Prabhas-starrer Saaho, which released last Friday, has already grossed Rs. 200 crores worldwide according to some reports, though the film has seen a less-than-lukewarm response from critics. This opening weekend the film has also found itself in the midst of not one but two plagiarism rows. First, artist Shilo Shiv Suleman spoke out against a poster promoting the film.
The poster that started the controversy:
Saaho-s-Baby-Won-t-You-Tell-Me–Melody-With-Arresting-Visuals–1566817698-1265
Shilo created an installation for the Burning Man festival in 2014. The installation she created and the background in the Saaho poster (as well as the sets in the song Baby Wont You Tell Me from the film) seem to be directly lifted from Shilo’s installation. (Sabu Cyril is the Art Director of Saaho and Sujeeth its director.)
“I’m quite certain that it was intended for me to create this installation. I’m certain that the sand storms, the dust, the rose-pink clouds, the thunderstorms gathered around it intentionally, for me. What happens when that story gets taken without your permission? I am known by my creation. #pulseandbloom,” she wrote on Instagram.
She also found support in actor Lisa Ray, who too took to Instagram and wrote, “We need to stand up and speak up. To hold up a mirror to these makers to make them understand this is not right. It’s come to light that a big-budget film production has ripped off one of Shilo’s original creations. This is not inspiration but blatant theft. In no world, is this acceptable. The production did not contact the creator, asking her permission or offer to collaborate or offering a credit. Nothing. This is not right. I believed the Hindi film industry was evolving necessarily past stealing storylines and so-called inspiration, but the producers of Sahoo have obviously not gotten the memo when it comes to art. Here’s the thing. Creators are worthy of worship. What they produce are more lasting and precious so than all the other ‘things’ that can be taken away. Let’s hold these producers accountable for their infuriating, dishonourable action. How would you feel if a thief slid into your home and took away your most prized possessions? Your heart. Your soul. And your livelihood.”
A day later Shilo explained the artwork she created, Pulse and Bloom, for the festival, and why it is so close to her heart.
Here’s the song that features the same backdrop among others. It seems to have been ‘inspired’ by Burning Man.
Later last weekend several people that had watched Saaho tweeted to Jérôme Salle that Saaho borrows its basic plot from his 2008 French film based on a Belgian comic book, Largo Winch.
@Jerome_Salle Buddy another day and another free make of your Largo winch movie in India #Saaho. you are the real Guruji __/\__
— Sunil (@sunilguts) August 30, 2019
The director reacted to the tweet with a sarcastic, “I think I have a promising career in India.”
The 2018 Pawan Kalyan starrer Agnyaathavaasi is also ‘inspired’ from the same film. Salle spoke exclusively to Silverscreen when the Agnyaathavaasi controversy erupted. He said then, “I saw the film in Paris, I was probably the only French guy in the theatre. Not just the plot, there were many many other similarities – the third act, location, sets.”
About Saaho, Salle later tweeted:
It seems this second “freemake” of Largo Winch is as bad as the first one. So please Telugu directors, if you steal my work, at least do it properly?
And as my “Indian career” tweet was of course ironic, I’m sorry but I’m not gonna be able to help. https://t.co/DWpQJ8Vyi0
— Jérôme Salle (@Jerome_Salle) September 1, 2019
Large productions running into rows like this, for drawing ‘inspiration’ from independent and smaller artistes do not bode well for an industry that is being watched by everyone more keenly now. Now more than ever there is a need for our industries that make big-budget blockbusters and earn in crores to bring in discipline and address plagiarism rows very seriously.
Telugu cinema over the last few years has grown more vibrant and is home to several emerging interesting artistes making good commercial, popular cinema, of artistic merit. Post-Baahubali, market interest in Tollywood is only growing. By not even responding to or addressing these issues, the makers of Saaho send out a wrong message. That big-money can ‘take’ from others. Credit be damned.
