Cineflix Rights Boards Song of the Sun God

Cineflix Rights has entered into a development deal with Synchronicity Films and Dragonet Films for the drama series Song of the Sun God, adapted from Shankari Chandran’s debut novel.

Cineflix Rights comes on board as a creative and financing partner, with the first option on exclusive worldwide distribution. The six-part thriller explores loves, lies and misdemeanors spanning three generations of a close-knit Sri Lankan family, whose story is entangled in their country’s three-decade-long civil war.

Song of the Sun God is being adapted for TV by Olivia Hetreed (Girl with a Pearl Earring, Wuthering Heights). Executive producers are Claire Mundell for Synchronicity Films and Karen Radzyner for Dragonet Films.

James Durie, head of scripted at Cineflix Rights, said: “Song of the Sun God is an immensely powerful novel exploring universal themes of familial love, tension and redemption arising from previously hidden dark secrets. What makes it special is how the story unfolds from a diverse, female perspective across three continents and three generations. We were incredibly impressed with Olivia’s vision to turn this critically-acclaimed novel into a stunning series with global appeal, and we’re thrilled to be working with Synchronicity and Dragonet who have such a great track record of producing high-quality, global successes.”

Radzyner added: “Author Shankari Chandran and screenwriter Olivia Hetreed are an explosive combination conjuring a riveting, emotional, high-stakes series. Centered on the present-day repercussions of decisions made by women navigating a family through a decades-long clash, it brings to light an untold story of a little-known 21st-century war, whose ripples continue to generate global impact. Synchronicity Films and now Cineflix Rights are ideal partners to give this adaptation life.”

Mundell said: “From the moment I read Shankari’s breathtaking novel, I was immediately hooked on this deeply affecting story about the generational human cost of conflict on one family. Olivia is the perfect writer to bring this story to the screen and will do so with compassion, insight and humanity. We are thrilled to be a part of this prestige project with Karen at Dragonet.”

Chandran commented: “What happened in Sri Lanka has happened all over the world. Sometimes we see the injustices and sometimes we care about them. Often, we don’t. Storytelling through television has never had more power to elevate the lives of others than it does right now. All I’ve ever wanted for this novel was for people to see that the tragedy of war is as universal as the love of family, but that love is much stronger. I am really excited to be a part of the team as Synchronicity, Dragonet and Cineflix Rights bring this novel to the screen.”