Monica, O My Darling directed by Vasan Bala, and Drishyam 2 by Abhishek Pathak hit Indian theatres recently. Both the films promise to have a successful run as admiration has been pouring in from movie-goers.
But do you know that both these stories have been adapted from one of Japan’s leading mystery fiction writers? Monica, O My Darling has taken inspiration from Keigo Higashino’s novel, Burutasu no Shinzo (1989). Featuring Rajkumar Rao and Huma Qureshi, the film centers around the robotics engineer who joins an uncanny band of allies in a plot to commit the perfect murder. Critics have hailed the films’ ambiguous stance on morality and its whimsical irony.
Interestingly, Burutasu no Shinzo, which translates to “Brutus’ Heart” is not the only Higashino novel that has inspired a Bollywood film. Here is a look into the world of Keigo Higashino.
THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X (2005)
The 2015 film Drishyam, starring Ajay Devgn has been loosely based on The Devotion of Suspect X. It has been translated into English by Alexander O. Smith in 2011.
The book is recognized for its ingenious plot with the narrative following the guilty party’s viewpoint as well as the official investigation by Detective Kusanagi of Tokyo Police who tries to piece together the events of the day. The novel was the second highest-selling book in Japan the year it was published.
THE MIRACLES OF NAMIYA GENERAL STORE (2012)
Higashino has a gift for writing best sellers and this book reached record sales due to its deeply emotional storyline and its fantastic rendering of magical realism. It features three thieves who take shelter in an abandoned general store after they flee the scene of their crime and subsequently, answer letters that pour in seeking advice for their dilemmas and problems.
JOURNEY UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN (1999)
The novel spans twenty years of Detective Sasagaki’s obsessive search for the murderer of a pawnbroker in an unsolved case in Osaka. Sasagaki follows the two main persons of interest – the son of the victim and the daughter of the main suspect. The story is told from multiple viewpoints with revelations reaching us in the most unexpected ways. The novel would keep any reader at the edge of their seat from start to finish.
MALICE (1996)
The novel centers around the brutal murder of an acclaimed novelist, who is found dead in his apartment on the eve of his departure from Japan for Vancouver. He is discovered in his office behind a locked door the key to which is with his wife and his friend, both of whom seem to have a strong alibi. This book is part of the series featuring Detective Kyoichiro Kaga.
