From Emma to Aisha: An Art of Adaptation and Appropriation

Abstract

This dissertation discusses the relation between nineteenth century novel Emma by Jane Austen and its film adaptation Aisha (2010). The film has revived the Victorian story in the cosmopolitan city of India in order to depict the way of living of wealthy Indian families. Taking reference from the novel, the film highlights the attitude and behaviour of upper class people which is full of artificiality, manipulation and hollowness. The research exposes the close affinity that the film and the novel have in order to address the values of the society. In short, it examines how far the film Aisha has been loyal to its source text; which common elements are transferred as accurate as in the novel; and which are adapted so as to make them fit in the film medium. Thus, it comes to the conclusion that Aisha, regardless of its spatio-temporal difference with Emma, is a faithful adaptation to its source text.