Producer Ravi Bhagchandka to adapt the book Brewster’s Millions

Producer Ravi Bhagchandka, who made the documentary, Sachin: A Billion Dreams (2017), is adapting George McCutcheon’s 1902 book, Brewster's Millions. The script by Balwinder Singh Janjua is ready and Bhagchandka is looking for a director and cast.

The American novel is the story of a young man, Montgomery Brewster, who inherits a million dollars from his rich grandfather. Later, his uncle dies and leaves him seven million dollars on the condition that he spend every penny of his grandfather’s inheritance. If he does this, he will get the full amount, if he doesn’t, he gets nothing.

"When I read Brewster's Millions for the first time, I was actually holding my sides and laughing. I have always wanted to adapt it for our home audience and am glad I got Balwinder on board,” Bhagchandka, a producer at 200 NotOut Productions said.

Singh Janjua has previously worked on the screenplays of Mubarakan (2017) and Saand Ki Aankh (2019).

“There have been a few adaptations of this timeless classic worldwide. We have stayed as true to the story as possible and yet added the Indian flavour. It was imperative to have someone who understands comedy to develop a script like this," the producer added.

Brewster's Millions has been previously adapted in India four times in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil. It was first adapted in Telugu with Vaddante Dabbu (1954) starring NT Rama Rao and Sowcar Janaki, and later remade as Babai Abbai (1985,) featuring NT Rama Rao's son Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Naseeruddin Shah and Satish Shah starred in the Hindi version, Maalamaal (1988), directed by Kewal Sharma. Lastly, Rajinikanth headlined the Tamil version Arunachalam (1997) written by Crazy Mohan and directed by Sundar C.