score reposition myth as a human drama, where love, vengeance and virtue blur intriguingly across stunning South Indian landscapes.

5/5

Epic gets edgy

Ram-Leela reinterprets Romeo and Juliet with a vibrant Gujarati backdrop, injecting raw passion and political feuds. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s visual grandeur and music amplify the drama, making Shakespeare’s tragedy pulse with new energy while staying rooted in timeless emotional conflict.

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Copyright © May 28, 2026, 05.23PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service