Potter with a desi twist

Photo Credits: pg 1- lead

In The Prisoner Of Azkaban, Dumbledore says, “Happiness is found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light." It's been 15 years since the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (the movie) was released, its charm making the world a better and more magical place for audiences the world over.

And while the film captured the book’s 300 odd pages of magic in disappointingly broad strokes, the film proved that “Harry Potter” could be adapted to film. Better yet for the franchise, viewers who saw the first movie were driven to read the books and those who read the books faithfully saw the movies to see how the source material was translated.

Had it not been for Potter we would have never learnt 'lumos', 'accio', 'ascendio' or even 'avada kedavra'. While millions across the globe look up to Harry Potter for numerous reasons, as our world of 'apparition' completes 15 years, Goa's circle of Gryffindor's, Hufflepuff's, Ravenclaw's and Slytherin's talk about how their favourite magical world would translate with an Indian star cast.

QUOTES

Harry Potter has been a intimate part of my childhood. Even today the people involved mean much more to me than mere characters. Although I strongly feel that Harry Potter should not be recreated in an Indianised version, if given the chance to choose I would prefer Hrithik Roshan as Sirius Black, Arjun Rampal as Severus Snape, Amitabh Bachchan would be a pretty good Dumbeldore and Ayyushman Khurana would be hilarious as Fred and George Weasley. Among the main characters, Imran Khan would make an appropriate Harry Potter, Deepika Padukone as Hermione Granger, Arjun Kapoor as Ronald Weasley and Aliya Bhatt as Ginny Weasley. Katrina Kaif will make a good Fleur Delacour and Rishi Kapoor would definitely fit the part of Professor Slughorn.

Urvi Sardesai, 19, Fatorda

I hadn't been a die-hard Harry Potter fan even though my best friend literally lived in the world of Hogwarts throughout our childhood. Of late, however, I too have developed a strong inclination towards the magnificent world of magic. According to me Naseeruddin Shah would make a wonderful Dumbeldore while Arunoday Singh would fit the part of Severus Snape. Kalki Koechlin would live the part of Tonks and Supriya Pathak Shah would be brilliant as Molly Weasley. I could never think of anyone better than Deepika Padukone to play Hermione Granger. Huma Qureshi would be a good Professor Mcgonagall and Rishi Kapoor would even look the part of Professor Slughorn.

Annalise Benjamin, 19, Margao

Harry Potter was an essential element in my life while growing up. I prefer Amitabh Bachchan as Dumbelore as his hypnotising voice would definitely create an impact. Kay Kay Menon would make a brilliant Severus Snape while Shah Rukh Khan would play Sirius Black to perfection. I think Riteish Deshmukh will be a wonderful Ron Weasley.

Akshat Solanki, 19, Pajifond

As J.K Rowling says it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live but being an avid Harry Potter reader it does not take long to get lost in the world of magic. According to me, Naseerudin Shah would play Dumbeldore perfectly while Randeep Hooda would be the perfect opposition as Lort Voldemort. Kay Kay Menon would be a wonderful Severus Snape. Among the main characters Shahid Kapoor can take the place of Harry Potter, Alia Bhatt as Hermione Granger and Manish Paul as Ronald Weasley. While Farida Jalal would make a rather good motherly Molly Weasley.

Andrew Barreto, 34, Margao

Been an avid Harry Potter reader, I always visualised what it would look like had there been Indian actors playing the roles. Personally I feel, Amitabh Bachchan would make Dumbeldore come to life, while Sanjay Dutt would be perfect to play the role of Severus Snape. Nawazuddin Siddiqui would make a perfect Voldemort and Aamir Khan would be pretty good as Professor Slughorn.

Gayatri Honawarkar, 20, Vasco