A Bollywood-inspired adaptation of A Christmas Carol will star a version of Ebenezer Scrooge who ‘despises refugees’, the director has revealed.
The musical, which is directed by Gurinder Chadha and based on the 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, will feature a ‘British-Indian’ man named Sood as the lead character.
He is described as a wealthy man who hates poor people and refugees on the basis they ‘haven’t worked as hard as him to get where he is’.
The film, called Christmas Karma, is due for release in November this year and will star Kunal Nayyar, Boy George, Eva Longoria, Hugh Bonneville and Billy Porter.
EastEnders actor Danny Dyer also has a part in the musical as a London cab driver and was spotted wearing a red Christmas jumper during filming in May last year.
Ms Chadha said according to The Telegraph: ‘Our Scrooge, called Sood, is a rich British Indian who despises poor people and refugees in particular.
‘Sood has decided that immense wealth brings him status and standing, so to hell with the poor, unemployed and disenfranchised who didn’t work as hard as him to get where he is.’
The director, who is known for Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice, said the inspiration for the modern-day musical came from politicians in Britain today.
A Bollywood-inspired adaptation of A Christmas Carol will star a version of Ebenezer Scrooge who ‘despises refugees’, the director has revealed
The film, called Christmas Karma, is due for release in November this year and will star Danny Dyer (left) and Hugh Bonneville (right)
The musical, which is directed by Gurinder Chadha (pictured) and based on the 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, will feature a ‘British-Indian’ man named Sood as the lead character
She added that Christmas Karma, which is set in London, is a celebration of ‘all of modern Britain’s communities and cultures’.
Ms Chadha explained that her version is ‘very true to the original text and sentiment’ and aims to teach viewers how prejudice in society still exists.
‘A hundred-and-eighty-two years later, Dickens’ novella still resonates globally in today’s sometimes harsh world,’ she said.
A Christmas Carol traditionally recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge – a miserable old man who is visited by a series of ghosts.
He is subsequently transformed into a kinder and more empathetic character.
Nayyar, who will play the protagonist in Ms Chadha’s musical, is known for his role as Raj Koothrappali in the US sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Meanwhile, Boy George will play the Ghost of Christmas Future and Paddington’s Hugh Bonneville will take on the role of the Ghost of Jacob Marley.
The film, called Christmas Karma, is due for release in November this year and will star Kunal Nayyar as the protagonist
The film, called Christmas Karma, is due for release in November this year and will star Kunal Nayyar, Boy George (left), Eva Longoria (right), Hugh Bonneville and Billy Porter
Nayyar, who will play the protagonist in Ms Chadha’s musical, is known for his role as Raj Koothrappali in the US sitcom The Big Bang Theory
Christmas Karma is the latest in a series of controversial remakes of Dickens’ work.
In 2019, the BBC’s version of A Christmas Carol was slammed by viewers for tampering with the traditional dialogue.
Those tuning into episode one of the three-part drama were shocked when lead character Ebeneezer Scrooge [played by Guy Pearce] dropped the F-bomb.
The mini-series was written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
It shocked fans from the off, opening with a scene in which a young boy urinates on the grave of Jacob Marley, calling him ‘a skinflint b*****d’.
Claire Tomalin, who wrote a celebrated biography of Dickens, said at the time: ‘I don’t think he would have been very pleased.
‘Dickens didn’t need people urinating on graves. He reached people through the power of his words and his imagination.’
