Popular Bollywood Movie Based Books

Time and again, filmmakers have relied on the novels/books of every generation for making some masterpieces for the big screen. Of the hundreds of movies based on books, here are the best ones to grab your attention. Exceptionally unique, these books have made the big leap from page to screen.

• Othello -> Movie: Omkara

Written by William Shakespeare, ‘Othello’ was adapted into the Hindi movie titled ‘Omkara’ in 2006.  A fatal tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal, the story revolves around, Othello, a general in the Venetian army, and Iago, his ensign. Twisting its way through manipulations and bloodshed, the story creates a sense of awe and fear in the readers.

Powerful and dramatic, Shakespeare’s Othello has enjoyed popularity among the readers from the Jacobean period to the present day. The book even received multiple accolades.

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• Hamlet -> Movie: Haider

‘The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark’, often shortened to ‘Hamlet’ is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother.

It was one of Shakespeare's most popular works during his lifetime and still ranks as the world's most filmed story after ‘Cinderella’.

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• Cracking India -> Movie: Earth

‘Cracking India’ tells the story of the Partition of India. The story is told from the perspective of Lenny Sethi, a four-year-old girl who lives in the Punjabi city of Lahore.

The story describes the horrors of partition in a way that would send chills down one's spine. The novel is a perfect take on religious differences, intolerance, and the blossoming genocidal strife on the eve of partition.

‘Cracking India’ is on the BBC News list of the 100 most influential novels. In the United States, the New York Times named the novel as one of its Notable Books of the Year.

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• Q&A -> Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

‘Q & A’ was published in 2005 and is the first novel of Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup. It tells the rags to riches story of Ram Mohammad Thomas, a young waiter who becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history, only to be arrested and jailed on accusations that he cheated. He had to prove his innocence by sharing the episodes of his life and travels in India which explain where and how he learned the answers to the quiz show questions.

Q & A won the South Africa's Boeke Prize 2006. It was also nominated for the Best First Book by the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and won the Prix Grand Public at the 2007 Paris Book Fair.

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• Three Mistakes of My Life -> Movie: Kai Po Che!

‘The 3 Mistakes of My Life’ novel is written by Chetan Bhagat. The book was published in May 2008 and had an initial print-run of 420,000. Based on real life events, the novel revolves around three friends who aim big in life.  However, nothing comes easy to them. The three lads have to face it all - religious politics, earthquakes, riots, unacceptable love and above all, their own mistakes. 

Not only did this book earn good reviews, but it also gained immense popularity at the international level.

Availability: Amazon.in and Flipkart.com

• Five Point Someone-> Movie: 3 Idiots

‘Five Point Someone: What not to do at IIT’ is a 2004 novel written by Indian author Chetan Bhagat. The book portrays the lives of the protagonist Hari and his two friends Ryan and Alok. It explores the darker side of IIT, one in which students have to work hard for years to make it to the top. The story depicts how the students struggle to maintain their grades, and how they try to keep up with their friends and have some kind of life outside studies.

The book sold over a million copies worldwide. Even the movie ‘3 Idiots’ nevertheless became immortal in the Indian psyche.

All the above books have been able to create an instant connection with the audience. Stellar and attention-grabbing they have managed to endure a readers’ mind forever.