The influence that Forrest Gump has had on our pop-culture subconscious is undeniable. It’s left us with quotable dialogues, memorable characters, and a feel-good story for the ages. More than that, at its core, Forrest Gump is a love letter to American pop-culture. The movie follows its titular character as he drifts through key moments in history. From exposing the Watergate Scandal to inspiring John Lennon, our aloof protagonist alters the course of history plenty of times, unbeknownst to himself. All these things have made Forrest Gump a memorable tale more than a quarter-century after its release — earning the Academy Award for Best Picture along the way.
Essentially, Forrest Gump lends us the child-like lens of a kindhearted soul, through which we watch the unfolding of history. It’s this structure of the movie that makes it worthy of remakes, for different eras, and in different cultures. And this is precisely what Laal Singh Chaddha, the Bollywood reimagining of Forrest Gump, does best. The Amir Khan-starrer takes this magical formula and runs victory laps with it. Not only does it retell the classic tale for a new era, but it does so in the most Indianized fashion.
While Laal Singh Chaddha is obviously intended to cater to Indian palates, good films have a way of transcending boundaries, both national and cultural. The recent popularity of RRR is a testament to this. Laal Singh Chaddha follows in a similar vein, carrying the spirit of a movie that’s fit for audiences all over the world. Here's why you should watch Laal Singh Chaddha, the Indian remake of Forrest Gump.
A Lesson in the Tumultuous History of India
Forrest Gump summarized the key historic events from the 50s to the 80s, from Elvis Presley’s "Hound Dog" to the outbreak of AIDS. Gump’s Indian counterpart, Laal Singh Chaddha, picks up after Forrest Gump to recount India’s history after 80s. Assassinations, riots, and massacres were all too frequent during that period in India’s history. Laal Singh Chaddha is sensitive, yet, unwavering in its determination to tell the truth. The movie flips through the dark chapters of Indian history and recounts the horrors of events like the Sikh Massacre of 1984 and the Intercommunal Riots of 1992 without pulling back any punches.
While the movie excellently depicts the grand historical narrative, it also gives us a glimpse into the minds of individuals living through the tumultuous times. Religious violence was frequent enough to warrant an euphemism by Laal’s mother — whenever signs of a new conflict started brewing, Laal’s concerned mother would tell her son to remain inside his room because “malaria” was spreading throughout the country. And given the frequency of religious violence back then, Laal often found himself locked up inside his room, avoiding “malaria”.
A Faithful Homage
Amir Khan has mentioned that Forrest Gump is, per Collider, one of his favorite movies of all time. So, it shouldn’t come off as a surprise to learn that the remake is deeply rooted in the original. It carries the same spirit of unconditional kindness and hopeless optimism. Having said that, Laal Singh Chaddha reaches beyond mere imitations and does an excellent job of adding vivid Indian colors to an already existing template.
The feather remains intact in the remake’s opening scene, but the iconic box of chocolates are swapped in for gol gappas, a popular street delicacy from India. As Laal preaches, life is like a box of gol gappas, even though your belly is full, your heart keeps craving for more. The box of gol gappas aren’t just for show, though — they add to the emotional appeal of Laal’s love story later on.
It’s interesting to see brilliant Indian actors slipping into the skin of memorable Forrest Gump characters. Kareena Kapoor breathes new life and warmth to Rupa, Jenny’s eastern counterpart. The younger version of Laal is played by Ahmad Ibn Umar, who steals the show with his innocent yet all-knowing sparkle in his eyes. At the same time, Lieutenant Dan also gets a faithful conversion in the form of Mohammad, played by Manav Vij. With a few simple changes to his background, his character brings in a whole new dimension to the story, not present in the original Vietnam veteran.
The iconic running scene is sure to induce a sense of deja vu with Laal growing long hair and a magnificent beard just like his predecessor. However, one thing that easily stands out are the visuals of the movie. Shot in over a hundred different locations, Laal Singh Chaddha provides a gratifying visual tour of India, making you want more. The stunning visuals give the original movie a run for its money.
A Snapshot Of Indian Pop-Culture
A key appeal of Forrest Gump is in the way that it playfully reimagines some of the most iconic moments in American history and pop culture. Every single one of these plot points finds an apt Indian counterpart in Laal Singh Chaddha, building it into nothing less than a love letter to India.
Included in the movie are historic moments such as India’s victory of the 1983 Cricket World Cup and Susmita Sen winning the 1994 Miss Universe. While Forrest Gump gains affluence through The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Laal Singh starts an underwear company called Rupa — a real Indian innerwear brand that is universally preferred in the country. Elvis Presley is replaced in the movie by a real Indian film megastar, whose well-known signature gesture is invented by the young Laal. The movie also shows some major moments from Indian history such as Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Laal Singh Chaddha also doesn’t miss out on the characteristic Bollywood musical montage. Besides adding a distinct Indian touch to the movie, it also aids in the film’s emotional overtones and theme development. For example, Laal and Rupa’s initial acquaintance is shown through a musical montage which really drives home the characters’ childhood innocence. Songs such as Kahani also present theme-heavy lyrics about destiny, further adding to the movie’s thematic development.
Extended Character Arcs and Redemptions
A major way in which Laal Singh Chaddha sets itself apart is by extending the character arcs of the major character. The best example of this is Lieutenant Dan’s replacement, Mahommad, who has a few key changes to his background, allowing the movie to delve into some serious topics.While Lieutenant Dan is fighting on the same side as Forrest Gump, Mohammed is a Pakistani fundamentalist fighting the Indian army. His story arc is one of redemption as he learns that, sometimes, religion spreads “malaria” and returns back home to de-radicalize his country’s youth.
At the same time, Jenny’s character is allowed a character redemption in the Indian remake. While Jenny is mostly portrayed as a victim, her Indian counterpart Rupa, is shown to have more agency. At the same time, Rupa’s journey also displays her character to be much less gray than Jenny, whose moral standing is often the topic of much debate.