Legendary playwright Habib Tanvir's acclaimed play Charandas Chor will be turned into a feature film by Karmic Films, the production banner announced on Friday.
The studio has acquired the rights to the play with the aim to capture the story's "brilliance and social commentary for a new generation of audience", a press release stated.
Karmic Films Private Limited made the announcement on the occasion of the birth centenary of the legendary playwright.
Originating in 1975, Charandas Chor is about the titular thief who is also a man of principles. Discontent with his life, Charandas is on the run after stealing a gold plate. He eventually meets a guru who grants him vows that will set him free.
The play was previously brought alive on the big screen by acclaimed director Shyam Benegal with a feature film that was released in 1975.
"Bringing Charandas Chor to life as a feature film is a thrilling endeavour for us," Suniel Wadhwa, Co-Founder of Karmic Films, said in a statement.
"This tale's resonance through the ages fuels our commitment to faithfully represent its narrative richness. This acquisition marks a significant stride in our mission to craft compelling cinematic experiences," he added.
The project is currently in the pre-production stage and the studio will soon announce its director and the actors.
Writer Kundan Judge, who is also the co-founder of Karmic Films, said they are honoured to intertwine Tanvir's legendary legacy into the company's creative tapestry.
"This adaptation promises to reintroduce audiences of all ages to the enchantment that Charandas Chor embodies on screen. Beyond fulfilling the aspirations of burgeoning talent, it caters to the hunger for meaningful entertainment that audiences seek," he added.
Nageen Tanvir, daughter of the late Habib Tanvir, also expressed excitement over the project.
"Witnessing Charandas Chor transition towards a feature film is heartening. My father's legacy thrives through this venture, and I trust Karmic Films wholeheartedly to translate his vision onto the silver screen," she said.
Born on September 1, 1923, in Raipur, Habib began his career as a journalist and went on to become a highly renowned playwright.
He was also known for his 1954 play Agra Bazar and as the founder of the Naya theatre company in 1959. He scripted many films and acted in a few of them.
He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969 and Padma Shri in 1983.
Sheeran has never featured original Hindi lyrics in a song before, marking a significant first.
Gandhi has spoken about the immense difficulty of keeping the exciting news quiet until the announcement.
Her new verse explores the overwhelming, lightning-strike feeling of finding 'the one'.
The track is part of a larger EP featuring remixes with Karan Aujla, Hanumankind, and others.
Jonita Gandhi just confirmed the big collaboration. She is part of the upcoming remix of Ed Sheeran's song Heaven. This is not a background vocal thing; she has a full, proper verse in there in Hindi and this is a first for Sheeran. The track is part of his remix EP, which is basically a love letter to Indian sounds at this point.
Ed Sheeran brings Jonita Gandhi onboard for Hindi lines surprising fans with cross-cultural twist Instagram/jonitamusic
So what did she actually do to the song?
People might think it is just a simple translation. It is not. She wrote and sang new lines, in Hindi, that slot right into the melody. She took the whole "heavenly" love idea and made it conversational. Her words, she says, are about that moment 'you just know'. You know? It is her voice, her language, grafted onto his global tune, giving Heaven a completely unique cultural twist.
Remember the Mumbai gig she opened for him? That was not just a slot. That was the introduction. She has talked about how he was surprisingly normal and grounded and genuinely curious about the music here. It seems that meeting stuck. She went from fan to opener to collaborator in less than a year. That is a pretty rapid climb for any artist.
Gandhi is not alone. Sheeran has collected a bunch of talented folks. Karan Aujla on Symmetry, and we have to say that is a massive get. Hanumankind, the rapper, he is in the mix too. And then Santhosh Narayanan and his daughter Dhee on Don’t Look Down. It is a proper sampler and not just one token track. He is really stacking this EP. It makes you think someone on his team is genuinely paying attention.
Ed Sheeran collaborates with other Indian artists Instagram/edhq
And the timing?
She mentioned this in her chat that October is her birthday month. You cannot buy that kind of symbolic timing right? This whole project in fact, highlights how seriously Ed Sheeran is looking to incorporate the sounds of the Indian subcontinent into the worldwide pop landscape, making this release feel perfectly placed for the festive season.
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