This is my 2nd blog about remakes, out of a total of only 3 blogs, but I assure you I'm not obsessed with this one topic!

I found myself having to write something here though, after finding out that Aamir Khan is set to film the remake of the Telugu language movie 'Ghajini' this year. The movie itself is a remake of Christopher Nolan's modern film noir, 'Memento'.

Aamir Khan is one of the few actors in India who takes risks with his movies, and he usually comes out with something fresh every year; it's a shame, then, to see him star in a film that's been made twice before.

If that's not bad enough, Salman Khan's new movie 'God Tussi Great Ho' (set to release next month) is the Indian version of 'Bruce Almighty'. Khan reprises the role of Jim Carrey's "Bruce" character, while Amitabh Bachchan plays "God". Although both seem suited to these roles, the film itself seems a little cringeworthy.

With these 2 movies being amongst the most eagerly awaited of the year (and likely to be one amongst the highest grossers of the year), it seems nothing has changed since '07. Remakes still seem to be the way to go. As of now, I resign on this topic and just hope that Indian films - whether remakes or not - continue to entertain.

Mr Khan, currently in Germany for the Berlin Film Festival, believes he belongs in Bollywood...and nowhere else.

"There is no place for me in Hollywood or in European cinema. I would like to continue to work in India and to take the Indian cinema to the outside world," said Khan at a press conference.

Attending the festival for the world premier of 'Om Shanti Om' (which, by the way, received much applause and praise at the festival), Shahrukh reckons he could bridge the gap between eastern and western films. "I may be someone to bind Europe and India through films," he says.

Well, Shahrukh, we hope you're right because we at Bollywood Chutney love Indian films and want Bollywood-ignorant folks to know what they've been missing out on all this time!

I watched more Indian films in 2007 than I did any other year in my recent memory. What struck me as downright annoying, though, was that a lot of those I watched – and, in many cases, enjoyed – turned out to be remakes of Hollywood films.*

Off the top of my head, I can think of:

Chak De! India (remake of ‘Miracle’)
Hey Babyy (remake of ‘Three Men and A Baby’)
The Train (remake of ‘Derailed’)
Partner (remake of ‘Hitch’)
Ta Ra Rum Pum (remake of ‘Days of Thunder’)

I know, I know, Bollywood's been doing this for a while. But one fears for the Indian film industry when some of its year’s biggest hits are inspired by another source. Here’s hoping for a more original 2008.

*I've always wondered what a Bollywood version of ‘The Terminator’ would be like. Arnie being replaced by Sunil Shetty, perhaps? Shudder.