Raell Padamsee shares three suspense films she would love to adapt to the stage

Theatre director and production head Raell Padamsee loves the stage and that is known. But she enjoys films too, especially a good suspense or drama. We asked her to share three suspense-based films that she would love to adapt to the stage. Speaking to BT, Raell says, “These are all my favourite films about intrigue and drama.

The first is ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses' that was initially written in French, and was brilliant.It had my all-time favourite actors in the Hollywood production - ‘Dangerous Liaisons' - John Malkovich, Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer. We did a production of this many years ago with Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Sabira Merchant in it and mummy (late veteran actor and director Pearl Padamsee) had directed it. I’ve always wanted to take this up again and I would love to do a new, innovative production of it."

Her second choice is a filmmaker most people love. Adds Raell, “My next film that I would really like to take to the stage is Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’. I stay right opposite Cusrow Baug and whenever I see that movie, I feel I am literally living it as I can look into so many people’s homes. I don’t want to peer into anyone’s houses, but they are right there, so maybe an Indian adaptation of 'Rear Window', based on Hitchcock’s film that will be set in Cusrow Baug.”

Her third is a movie called ‘Unfaithful’. She says, “The film starred Richard Gere, Diane lane and Oliver Martinez. It has layers and layers upon intrigue and it’s just so interesting. I feel it would lend itself well to an Indian adaptation, with three cast members - a husband, wife and the lover.”