<p>On May 14, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and streaming platform Netflix announced a new film, <em>The Archies</em>, an adaptation of the American cult comic books. The much-hyped project, co-written by Akhtar and Reema Kagti, is scheduled to release on the OTT platform in 2023. </p>.<p>This isn't the first time a book, novel or comic has been adapted for film. The trend has been popular in Indian cinema with movies like <em>Omkara</em> (2006), <em>The Namesake</em> (2006),<em> 3 Idiots </em>(2009), <em>7 Khoon Maaf</em> (2011), and <em>Kai Po Che</em> (2013) having been translated successfully from the written word to celluloid.</p>.<p>Recently, Sony Pictures acquired the film rights of Chetan Bhagat's 2016 novel <em>One Indian Girl</em>. Two of his earlier books, <em>3 Mistakes of My Life</em> and <em>2 States</em>, have also been made into films. </p>.<p><strong>Here are some recent and upcoming book-to-film adaptations:</strong></p>.<p><strong><em>The Great Indian Murder</em>, streaming on Disney + Hotstar</strong></p>.<p>This crime drama show, helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, is based on Vikas Swarup's bestselling novel <em>Six Suspects</em>. After a political scion is killed, there are six suspects surrounding the murder, and several versions form the crux of the story. </p>.<p>Actor Pratik Gandhi, who featured as CBI officer Suraj Yadav in the show, believes the biggest advantage of making a film on a book is that its storyline and overall structure are already in place. </p>.<p>"The characters and the setting have already been defined," Gandhi told <em>DH</em>. "So that makes it easier for the makers to visualise it. And if a book is already successful or a bestseller, it is easy to gauge the audience's reaction to an extent."</p>.<p>"While reading a book, you start visualising everything. However, in a film, you see an interpretation of the book. I enjoy both as different creative experiences. An unsuccessful book can turn out to be a successful film and vice versa."</p>.<p><strong><em>Gangubai Kathiawadi</em>, streaming on Netflix</strong></p>.<p>Within a week since it was released on OTT on April 26, <em>Gangubai Kathiawadi</em> became the number one non-English film on Netflix globally. Based on a chapter of Hussain Zaidi's book, <em>Mafia Queens of Mumbai</em>, the film stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role. It chronicles the life of Gangubai Kathiawadi, a young girl who was duped and sold to a brothel but ends up being a mafia queen who works for the betterment of sex workers. The film is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, and Seema Pahwa. </p>.<p><em>Mismatched</em>, streaming on Netflix</p>.<p>Season 1 of <em>Mismatched</em>, starring Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf, Rannvijay Singha and Vidya Malvade in leading roles, garnered colossal popularity. Based on Sandhya Menon's book <em>When Dimple Met Rishi</em>, the web show is a coming-of-age drama and romantic series. The second season of the show is in the works.</p>.<p><strong>Vishal Bhardwaj's franchise based on Agatha Christie's book</strong></p>.<p>Classic foreign literature has always been filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj's inspiration. After adapting several of William Shakespeare's works to film, Bhardwaj has now acquired the official rights to a book by the world's best-selling crime novelist, Agatha Christie. His film franchise will depict an entirely new pair of investigators solving crimes and murders. Further details of the project are still under wraps.</p>.<p><strong>Nagesh Kukunoor’s series on B Ramalinga Raju</strong></p>.<p>After the success of <em>Scam 1992</em>, based on the life of stockbroker Harshad Mehta and his Indian stock market scam in 1992, director Nagesh Kukunoor is all set to make a series on B Ramalinga Raju, former Chairman and CEO of Satyam Computer Services, who was involved in a scam of Rs 7,000 crore. It will be based on the book <em>The Double Life of Ramalinga Raju</em> by Kingshuk Nag. The project is in the development stage and will stream on Sony LIV. </p>.<p><strong>Upcoming spy drama based on John Le Carre's <em>The Night Manager</em></strong></p>.<p>The Indian adaptation of John Le Carre's spy drama <em>The Night Manager</em> is already in the works. It follows the story of a former soldier who works as the night manager of a luxury hotel but is employed by a government espionage organisation to get into the inner circle of an arms dealer. The book was earlier adapted in 2016 as a British mini-series wherein Tom Hiddleston played the lead character. The project was a massive hit across the globe. While it was earlier reported that Hrithik Roshan would headline the project, it is now being said that Aditya Roy Kapur has replaced him.</p>.<p><em>(Gurpreet Kaur is a journalist who writes on lifestyle, entertainment and culture)</em></p>
