Stephen Frears Goes 'Slumdog Millionaire,' Takes On 'The Bengali Detective'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
November 17, 2011 11:36 PM
2 Comments

It seems after the mammoth, Oscar-winning, box-office-breaking smash "Slumdog Millionaire," Fox Searchlight is doing everything they can to replicate that success. Next spring, the studio will release the elderly fish out of water tale, "The Best Marigold Hotel" with Dev Patel once again in the lead; and that's not the only Indian-flavored movie they have coming down the pipeline. Back in January, at Sundance, the studio picked up the rights to the hotly buzzed documentary "The Bengali Detective" but instead of releasing the movie, they're just gonna remake it instead (and maybe make it a meaty DVD extra down the line).

The ever unpredictable Stephen Frears has now come aboard to direct the feature adaptation. D.V. DeVincentis, who has penned "High Fidelity" and the upcoming "Lay The Favorite" for the helmer, will once again take on the writing duties. The based-on-a-true-story tale centers on a Calcutta private investigator, Rajesh Ji, who mixes his investigations of the criminal underworld with a dream to dance on Indian TV. Geez, this smells of a TIFF Audience Award winner already.

The always busy Scott Free Productions are behind the movie. It's yet another left turn in a career full of them for Frears, who has gone everywhere from the highly-respectable "The Queen," the smart and savvy "The Grifters" to frothy fare like his last (and totally forgettable except for those jean shorts) effort "Tamara Drewe." No word on when this roll, but with a few other projects vying for attention, this looks like it will be Frears' next. Can he duplicate the Danny Boyle formula for success? Only time will tell. [Variety]

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2 Comments

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wray | November 18, 2011 9:47 AMReply

This doc has been playing on HBO.
PapushiSun | November 18, 2011 12:42 AMReply

I loved the documentary, I wish more people could see it.