Is Ustaad Bhagat Singh Really Not a Remake of Theri?

The discussion around Ustaad Bhagat Singh has taken an interesting turn after its release, with many viewers revisiting an old debate, whether the film is truly original or heavily inspired by Atlee’s Tamil film Theri starring Vijay.

From the early stages of production, there were rumors that Pawan Kalyan‘s Ustaad Bhagat Singh directed by Harish Shankar, was a remake of Theri. However, Harish Shankar consistently denied these claims during the pre-release promotions and maintained that the film was an original story, even taking full credit for the story, screenplay, and direction during promotions.

Despite these claims, audiences are now noticing clear similarities, especially in the core conflict. Much like Theri, the film features an honest police officer taking on a powerful and corrupt political figure. The emotional backbone involving a brutal crime, the hospital confrontation scene, and the tragic loss of the hero’s wife and mother all resemble important scenes from Theri, though presented with slight variations.

Ustaad Bhagat Singh is not a scene-to-scene remake. The film introduces additional elements such as a tribal background and incorporates themes like Sanatan Dharma and a Pakistan angle to give it a different narrative flavor. These changes appear to be designed to align with the current cinematic and political landscape, as well as to suit Pawan Kalyan’s screen image.

Interestingly, some observers feel that the project should have originally started as a remake of Theri with modifications. Over time, due to delays in production and changing circumstances, the script seems to have evolved. There is also a belief that backlash from movie lovers over remake rumors may have pushed the makers to strongly project it as an original film.

However, despite these additions and changes, many argue that the core soul of Ustaad Bhagat Singh still closely resembles Theri.