KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Just like any good mystery, the riddle as to who will portray the title character in a TV adaption of the popular Inspector Singh Investigates.... book series has been solved.
British actor Sanjeev Bhaskar of The Kumars at No. 42 and Unforgotten has been cast in the lead role as Singapore’s top sleuth (at least in his mind) with a nose for crime and a taste for curry.
The three-part series Inspector Singh, commissioned by BritBox International, will go into production in January next year. It is produced by London/Singapore-based global media firm 108 Media, and will be directed by Suri Krishnamma (The Canterville Ghost and Coronation Street).
The prime-time detective drama is based on the successful and long-running book series by Malaysian author Shamini Flint.
Malaysian connection
"I said I had news — and this is it,” announced Flint of the TV series on her Facebook on Monday (Nov 7).
"I could not be more excited — I have always been a visual writer so I firmly believe that Singh belongs on the screen,” she told Malay Mail.
"The icing on the cake is to have Sanjeev Bhaskar as my portly inspector; I have been a massive fan of his for years!” enthused Flint, who lives in Singapore.
A former lawyer, Flint did her master’s in law at Cambridge and practised law in Malaysia and Singapore before deciding to become a full-time mother, then author.
Flint has lived in the Lion City for over two decades with her English husband Simon and their two children, Sasha and Spencer.
In a 2019 interview with The Star, Flint said she was still feels strongly connected to Malaysia.
"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,” she said at that time.
Asian settings
All episodes of Inspector Singh are scripted by Paul Logue (Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise) and provides a fresh take on the murder mystery genre through the rule-breaking and unorthodox Singh.
Each season will tackle an intriguing murder featuring dark motives and surprising twists - all occurring in the setting of a different Asian country.
Season one, which is based on the first book Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder, takes place in Kuala Lumpur. (There are currently seven Inspector Singh books, with the last being A Frightfully English Execution released by Flint in 2016.)
Production on the first season will be from the UK production entity of 108 Media and shot in KL, utilising 108 Media’s production and gap financing capabilities across the Asia Pacific region.
The story opens with the murder of Alan Lee, a Malaysian Chinese businessman and playboy. His widow Chelsea Liew — a famous Singaporean model — becomes the prime suspect.
To assist her, the Singaporean government sends the titular Inspector Singh, who must use his instinct and intuition to find the real killer.
The Inspector speaks
On his character, Sanjeev said: "Unusual locations, unusual detective, Inspector Singh is unlike any part I’ve played or any cop I’ve seen.
"The fact that Singh is unfit and loves food seems a perfect fit for me,” he told Advanced Television.
Sanjeev is certainly no stranger to playing police officers; he can be seen as detective Sunil Khan in Unforgotten, a crime drama on English network ITV.
"From the moment we read the book, we knew Inspector Singh was a special rebellious character that the world needed to discover and love,” said 108 Media CEO Abhi Rastogi.
"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 favourite detective, and we look forward to him taking audiences on new journeys as he solves crimes across the region,” Rastogi added.