<p>On May 14, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and streaming platform Netflix announced a new film, <em>The Archies</em>, an adaptation of the American cult comic books. The much-hyped project, co-written by Akhtar and Reema Kagti, is scheduled to release on the OTT platform in 2023. </p>.<p>This isn't the first time a book, novel or comic has been adapted for film. The trend has been popular in Indian cinema with movies like <em>Omkara</em> (2006), <em>The Namesake</em> (2006),<em> 3 Idiots </em>(2009), <em>7 Khoon Maaf</em> (2011), and <em>Kai Po Che</em> (2013) having been translated successfully from the written word to celluloid.</p>.<p>Recently, Sony Pictures acquired the film rights of Chetan Bhagat's 2016 novel <em>One Indian Girl</em>. Two of his earlier books, <em>3 Mistakes of My Life</em> and <em>2 States</em>, have also been made into films. </p>.<p><strong>Here are some recent and upcoming book-to-film adaptations:</strong></p>.<p><strong><em>The Great Indian Murder</em>, streaming on Disney + Hotstar</strong></p>.<p>This crime drama show, helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, is based on Vikas Swarup's bestselling novel <em>Six Suspects</em>. After a political scion is killed, there are six suspects surrounding the murder, and several versions form the crux of the story. </p>.<p>Actor Pratik Gandhi, who featured as CBI officer Suraj Yadav in the show, believes the biggest advantage of making a film on a book is that its storyline and overall structure are already in place. </p>.<p>"The characters and the setting have already been defined," Gandhi told <em>DH</em>. "So that makes it easier for the makers to visualise it. And if a book is already successful or a bestseller, it is easy to gauge the audience's reaction to an extent."</p>.<p>"While reading a book, you start visualising everything. However, in a film, you see an interpretation of the book. I enjoy both as different creative experiences. An unsuccessful book can turn out to be a successful film and vice versa."</p>.<p><strong><em>Gangubai Kathiawadi</em>, streaming on Netflix</strong></p>.<p>Within a week since it was released on OTT on April 26, <em>Gangubai Kathiawadi</em> became the number one non-English film on Netflix globally. Based on a chapter of Hussain Zaidi's book, <em>Mafia Queens of Mumbai</em>, the film stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role. It chronicles the life of Gangubai Kathiawadi, a young girl who was duped and sold to a brothel but ends up being a mafia queen who works for the betterment of sex workers. The film is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, and Seema Pahwa. </p>.<p><em>Mismatched</em>, streaming on Netflix</p>.<p>Season 1 of <em>Mismatched</em>, starring Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf, Rannvijay Singha and Vidya Malvade in leading roles, garnered colossal popularity. Based on Sandhya Menon's book <em>When Dimple Met Rishi</em>, the web show is a coming-of-age drama and romantic series. The second season of the show is in the works.</p>.<p><strong>Vishal Bhardwaj's franchise based on Agatha Christie's book</strong></p>.<p>Classic foreign literature has always been filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj's inspiration. After adapting several of William Shakespeare's works to film, Bhardwaj has now acquired the official rights to a book by the world's best-selling crime novelist, Agatha Christie. His film franchise will depict an entirely new pair of investigators solving crimes and murders. Further details of the project are still under wraps.</p>.<p><strong>Nagesh Kukunoor’s series on B Ramalinga Raju</strong></p>.<p>After the success of <em>Scam 1992</em>, based on the life of stockbroker Harshad Mehta and his Indian stock market scam in 1992, director Nagesh Kukunoor is all set to make a series on B Ramalinga Raju, former Chairman and CEO of Satyam Computer Services, who was involved in a scam of Rs 7,000 crore. It will be based on the book <em>The Double Life of Ramalinga Raju</em> by Kingshuk Nag. The project is in the development stage and will stream on Sony LIV. </p>.<p><strong>Upcoming spy drama based on John Le Carre's <em>The Night Manager</em></strong></p>.<p>The Indian adaptation of John Le Carre's spy drama <em>The Night Manager</em> is already in the works. It follows the story of a former soldier who works as the night manager of a luxury hotel but is employed by a government espionage organisation to get into the inner circle of an arms dealer. The book was earlier adapted in 2016 as a British mini-series wherein Tom Hiddleston played the lead character. The project was a massive hit across the globe. While it was earlier reported that Hrithik Roshan would headline the project, it is now being said that Aditya Roy Kapur has replaced him.</p>.<p><em>(Gurpreet Kaur is a journalist who writes on lifestyle, entertainment and culture)</em></p>
