Nothing Wrong In Taking Inspiration: Cheran On Similarities Between Autograph And Premam

Twenty years ago, during Valentine’s week, Cheran-directorial Autograph (2004) made its way to the silver screen. A review in the Kalki magazine at the time of the film’s release captured its impact. It wrote, “Autograph will steal several days of sleep for viewers of any age.”

Fast forward ten years, Alphonse Puthren’s Premam (2015) was released, delving into comparable themes of first love, college romance, and heartbreak, following the coming-of-age journey of Nivin Pauly’s character, George David. In an interview, Cheran reminisced that many individuals suggested he file a case against Puthren due to the similarities between Autograph and Premam.

“Many directors and members of the media approached me, pointing out the striking resemblance between Premam and Autograph, suggesting that Alphonse Puthren had adapted my story into his film. They even encouraged me to claim my rights, considering the success of Premam. Beyond the core plot, there are several other similarities between the two films. Just as Senthil relocates to Kerala for his college studies and falls in love with a Malayali woman named Lathika (portrayed by Gopika), George develops feelings for Malar (played by Sai Pallavi), a Tamil woman who becomes a guest lecturer at his college in Kerala”, he said.

Moreover, he added, “However, I didn’t feel offended when people brought up the similarities between the two films. Inspiration can arise from anywhere, and it’s not limited to watching international cinema. Indian filmmakers can draw inspiration from our films as well. So, when someone creates a film inspired by ours, shouldn’t we feel gratified? Why shouldn’t we perceive it positively? I’m pleased to think that Autograph played a role in the success of Premam.”

Cheran also revealed that he had a conversation with Puthren after watching Premam and shared that both films possessed distinct flavours. “I conveyed to him that while the core stories may have originated from the same source, the portrayal and journey of the characters in the film offered unique experiences. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to claim that Premam was entirely derived from Autograph.”