Veteran producers Tabrez Noorani and Amar Butala have signed on for the film adaptation of Ashok Rajamani’s memoir “The Day My Brain Exploded.”
The adaptation chronicles Rajamani’s extraordinary survival story as a first-generation Indian American who suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage at age 25 during his brother’s wedding, leaving him to navigate profound physical and emotional challenges. The memoir has broken ground as the first South Asian American memoir of its kind to tackle disability, racism, and cultural taboos.
Noorani, whose production credits include awards season darlings “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Life of Pi,” along with studio tentpoles “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Million Dollar Arm,” and “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” will leverage his cross-cultural storytelling expertise for the project. He previously made his directorial debut with the human trafficking drama “Love, Sonia,” starring Demi Moore and Freida Pinto.
“I’m excited to adapt ‘The Day My Brain Exploded’ because it’s a story that captures the very essence of what it means to rebuild yourself when everything seems lost,” Noorani said. “The emotional depth, the vulnerability, and the triumph over adversity make it an incredible narrative to bring to life on screen. It’s not just a story about surviving a physical trauma; it’s about the emotional and psychological journey of finding meaning in the aftermath.”
Joining the production is Bollywood powerhouse Butala, whose resume includes “Bajrangi Bhaijaan,” one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. Butala, who also contributed to “Slumdog Millionaire,” brings heavyweight industry experience to the adaptation.
“I’m thrilled to bring ‘The Day My Brain Exploded’ to the big screen,” Butala said. “This isn’t just another medical story. It’s a chance to tell a deeply personal, yet universally relatable tale, one that blends cultural richness with raw human experience in a way that’s never been seen before.”
Rajamani, who will serve as a producer on the film, added: “My memoir is in good hands. As the American son of Indian immigrants, I’m absolutely delighted, as Tabrez and Amar have been involved with some of the most iconic films concerning the South Asian Diaspora in cinematic history.”
