Jigna Vora’s Behind Bars In Byculla to be made into a movie
Matchbox Pictures' cinematic masterpiece Andhadhun (2018), directed by Sriram Raghavan, has garnered both critical and commercial success in India and international markets. The production house has recently acquired the rights of journalist Jigna Vora's book, Behind Bars In Byculla, a hard-hitting saga based on true accounts of female prisoners that Jigna encountered during her term in prison.
Speaking about this acquisition, Sanjay Routray of Matchbox Pictures says, “It is our privilege to have someone like Sriram Raghavan help us identify good content. We feel these incredible true-life stories in Behind Bars In Byculla need to be told on a wider medium. Matchbox will be collaborating with Jaspinder Singh Kang on this project.”
Sriram Raghavan, who also launched Jigna’s book, says, “I was curious about Behind Bars In Byculla because it’s a crime reporter’s point-of-view about life in a prison. Parts of it reminded me of Ek Hasina Thi. The book talks about Jigna's career as a journalist, how she got mired in the case, her time in jail and her eventual acquittal. Alongside, it’s peppered with her interactions with the famous and infamous inmates there. It’s a fascinating story and a gripping read. There’s a lot to read between the lines too.”
Jigna recalls the nightmare she lived through. She says, “This is my journey to hell and back. I couldn’t have trusted anyone more than Matchbox to stay true to my story.”
S Hussain Zaidi, bestselling crime author and Jigna’s mentor, says, “We aim to present unique and path breaking stories on screen as never seen before. And to that effect, our partnership with Matchbox is synergistic.”