"The objective of these filmmakers is to get modern generations interested. For instance, I want to remake 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand' - a classic that our modern generation can't relate to. They can't think of watching a black-and-white film. So, why not remake it with necessary changes. When the coloured version of 'Mughal-e-Azam' was released it was a huge hit," Deven Khote, head of UTV Post, told IANS.

Khote, who belongs to the second school of thought, said that he will not refuse a filmmaker just because he is remaking a film.

"My point is if you can make a screenplay of a book why not a film?" reasoned Khote.

Vishnu Makhijani, a seasoned journalist and a movie buff, doesn't agree with Khote.

Commenting on J.P. Dutta's "Umrao Jaan", he said: "The basic question is of sensibilities - does J.P. Dutta have the sensibilities of Muzaffar Ali? Certainly not. He is a product of the rough and tumble of Bollywood where sensibilities just don't exist. Muzaffar Ali, on the other hand, is a product of a rich Luckhnavi culture where human feelings mattered over everything else."

"Then, Rekha is a product of a traditional Indian background and that is why she was so convincing as a nautch girl. Aishwarya, for all her talents, is essentially a product of a western system, so to think she would be convincing as Umrao Jaan is akin to expecting Julie Andrews to play Basanti in 'Sholay'," he added.

"Above all, which composer or lyricist can hope to better 'In aankhon ki masti'? Can anyone else capture the pain and ethos of this work better?" he asked.