Indian director Mira Nair has come on board to direct crime comedy-drama “Bengali Detective” for Fox Searchlight.
Scott Free and Michael Costigan are producing and Sabrina Dhawan is writing the script. Nair teamed with Dhawan on 2001’s “Monsoon Wedding.”
“Bengali Detective” is based on the documentary directed by Phil Cox, which screened in 2011 at Sundance. Searchlight acquired the remake rights at that festival.
Story focuses on an an intrepid private eye in Calcutta’s criminal underworld whose dream is to dance on Indian TV. Zola Mashariki and Richard Gold are overseeing the project for Searchlight.
Searchlight saw major success from two titles set in India — 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” which grossed over $370 million worldwide, and last year’s “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” which topped $130 million.
Nair’s “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” opened last year’s Venice Film Festival. Her other directing credits include “Amelia,” “Vanity Fair” and “The Namesake.”
Nair is repped by ICM Partners.
