The literature and cinema relationship have always been interconnected, particularly in the Indian cinema where the transformation of literary work has been a custom. Film adaptation is not a textual translation but rather a creative re-enactment, which provides audiences with new opportunities to interact with a story. Although there are readers who regret what they consider to be the loss of literary depth in films, the article states that the film does not have to imitate the written word, but rather reinterpret it and give it a visual representation. Indian filmmakers, basing their idea on the classics of literature, have extended this thought to a wider audience. The works of Shakespeare, especially, are still being adapted thousands of time, and this just goes to show that literature is able to cross the divide between mediums. Literature and cinema are two fruitful cross-disciplinary interchange processes, and both directions enlighten and result in the creation of a particular subgenre of postmodern film studies. These adaptations not only make literary canons popular but also teach audiences as they increase their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and literary backgrounds of the original work. Film adaptations, therefore, contribute a lot to the increased availability of classic literature, and expand the cultural knowledge base of the cinephiles. This article talks about the works of William Shakespeare especially on how his plays are translated into Indian movies. It also brings out the impact of the Shakespearean literature on the Indian filmmakers who find the Shakespeare plays inspirational to produce the film versions. The article also discusses on literature and cinema relationship in Indian cinema in general and how literature works are re-enacted and adapted into cinema.

Indian films, adaptation, plays, film versions, cultural exchange, film genre, classic literature, visual representation etc.