The Big Bull, Scam 1992 and other 'Twin' projects with similar plots

The Big Bull and Scam 1992 are 'Twin' projects telling the same story but with a different approach but they aren't the first and the only ones.

Twin films is a concept that is not much known in India even though it's been done. With the release of Big Bull tomorrow and the conversation of its comparison with Scam 1992, let's deep dive into this concept further. The Big Bull and Scam 1992 are what you call 'Twin' projects. Meaning both share the same, or very similar, plot produced or released at the same time or some time apart by two different film studios. This is something that has already been seen earlier we just didn't know the right technical term for it. These 'Twin' projects are done all the time whether on home turf or even across the pond. The projects can share the same plot or the same story to tell but their approach or treatment to it differ from each other.

Here are some examples of this to get it more clear in our heads:

Jobs (2013) and Steve Jobs (2015)

Both tell you the story about Steve Jobs but in a completely different way. Jobs with Ashton Kutcher was more of a biopic while Steve Jobs with Michael Fassbender was a complex fictional character study.

The Truman Show (1998) and EdTV (1999)

Both the films were based on the understanding of reality television in the 2000s. But Truman talks about the nature of our existence while EdTV talks about the nature of media.

The Loudest Voice (2019) and Bombshell (2019)

Both focus on telling the story of what happened to Fox News-head Roger Ailes’ toxic behavior and the sexually harassing work culture in the company. While The Loudest Voice was a limited series and focused more on the man the film Bombshell was more from the perspective of the three women who come forward to bring him down.

Friends With Benefits (2011) and No Strings Attached (2011)

With six months apart from each other both the films tell the story of two people involved with each other but only to fool around with and strictly no relationship. But while Friends with benefits they are good friends while in No strings attached they just know each other.

The Jungle Book (2016) and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)

Both of the films are actually remade of the cartoons. They both take on motion capture, digitally realistic take on the animal characters. But while The Jungle book remains to be above the surface Mowgli digs deep into the complexes of its characters and is dark.

Phullu (2017) and Pad Man (2018)

Both films are inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, the inventor of the low-cost sanitary pad machine. And revolve around a man who devotes his life to making affordable sanitary napkins for the women in their village. While Phullu focuses on how we overlook the importance of menstrual hygiene Pad man takes a more biopic approach.

The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (2002) and 23rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002)

They both are inspired by the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. While the Ajay Devgan starrer The Legend Of Bhagat Singh takes on a more action-oriented take Bobby Deol starter 23rd March 1931: Shaheed takes on an emotional biopic feel.

Mission Mangal (2018) and Mission Over Mars (2019)

Both the film and the series tell the story of the successful mission conducted by ISRO the Mars Orbiter Mission. While the film puts a male in the front and center while females around him the series gives the front and center to the females completely.

Lucknow Central (2017) And Qaidi Band (2017)

Both the films are based on a true story about a group of wrongly accused inmates who start a prison band as a ploy to plan their escape. Both the films released 20 days apart from each other though differ through their characters and their approaches of it.

Salaam Bombay (1988) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Both the films explore the street kids and the slum of Bombay. They tell the life of street kids growing up around slums. While Salaam Bombay made by an Indian filmmaker gives a more Indian insider perspective the Slumdog Millionaire made by a west filmmaker gives a more Westerner outside perspective.

Here are some others - Zero Dark Thirty and SEAL Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden, Snow White and the Huntsman and Mirror Mirror, Capote and Infamous, The Illusionist and The Prestige, and Armageddon and Deep Impact.

So while comparisons are an inevitable consequence with these projects yet they tend to offer different perspectives to the same story.

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