Anirban Das (DNA; February 24, 2016)

Four decades after MA Thirumugham’s Haathi Mere Saathi starring Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja proved to be a box office blockbuster, South film director Prabhu Solomon will attempt a modern-day retelling of it.

Sources say Trinity Pictures, a franchise studio of Eros International, holds the rights to remake the film with a contemporary spin. “They got in touch with Solomon to direct the film three months ago, but got his confirmation last week. The makers have a story in place, which is about loyalty and friendship. Haathi Mere Saathi is a reference point, not a scene-by-scene remake,” informs a source.

The film is expected to be a big budget affair. “The casting process will begin after locking the final script. However, the shoot will begin during monsoon. It will be shot in India and abroad, and have a lot of VFX work,” adds the source.

Ajit Thakur, CEO of Trinity Pictures, says, “We have the rights to remake the film. But it won’t exactly be a remake of Haathi Mere Saathi. It stands as a reference and inspiration for the new film. The film will go on floors this year and Prabhu Solomon has been confirmed as the director.”

Solomon says, “This film will have a fresh story with a lot more action.”

The Hawaa Hawaai director wants son Partho to write songs
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 24, 2016)


After the 2014 hit, Hawaa Hawaai, featuring Saqib Saleem and his son Partho, Amole Gupte is set to return as a director with a one-of-its-kind kiddy action film. "Our plan from the outset has been to develop film franchises and explore genres that haven't been attempted in India. Since ours was a kids' film, the first name that popped into my mind was Amol Gupte," says Ajit Thakur of Trinity Pictures, a franchise studio of Eros International, which will produce the as-yet-untitled project, adding that his team of writers is developing the script with Gupte.

"There is a large segment of a young audience that comprises of teenagers and kids but there haven't been many films that cater to them. We want to make the film on a big scale with a child detective at the centre of the story," informs Ajit, who has been working closely with Amole since October last year.

The director, who grew up on Enid Blyton classics, admits to being fascinated by the mystery and detective element in the stories as a child. "Our protagonist is supremely talented, a kind of a wonder boy who is more intelligent than intellectual. How he manages to pull the rabbit out of the hat forms the crux of the story," reveals the writer-filmmaker, adding that it's an urban film that also explores rural terrains.

So when will his magnifying glass find his detective wonder boy? "That I can only say when the genius appears before us. I don't audition children. I offer them my film in the form of workshops to evaluate if one of them can portray the character. I have met around 1,000-1,500 kids in the past and made sure that none of them miss their school because of the workshops or the shoot," says Amol, who is in the process of locking the final script.

The film, the first one to roll out of Trinity Pictures, will go on the floors during the summer vacations and will be shot entirely in India. Will Partho feature in this one as well? "I don't know but I would love to have him write the songs or compose music for us," reveals the proud father, adding that Gupte Jr was to play the young Ishaan Awasthi initially in Aamir Khan's directorial debut, Taare Zameen Par, when he was three.

"But he was too young then. There were other endorsement deals and film offers but we didn't succumb to any of them," he signs off.