When Baburao Ganpatrao Apte screamed “Utha le re baba” into that malfunctioning telephone, he didn’t just create an iconic Bollywood moment—he gave Hindi audiences a taste of Malayalam cinema’s comedic genius. The 2000 cult classic Hera Pheri that launched Akshay Kumar’s comedy career and made Paresh Rawal a household name wasn’t an original story. It was a frame-by-frame remake of the 1989 Malayalam masterpiece Ramji Rao Speaking. And the story goes even deeper.
Table of Contents
Hera Pheri Remake Family Tree
| Aspect | Original | Hindi Remake |
|---|---|---|
| Film Name | Ramji Rao Speaking | Hera Pheri |
| Release Year | 1989 | 2000 |
| Directors | Siddique-Lal (debut) | Priyadarshan |
| Lead Cast | Sai Kumar, Mukesh, Innocent | Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal |
| Language | Malayalam | Hindi |
| IMDb Rating | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Budget | Low-budget | ₹7.5 crore |
| Box Office | Commercial success | ₹21.4 crore |
From Kerala to Bollywood: The 11-Year Journey
According to Wikipedia, Ramji Rao Speaking was the directorial debut of the legendary Siddique-Lal duo in 1989. The film addressed unemployment and economic struggles in 1980s Kerala through dark comedy, striking a chord with audiences across language barriers.
Director Priyadarshan, already familiar with Malayalam cinema’s storytelling strength, waited until 2000 to remake it in Hindi. But here’s the twist—Priyadarshan himself recently revealed to the media that Hera Pheri was a “scene-by-scene, frame-by-frame” copy. He admitted, “Even its dialogues weren’t written, they were only translated.”
This wasn’t creative laziness but strategic brilliance. The Malayalam original’s script was so perfectly crafted that altering it would diminish its impact. Neeraj Vora received screenplay credit, but his job was essentially translating comedic genius from one language to another while preserving timing and context.
But Wait—There’s Another Original!
Plot twist: Even Ramji Rao Speaking wasn’t entirely original. According to multiple sources including IMDb reviews, the core plot was inspired by See The Man Run, a 1971 American TV film directed by Corey Allen. However, Siddique-Lal transformed this inspiration into something distinctly Indian, addressing local socio-economic issues while crafting comedy rooted in Malayalam cultural nuances.
This makes Hera Pheri technically a remake of a remake—though few audiences know this layered history.
The Plot That Transcended Languages
Three desperate men—unemployed youth struggling with financial crises—receive a wrong number from a kidnapper through a telephone cross-connection. Instead of alerting police, they hatch a plan to claim the ransom for themselves. What follows is a comedy of errors involving mistaken identities, botched plans, and genuine human desperation masked by humor.
Character Evolution:
- Balakrishnan (Malayalam) became Raju (Hindi) – The street-smart schemer
- Gopalakrishnan (Malayalam) became Shyam (Hindi) – The educated but jobless youth
- Mannar Mathai (Malayalam) became Baburao Apte (Hindi) – The bumbling landlord
While the Malayalam version starred Sai Kumar, Mukesh, and Innocent, the Hindi adaptation’s casting of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal proved equally magical. Kumar had reportedly “begged” Priyadarshan for the role, tired of being typecast in action films.
What Made the Original Special?
Ramji Rao Speaking received an impressive 8.5 IMDb rating—higher than many celebrated Hollywood comedies of its era. As per The Hindu’s 1989 review, critics praised Siddique-Lal’s “brilliant maiden venture” and called it a “rollicking comedy.”
The film spawned two direct sequels in Malayalam—Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995) and Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014)—focusing on Innocent’s character. Meanwhile, the Hindi version got Phir Hera Pheri (2006), which deviated significantly from the original Malayalam sequel’s storyline.
Iconic dialogue like “Kambilipothappu” (woollen blankets) from the Malayalam original became as memorable as “Utha le re baba” in Hindi—proof that great comedy translates but never loses its regional flavor. For more insights on regional cinema’s influence on Bollywood, visit TechnoSports.
The Remake Avalanche Across India
Ramji Rao Speaking’s success triggered remakes in virtually every major Indian language:
- Tamil: Arangetra Velai (1990)
- Telugu: Dhanalakshmi, I Love You (2002)
- Odia: Wrong Number (2002)
- Kannada: Trin Trin (2004)
- Bengali: Hera Pheri (2016)
- Punjabi: Gol Gappe (2023)
This pan-Indian remake phenomenon proves the Malayalam original’s universal appeal—its humor transcended regional boundaries while addressing timeless issues of unemployment, desperation, and moral compromise.
Why Hera Pheri Became More Famous
Despite being a nearly identical copy, Hera Pheri achieved greater nationwide recognition than its Malayalam predecessor. Several factors contributed:
- Star Power: Akshay Kumar’s rising fame in 2000 vs. Sai Kumar’s regional popularity in 1989
- Pan-India Reach: Hindi’s wider audience compared to Malayalam
- Timing: 2000s saw India’s economic liberalization creating urban middle-class audiences who connected with the desperation
- Dialogues: Hindi adaptation’s quotable lines became social media gold in the digital age
According to The Indian Express’s 2014 poll, Hera Pheri was voted the best Bollywood comedy of all time—not because it was original, but because Priyadarshan understood how to preserve Malayalam comedy’s essence while adding Bollywood flavor.
The Legacy Continues: Hera Pheri 3
After rejecting the sequel in 2006, Priyadarshan is finally directing Hera Pheri 3, reuniting Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty. Production begins in 2026, with the director vowing to create a script that “does justice to the first one.”
This time, however, there’s no Malayalam original to lean on—the pressure is real. Can Priyadarshan craft original comedy that matches the brilliance of Siddique-Lal’s 1989 masterpiece? Fans worldwide are waiting. Stay updated on Hera Pheri 3 developments at TechnoSports.
The Bigger Picture: South Cinema’s Bollywood Influence
Hera Pheri is just one example of Bollywood’s debt to South Indian cinema. From Bhool Bhulaiyaa (Malayalam’s Manichitrathazhu) to Bodyguard (Malayalam’s Bodyguard) to Drishyam (Malayalam’s Drishyam), countless Hindi blockbusters originated in Kerala’s film industry.
This isn’t theft—it’s cross-cultural adaptation. When done respectfully like Priyadarshan’s work, remakes introduce brilliant regional storytelling to wider audiences while respecting the original creators. The 2023 Punjabi remake Gol Gappe proves the story still resonates 34 years after Ramji Rao Speaking’s release.
FAQs
Which movie is Hera Pheri a remake of?
Hera Pheri (2000) is a frame-by-frame remake of the 1989 Malayalam comedy-thriller Ramji Rao Speaking, directed by the debut duo Siddique-Lal. Director Priyadarshan himself confirmed that the Hindi version was a scene-by-scene copy, with dialogues merely translated from Malayalam rather than written afresh. The Malayalam original even inspired the core plot from a 1971 American TV film See The Man Run, making Hera Pheri technically a remake of an adaptation.
Is Hera Pheri better than Ramji Rao Speaking?
Both films are considered classics in their respective languages, with Ramji Rao Speaking holding an 8.5 IMDb rating versus Hera Pheri’s 8.2. The Malayalam original is praised for its raw authenticity and social commentary on 1980s Kerala unemployment, while the Hindi version added Bollywood production values and created iconic performances from Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. Priyadarshan made minor changes—around 30%—to suit Hindi audiences, but most critics agree the Malayalam version’s writing and conflicts are superior. However, Hera Pheri achieved greater pan-India fame due to Hindi cinema’s wider reach.
