Director Harish Shankar has once again confirmed that Ustaad Bhagat Singh is not a remake. During the ongoing promotions of the Pawan Kalyan starrer, the director addressed the long-standing rumors head-on.
Remake Rumors and Clarification
From the beginning, reports claimed that Ustaad Bhagat Singh is a remake of the Tamil blockbuster Theri, starring Vijay. While the makers denied this early on, a section of fans remained skeptical.
Meeting with Telugu media during the film’s promotions, Harish Shankar reiterated that Ustaad Bhagat Singh is an original script. He admitted that the persistent remake allegations hurt him, which is why he chose not to explain himself earlier.
Harish Shankar’s Credibility Argument
The director made a compelling case for his credibility. He stated that he respects other filmmakers’ work and would openly admit if he remade a film.
Harish Shankar pointed to his track record as evidence. He is the only director to use credits like “Maatalu – Maarpulu – Darshakatvam” for remake films. For Ustaad Bhagat Singh, the credits read “Kadha – Maatalu – Darshakatvam” — indicating an original story and dialogues.
A Playful Jab at Theri
On a lighter note, Harish Shankar pointed out an interesting connection going the other way. He mentioned that Vijay’s introduction scene in Theri is loosely inspired by the iconic Antakshari sequence from his own film, Gabbar Singh.
Ustaad Bhagat Singh marks the reunion of Pawan Kalyan and Harish Shankar after the massive success of Gabbar Singh.