Director Rohan Sippy is garnering significant acclaim for his recently launched OTT show, ‘Search: The Naina Murder Case.’ He has addressed the challenges of adapting an international series to resonate with Indian sensibilities and audiences.
Adapting International Content
The series takes inspiration from the Danish show ‘Forbrydelsen’ and revolves around the investigation of a young girl’s murder.
When questioned about the pressures of ensuring the show aligns with Indian sensibilities, Rohan stated, “I think the pressure lifts because you have a certain confidence the foundation is strong. The central element of our story is friendship between the leads akin to Jai and Veeru. That for me, as an audience, is what engages you because, of course, plot is critical, but the central spine has to be this Jugalbandi that will change over the course of the series. Wrapped around that are the secrets being uncovered, whether it’s about this teenage girl or a powerful politician, and how they are affected—these parts we knew.”
He elaborated, “But now, this does not need to reflect the tone of a Swedish or Danish narrative. We wanted it relatable, as seen when Konkona had the chance to meet a senior police officer. This experience helped us challenge our preconceived notions. So, for us, it was not about pressure; rather, it was confidence built upon something solid, giving us the freedom to imagine and make it our own. That’s how I viewed it, and I believe everyone approached it in the same spirit.”