A trendsetter of sorts in its own carved path, Ghajini had set the moolah raking in at the cash registers bumping onto the coveted 100 crore club with ease. And then, a flurry of Southern remakes followed which created one record after the other. Half a dozen Southern remakes with the likes of Bodyguard, Singham, Housefull 2, Rowdy Rathore and Ready have already enfiladed six hundred crores and more in the last two years.
With the onset of another new year, Southern remakes have suddenly become the ultimate key to a blockbuster film. A year that boasts of at least 10 such tadkedaar masala pot boilers, purely entertaining in its own way, is finally underway.
We list the few of the South remakes that we can look forward to in the current year.
Thuppakki

The untitled film, remake of the Tamil Thuppakki, starring Khiladi Akshay Kumar and his new muse Sonakshi Sinha is already on floors as the cast has started shooting portions of the masala flick. A.R. Murugadoss, the conjurer has finally jumped off to create magic with the remake of his original. Yet another time post his prolific Ghajini.
Policegiri

When Tamil film Saamy was to be remade into Hindi, director K.S. Ravi Kumar decided to pack in quite a punch signing Sanjay Dutt for the lead alongside the docile Prachi Desai in Policegiri. And who other than Prakash Raj could have been as befitting as the antagonist?
Rangrezz
Priyadarshan’s take on friendship and buddy-hood, Rangrezz is the remake of the hit Tamil flick, Nadodigal and history has it that this successful franchise has already been remade in Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada too already. Featuring Jackky Bhagnani and Priya Anand this film was all set to release in January but got delayed.
Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya
Prabhu Deva who spiced up the Bollywood arena with his brilliant Wanted and Rowdy Rathore in tow, is all set to helm the director’s chair with Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya, remake of the Telugu blockbuster Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana which was also directed by him. Shruti Hassan features in the lead along with debutante Girish Kumar.
Filmy Picture

While Vidya Balan had her way through The Dirty Picture, it would be upto Riteish Deshmukh to carry off the comedy remake of Tamizh Padam, titled Filmy Picture under his shoulders as the other cast is yet to be finalized. The film was also made in Telugu as Sudigadu
Kick

The biggie of the lot, much in news due to the hype surrounding the sensational Salman Khan and his successful tryst with South Indian remakes in the past with Ready, Wanted and Bodyguard riding him to superstardom! Kick will be directed by Sajid Nadiadwala, after shirish Kunder reportedly dropped off and will be the remake of the Telugu action film with the same name. As per reports, Deepika Padukone will be seen sharing screen space with Salman in this remake.
Shortcut Romeo
The recently released trailer featuring Ameesha comeback Patel and Neil Nitin Mukesh was a rage with the grueling action set pieces that embellish the film, a remake of the Tamil Thiruttu Payale. Susi Ganeshan, who helmed the original, will also head the remake which is slated to release this April.
Ramana

A.R.Murugadoss’s Ramana is the recently signed up film, to be made in Hindi. And reports are rife that Akshay Kumar, who is slowly pacing it up with South remakes will be seen in the lead. The other cast and crew including the director is yet to be finalized. The success of Rowdy Rathore has a lot to say, right?
Pizza

The remake rights of the successful Tamil film, Pizza were recently brought by Bejoy Nambiar of Shaitan who is all set to remake the film, in his own unconventional style under his Gateway Films banner. The cast of this yet-to-be-titled film is yet to be finalized.
Along with this entire series of idli-dosa flavour lined up throughout the year, Okkadu and Kandireega are the other two films that are slated to be remade in Hindi!