By Kusumika Das
Kaalidhar Laapata is all set to release on July 4 on OTT, with Abhishek Bachchan playing the titular role. The film is the Hindi adaptation of director Madhumita Sundararaman’s critically acclaimed Tamil film Karuppu Durai (KD). Ahead of the release, in an exclusive conversation with Zoom, Madhumita opened up about what compelled her to remake the film in Hindi, the tweaks she made, and the emotional undercurrents that remain universal. Unfiltered Madhumita Sundararaman! Talking about why she chose to revisit KD in a different language, Madhumita explained that the story’s emotional depth transcends cultural boundaries. “Honestly, I always believed that while our languages and food might change, the ache of loneliness and the joy of unexpected friendship are universal,” she said. Wanting to see how her characters would adapt to a new socio-cultural backdrop, she immersed herself in the local culture. “We researched local traditions, and I even spent a few days in small towns, learning how to properly eat poha and make chai. Amitosh Nagpal, our dialogue writer, definitely played his part in bringing authenticity to the words spoken,” she added. While Kaalidhar Laapata retains the soul of KD, Madhumita emphasised that the Hindi version feels more textured and intimate. At its core, KD was about a man who discovers that his own family is willing to kill him – a dark premise. In contrast, Kaalidhar Laapata leans more heavily into emotional abandonment. “They exist on the same emotional spectrum, but the flavours are quite distinct. Both stories are deeply personal, but in their own unique ways,” she noted. A major creative shift was in the titular character’s arc. In this version, Kaalidhar is not only dealing with familial betrayal but also confronting his deteriorating health and fading memory. “That’s something we really leaned into—because, let’s be honest, we’re all terrified of forgetting. But what if, sometimes, forgetting is a strange kind of blessing? That question became central to this version,” Madhumita shared. Technically too, the film ventured into new territory. “We made a bold choice to shoot with anamorphic lenses. I’d never used them before, so it was a bit of an adventure! The way these lenses capture space and intimacy really allowed us to explore the changing dynamic between Kaalidhar and Ballu,” she said.