Sherlock Holmes’ Indian Daughter to Be Subject of New Deepa Mehta Film ‘Sher’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Renowned director Deepa Mehta is crafting “Sher,” a humorous spin-off within the Sherlock Holmes lore, where the iconic detective’s history is reinvented with an unforeseen link to India.

Mehta explains to EbMaster that the portrayal is a humorous twist on Watson: “Sherlock Holmes has passed away, and Watson is struggling to peddle his book about him in every corner, desperate. His efforts aren’t bearing fruit, and eventually, he arrives in Calcutta.

The movie traces the journey of Dr. Watson delivering a sparsely-attended talk in Kolkata (previously known as Calcutta), whereupon he stumbles upon a startling revelation: Sherlock Holmes has an unknown daughter named Sher, who resides in the city. This secret child resulted from a past romance with an Indian woman during Holmes’ time at Cambridge University.

In a shift from her usual dramatic projects, this screenplay by Johnny Gurzman offers a commercial spin for director Mira Nair. Known for works such as “Fire,” the Oscar-nominated “Water,” and “Funny Boy,” this new project represents a more commercially appealing departure for her. “It’s enjoyable and engaging,” she remarks about the film, “One of the most commercially oriented pieces I’ve encountered and worked on.

Among the three projects that Mehta is presently working on, “Sher” is one of them, but she’s unsure about which project will progress ahead initially.

According to EbMaster’s disclosure, Mehta is additionally working on a film titled “Troilokya,” inspired by a real-life account from 1890s Calcutta involving a serial killer who was once a prostitute. This movie is being penned by the talented screenwriter Juhi Chaturvedi (known for “Hush Hush”) and produced by Priya Sridharan of Open Air Productions in Mumbai, as well as Aditya Chand’s Through the Lens Entertainment.

The narrative additionally focuses on a Bengali police officer, who stands out as the sole person of color within the entire British police department, as he pursues and eventually apprehends her following his intrigue with the investigation.

In his third undertaking, titled “Forgiveness,” Mehta delves into the intricate dynamics of cross-cultural connections set against the backdrop of post-WWII Canada. The project is inspired by a real-life account and the book and screenplay penned by Mark Sakamoto, offering an insightful portrayal of two Canadians – one of Japanese descent and the other Caucasian – whose families had opposing allegiances during the war. One family was interned in Japanese-Canadian detention centers, while the other was incarcerated as prisoners of war in Japan.

Mehta expresses that this project is extremely important to him as it delves into the theme of discovering other cultures. He notes that the production is almost fully funded. The screenplay, titled “Forgiveness,” is inspired by his personal experiences, with Sakamoto’s family history resonating strongly with the story. His father’s side is Japanese-Canadian and was interned in camps, while his mother’s grandfather was a Canadian prisoner of war in Japan.

Mehta emphasizes that the tales from the Japanese internment camps are deeply moving and thus, vital to share, as they play a crucial role in Canada’s historical account.

Reflecting on her career, “Through the Fire: The Films of Deepa Mehta” exhibition will be running from April 4 to April 23 at Toronto’s TIFF Lightbox.

Read More

2025-03-28 16:46