Pink Panther set to hit Indian screens

A new version of the Hollywood slapstick comedy The Pink Panther, loosely based on the 1964 Peter Sellers original of the same name, will hit Indian theatres on April 28.

Loaded with humour, the film stars Steve Martin in the role of a hapless, bungling detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau.

Asked to solve a high-profile crime, Clouseau makes a series of hilariously clumsy missteps while sniffing at evidence and tracing out the murderers.

The movie revolves around a famous soccer coach who meets an untimely death, leaving behind Xania (Beyonce Knowles), his beautiful and famous fiancée.

The murder not only botches up Xania's future but her engagement ring - the fabled Pink Panther diamond - she discovers is missing too.

Clouseau's scheming boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline), hands over the case to Clouseau thinking he will take it over at a crucial juncture and win the coveted Medal of Honour.

How Clouseau solves the murder mystery, recovers the precious diamond and beats his boss at his own game, forms the crux of the story.

Originally Kevin Spacey and Mike Myers were considered for the role of Inspector Clouseau and Jackie Chan was for Clouseau's assistant, Kato.

In the early stages of development, Chris Tucker was approached for the role of Clouseau with Ivan Reitman wielding the megaphone.

Martin's overwrought French accent and metaphorically huge head are the highlight of director Shawn Levy's action-packed comedy.

First Published: Apr 24, 2006 12:04 IST