PremiumExclusive | Ghost, Birbal 2 director MG Srinivas to adapt a Japanese children's novel for Geetha Pictures
MG Srinivas tells OTTplay that the new project will be along the lines of 'Taare Zameen Par' and that it will be backed by Shiva Rajkumar's home banner Geetha Pictures.
Last Updated: 03.28 PM, Nov 09, 2023
With Ghost receiving an encouraging response at the theatres, MG Srinivas is a man on a mission as he aims to expand the universe with an array of exciting projects. First in the line-up is Birbal 2 which will have him reprising his now-popular character of 'Mahesh Das', a snazzy and shrewd advocate fondly known as Birbal.
Srini introduced Mahesh Das into the Ghost world through a special cameo and with the Birbal 2, he plans to get more inventive and bring the two worlds closer. Alongside, he has a Ghost spin-off or a prequel, as it were, in development which will potentially chronicle the rise of Dalavayi (the gangster role played by Shiva Rajkumar in Ghost) in a more full-fledged manner and also Ghost 2, the bona fide sequel which is set to take the narrative of the first part forward.
But that is not all. Also squeezed in this ambitious slew of projects is a children's movie which, Srini reveals, will be based on a very popular Japanese novel. While the Ghost and the Birbal films will take a course of their own, he will be simultaneously collaborating with Geetha Pictures for the said novel adaptation, which he says will be going on floors sometime next year.
"It's a passion project for Geethakka (Geetha Shiva Rajkumar) who wanted me to adapt the Japanese novel (undisclosed). We are imagining this film to be along the lines of something like Taare Zameen Par with the same endearing innocence and child artists in principal roles but I could give you more clarity once it begins to take a better shape. This project is far removed from the Ghost and the Birbal combined universe and will be a big departure for me as well," says MG Srinivas in a conversation with OTTplay.
He adds that having dealt with thrillers and general 'high stakes' films of late, he would also like delve into dramas and slice-of-life subjects so as to keep things refreshing. For the children's film, Srini plans to collaborate with his wife Shruti, a journalist, so as to involve a different perspective and bring out the essence of the subject.
"You would want to deal with such films with certain care and compassion and I feel Shruti will be right for the job. You see shows like This is Us and the likes and how the characters, their emotions, etc. are treated so I need a similar perspective for this film. Again, we are yet to fully foray into the process and I can disclose more once we get going," he adds.
As far as taking the project on floors is concerned, Srini tentatively suggests that he wishes to wrap up Birbal 2 first and immediately begin working on the children's film. "The idea is to get started on the Geetha Pictures project while Birbal 2 is in its post-production stage but the first task would be finish scripting both films," he shares.