Indian streaming platforms have increasingly turned to books, as a source of inspiration for their latest shows, bringing richly layered narratives to life on screen. The trend is reshaping the entertainment industry, allowing creators to delve deeper into complex stories and characters. One of the latest additions to this genre is Vikramaditya Motwane’s upcoming series Black Warrant, based on Sunil Gupta’s gripping book of the same name.
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This is just one example of how literature is finding a new audience through streaming adaptations, blending the intimacy of books with the immersive power of visual storytelling.
Black Warrant: From Pages to Screen
Black Warrant explores the dark corridors of India’s prison system, offering a rare glimpse into its inner workings based on the book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Kailer . Co-written by Sunil Gupta, a former Tihar Jail officer, and journalist Sunetra Choudhury, the book details chilling anecdotes and unforgettable experiences from Gupta’s tenure. Vikramaditya Motwane’s adaptation retained the raw intensity of the original material while translating it into a visual medium. The show is captivating audiences with its unflinching portrayal of a hidden world, bringing attention to pressing issues within India’s judicial and penal systems.
A Growing Trend
This shift toward literary adaptations is not limited to Black Warrant. Recent examples highlight how Indian streaming platforms are banking on the depth and popularity of books to attract viewers.
Netflix’s IC 814, based on the harrowing hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in 1999, drew from detailed investigative accounts to create a gripping series which was based on the book written by the pilot Captain Devi Sharan who flew the ill-fated flight. . Similarly, Nikkhil Advani’s adaptation of Freedom at Midnight, based on the book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, explored the tumultuous events surrounding India’s independence and Partition. These shows leverage the rich detail and historical authenticity found in their source material, offering audiences an engaging and informative experience.Talking about his decision to adapt the book for the show NIkkhil says , “ Rocket Boys was released in November 2024, but we started working on Freedom at Midnight about three and a half years ago. We began working on it when the first season of Rocket Boys came out, and Danish Khan and Saugata Mukherjee of Sony Liv asked, ‘What do we do next?’ My whole endeavor was that after Rocket Boys, we needed to try something more ambitious. Since I have known Saugata for 15 years, I knew he had the same level of respect and admiration for Freedom at Midnight as I did.As you grow older, you become more cynical and start questioning a lot of things in the book, but when you first read it as a teenager, the characters jumped out of the pages, the events were evocative, and certain portions choked you. When Danish and Saugata approached me, my first reaction was that we wouldn’t get the rights because many people had tried before. But they surprised me by saying they had already secured the rights. That made me jump from my seat and say, ‘Let’s go!’ It took us more than two years to research and write the show. Even then, the writing continued during pre-production.”
Hansal Mehta’s ambitious series on Mahatma Gandhi, inspired by Ramachandra Guha’s acclaimed books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, is another testament to the potential of literary adaptations. By delving into the formative years of Gandhi’s life and the pivotal moments that defined his philosophy, the series aims to present a nuanced portrayal of the leader.This would be Hansal’s third web show which is based on books, first two being Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Stroy which was based on The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away by Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu and second was Scoop which was based on Jigna Vora‘s biographical memoir Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison.
Literature and Contemporary Themes
Streaming platforms are not just revisiting history but also exploring contemporary themes through literary adaptations. Netflix’s Mismatched, based on Sandhya Menon’s novel When Dimple Met Rishi, is a delightful romantic comedy that struck a chord with younger audiences. Starring Prajakta Koli and Rohit Saraf, the show’s relatable characters and heartfelt narrative demonstrate how books can provide the foundation for successful contemporary storytelling.
Why Books?
Books offer a treasure trove of content for filmmakers and showrunners. Unlike original scripts, books come with pre-built worlds, established characters, and dedicated fanbases. They also provide detailed backstories and contexts, enabling creators to craft layered narratives. In the case of historical or investigative works like Freedom at Midnight or IC 814, books serve as meticulously researched sources that lend credibility to the screen adaptations.
Moreover, streaming platforms offer the time and space to explore complex narratives that cannot be adequately captured in a two-hour film. This format allows for faithful adaptations and deeper dives into the material, which is particularly important for stories rooted in history or intricate character development.
Challenges and Opportunities
While adapting books for the screen has its advantages, it also comes with challenges. Filmmakers must balance staying true to the source material with the need to make it visually engaging. Decisions about what to include, omit, or alter can significantly impact audience reception.
However, when done right, these adaptations have the power to elevate the source material, bringing it to a wider audience and sparking renewed interest in the books themselves. For example, the release of Freedom at Midnight as a show has led to a resurgence in sales of the book, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between literature and its adaptations.
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