By Radhika Bhirani
Mumbai, Jan 18 (IANS) "C.I.D.", the longest running investigative series on TV, is getting ready for its big screen avatar, complete with an item number and the masala that goes with a Bollywood film.
Producer B.P. Singh promises a lot of action, drama, and says he will also spice up the movie version with an item number.
"Our 'C.I.D.' movie has been in the pipeline for the past three years. We have to innovate a lot on the technology and the storyline. The project is still in the writing and pre-production stage. But we plan to release it in 2012," Singh told IANS.
The show, which first began on Sony TV in 1997, is about a team of detectives working for the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Mumbai. Their main aim, of course, is to unravel murder mysteries.
Five characters - ACP (assistant commissioner of police) Pradyuman, senior inspector Abhijeet, senior inspector Daya, inspector Fredericks and Dr. Salunkhe - have been a staple on the show since it began and will be seen in the movie as well.
"We are hoping to chalk out a very different investigative case for the film version. Plus we want a story where we can add some songs. We want it to be zabardast (fantastic) and commercially viable. So, apart from lots of action scenes, we would also try to put in an item number," said Singh.
He is more than glad that actor Dayanand Shetty, who plays the brawny senior inspector Daya, is currently learning how to dance in the reality show "Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa 4".
"We would love to have Daya do an item number in the film. We are looking forward to his victory in 'Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa'. It will be a lot of fun if he wins because people are amazed how this elephant is dancing! But to be honest, even in all our parties, Daya is the one who adds colour with his graceful dancing and we hope he does that in the movie too," he laughed.
Singh, whose production house Fireworks Productions is also credited with hit horror series "Aahat", says he is proud that "C.I.D." has come so far.
The show became so big that in 2010 producers ended up launching the CID Gallantry Awards, an initiative to encourage and honour acts of bravery in society. The second edition of the awards was held in Mumbai last week.
"Every show works till a certain point. We have entered our 14th year this year and it is damn difficult to bring a programme to this level. There is a marked difference in the 'C.I.D.' of 1997 and the 'C.I.D.' of today. The stories are better, the intensity is better and technology is way better," said Singh, who gives all credit to his team of seven writers for the success of the show.
"We work under a lot of pressure...but in the end it has been worth it. Now when I look back at the number of years of success, all that I feel is that shayad bhagwaan khud 'C.I.D.' dekh raha hai (Perhaps god himself is watching 'C.I.D')."