Mumbai: Writer/director Anthony Minghella died in London on 18 March. He died of brain haemorrhage at the age 54, arguably, the prime of his career.
His latest movie as writer, The No. 1 ladies Detective Agency premiered a week before his death. Due to his severe illness, he was unable to attend the premiere and passed on the next day, even as BBC showcased the movie. He also served as a producer on The Reader, which is set to release later this year. The movie was based on the Oprah Winfrey-blessed German novel.
Recently before his demise, Minghella had also signed an agreement with BBC and HBO, along with Weinstein Co to broadcast an adaptation of his last movie, The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in a13-part TV series along with the movie itself. The movie is based on the best-selling novel, set in Botswana.
Minghella was well-known for his Oscar win as Best Director of The English Patient. With an impressive 24 other wins, including two BAFTA awards for his movies, Minghella was a heavyweight at literary adaptations. Minghella also wrote and directed The Talented Mr. Ripley, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel of murder and guilt, as well as the adaptation of Charles Frazier’s Civil War drama Cold Mountain.
Left behind, in the wake of his death, are two projects. One is a celluloid dedication to the Big Apple called New York, I love you that he had completed writing and the other The Ninth Life of Louis Drax, an adaptation of a psychological thriller by Liz Jensen, which was yet to be started. Although the producers say that they would dedicate New York, I love you to Minghella, his family is yet to decide what is to be done on the project.
