Vishal Bhardwaj to serve as showrunner of Netflix's adaptation of Salman Rushdie's 1981 novel Midnight's Children

Vishal Bhardwaj will serve as showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s original series based on Salman Rushdie’s seminal novel  Midnight’s Children . The fictional novel, which traces India’s transition from British colonialism to an independent nation, has won a number of accolades, such as the 1981 Booker Prize, Best of Booker in both 1981 and 2008 and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.

“The opportunity to translate one of the greatest works of literature in a medium that is accessible to millions of people around the world is incredible, and I’m delighted to partner with Netflix in bringing Midnight’s Children to life on screen. I’m confident that taking this quintessentially Indian epic that transcends generations and genres, combined with the production values and creative freedom that Netflix offers, will contribute to an unforgettable series that is Indian at heart and global in reach,” said Bhardwaj, according to Deadline .

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the best 100 novels of all time, Midnight’s Children revolves around Saleem Sinai, who is born at the stroke of midnight on 15 August, 1947, the moment marking India’s independence from British rule. The story follows his life which is at times inseparable from the history of his country.

Midnight’s Children was also adapted into a film of the same name by Indo-Canadian director and screenwriter Deepa Mehta in 2012.

Bhardwaj recently directed the comedy-drama Pataakha , starring Sanya Malhotra and Radhika Madan in lead roles.