SHAMINI Flint’s popular ‘Inspector Singh’ series is being adapted into a television series. The show follows the titular character as he sets out to investigate strange murders that are tangled with cultural practises and traditions of Asian countries.
British actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, known for roles in The Kumars at No. 42, Yesterday, Absolutely Anything and London Boulevard has been tapped to play the sleuth who uses unorthodox methods to uncover clues.
The three-part series is being commissioned by BritBox International and moves into production in January next year.
London and Singapore-based media firm 108 Media will be producing it with Suri Krishnama (The Canterville Ghost and Coronation Street) poised to direct all three episodes from a screenplay by Paul Logue (Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders).
The first season will see the Singaporean detective reluctantly travelling to Kuala Lumpur to investigate what seems to be a cut-and-dry case against a model on death row for murder. Using his wit, intelligence and intuition, Singh must uncover the truth to find the real killer.
Production of the episodes will take place in Kuala Lumpur. Bhaskar, commenting on the character said “Unusual locations, unusual detective, Inspector Singh is unlike any part I’ve played or cop I’ve seen. The fact that Singh is unfit and loves food seems a perfect fit for me.”
Shamini Flint announced on her Facebook last Monday. "I said I had news – and this is it,” she wrote.
"I could not be more excited. I have always been a visual writer, so I firmly believe that Singh belongs on the screen.”
"The icing on the cake is to have Sanjeev Bhaskar as my portly inspector; I have been a massive fan of his for years!” she told Malay Mail.
Flint, who is based in Singapore, is a former lawyer. She graduated master’s in law from Cambridge and practised in Malaysia and Singapore before becoming a full-time mother and author.
She has lived in Singapore for more than 20 years with her husband Simon and their two children, Sasha, and Spencer. However, she still feels drawn to Malaysia.
In a previous interview with the Star, she said “You realise, especially as a writer, that your entire formative experience is from this place. You may or may not like it, but it has provided the structure for your existence, from cradle to grave, and you have an obligation to try and make it a better place.”
Jonathan Karas, head of editorial and programming for BritBox International, said, “We are thrilled to greenlight this original and highly engaging series, featuring a new unique detective.
"With the brilliant and funny Sanjeev Bhaskar in the title role, Paul Logue’s wonderful scripts and a great creative team from 108 Media, we hope this will be yet another series that BritBox audiences fall in love with.”
108 Media’s CEO Abhi Rastogi added that “from the moment we read the book, we knew Inspector Singh was a special rebellious character that the world needed to discover and love.
"We’re proud to be able to showcase a homegrown universe with local peculiarities and to launch an international franchise – for the culture and beyond. Singh is Asia’s favorite detective, and we look forward to him taking audiences on new journeys as he solves crimes across the region.” – The Vibes, November 11, 2022
