Set for a glorious return
ANUJ KUMAR
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As "Superman Returns" makes a splash, here is a peek at the superhero's past and its Bollywood avatars.
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It was Christopher Reeve who brought more than a dash of reality to a character that is supposed to be from another planet with "Superman The Movie" in 1978.
THE MOST REMEMBERED ONE Christopher Reeve.
In Richard Donner's "Superman: The Movie", Jor-El, played by Marlon Brando, tells his son whom he has sent to live among humans on Earth, that human beings are capable of greatness. They only lack the light to show the way. As debutant Brandon Routh gets into the blue and red costume, once donned by the legendary Christopher Reeve in Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" this Friday, the mission remains the same. Nobody knows for sure what has worked for the creation of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster that catapulted a cartoon strip hero to a rage on celluloid. A few notches above the likes of Batman and Spiderman.
Published in 25 languages across 40 countries, it is said that if you take the trademark S shield to a jungle, there are 50 per cent chances that the inhabitants would recognise it. A number of television series have also been made around the `man of steel'. Some are bewitched by the unassuming nature of Clark Kent, the form Superman lives in when he is not out to save the world. Others find the dream to fly come true courtesy their superhero. Even others root for his ability to do the right thing and to be able to take on anything. Always a messiah, if Superman comics were a way to bring cheer in the post - Depression period, over the years filmmakers also tried to add layers to the character according to the prevailing social and political climate. Once he represented the American way of life, today Singer has given him a touch of Christ.
Dash of reality
After the popular animated shorts by Fleischer Studios in1941, Superman was first made into a movie in 1951. Called "Superman and the Mole Man", George Reeves played the title role. However, it was Christopher Reeve who brought more than a dash of reality to a character that is supposed to be from another planet with "Superman The Movie" in 1978.
The way he could change the body posture and modulate his voice when playing Clark and Superman, made people believe that they are two different characters.
As Clark, he would quiver and slouch down but the moment he would get his S-shield, his back would straighten and the voice got deeper. His parted hairs and big glasses made many a heart go aquiver.
THE MAN OF STEEL Actor Brandon Routh in "Superman Returns".
No wonder, he did three sequels of the movie, the last one in 1987. Reeve's real life persona and later his riveting battle with life helped the Superman to linger on people's mind when the reel form went to take a sabbatical.
However, the producers were so hooked to the franchise that despite "Superman IV"'s failure at the box office and Reeve opting out, they went on to explore Superman's family through "Supergirl".
Bollywood takes
Over the years Bollywood has also tried to use Superman's popularity within the walls of its hackneyed formulae and limited technological expertise. We have seen Dharmendra catching the bullet and Mithun Chakravarty running faster than the bullet. If B. Gupta's "Superman" starring Punit Issar as the Superman and Dharmendra as his biological father was a poor copy of the original, Shekhar Kapur successfully created the indigenous one with "Mr. India". Amitabh Bachchan, who reportedly refused the film, suddenly got so glued to the subject that he did three back-to-back super hero films - "Shahenshah", "Ajooba" and "Toofan". Only "Shahenshah" survived at the box office. Television also has its success stories in the form of "Shaktiman" et al. Tacky they may be in their portrayal, but they have been able to strike a chord with kids. Things have improved, though. Only this past week, we had Hrithik Roshan playing superhero "Krrish", with visual effects almost at par with any Hollywood sci-fi thriller. For long Indian superheroes have been dealing with local issues and rely on the emotional quotient to rake in the moolah. This is for the first time that technology is part of the build up and the hero is out to save the world. Still Roshan safely placed his film a week before "Superhero Returns". Something similar to what Subi Samuel did with "Alag" in what is turning out to be a month of superheroes.
With a relatively unknown Akshay Kapoor in the lead, "Alag" appears to be small-budget venture in the face of two biggies. But the Subi Samuel's film deserves credit for not attempting to show a superhero with super good looks.
Says Ajay Shroff of Shringar Films, which is distributing "Superman Returns" in some circuits, "We are releasing 100 prints in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Mahrashtra, which is something big for a Hollywood film." It is much more than what a Hollywood film usually opens with. "I don't think we are competing with `Krrish'. It's true that the build up of `Krrish' was somewhat on the lines of a Hollywood film and both are eventually out to save the world, both the films have their own charm and people would watch both the films. It is not a case of either of the two. As for claims of the "Krrish"'s parity in terms of technology, let "Superman..." hit the theatres, it will speak for itself," claims Shroff.
As "Superman Returns" in four versions - Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu - the audience would decide who would rule the box office, the desi or the exotic one.
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