Latest news with #Scoop
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Behind The Biopic Boom: The Reel Truth Of Real Stories
From political giants and war heroes to scam artists and godmen, everyone's life now seems destined for the big screen. What changed? The answer is part business, part belief, and part battlefield. The Business of 'Real' For filmmakers and studios, the biopic offers something most original scripts can't: built-in recognition. You don't have to explain who M.S. Dhoni is. Or Manjhi, the man who carved a road through a mountain. Their names, already soaked in emotion or awe, do half the marketing. When a story is tied to a real figure especially one adored, martyred, or controversial, audience curiosity is immediate, and word-of-mouth does the rest. This makes biopics surprisingly risk-proof. 'It's a win-win," says a Mumbai-based producer who has worked on two such films. 'You get organic buzz, political relevance, and media coverage without spending crores on promotional gimmicks." Even average films, as long as they ride a 'real story' wave often find decent returns, especially when timed around elections, anniversaries, or trending issues. Streaming platforms, too, are feeding the fire. Docu-dramas and limited series like Scoop, Rocket Boys, and Trial By Fire tap into the same thirst: audiences crave context for headlines they've only half-understood, and real-life pain offers deeper emotional hooks than any fictional plot twist can. A Nation, Projected In a country as diverse and contested as India, every story told onscreen isn't just entertainment, it's a statement. And in the age of hyper-visibility and political polarization, the biopic has become a new kind of propaganda, draped in cinematic respectability. Consider the sudden surge of films centred around nationalist figures, soldiers, and spiritual leaders. They arrive like clockwork in the run-up to elections. The Narendra Modi biopic, for instance, was released just before the 2019 general elections. The Accidental Prime Minister, Thackeray, Yatra each one timed to sway, nudge, remind. That's not coincidence. That's curation. A biopic tells you whom to remember and more crucially, how. It edits history, omits controversy, polishes legacy. A rebel becomes a visionary. A complicated figure is flattened into a slogan. And if you're paying close attention, you'll notice who keeps getting left out. The Politics of Absence For every Shershaah or 83, there are a dozen lives we never see onscreen. These absences aren't accidental, they reflect deeper hierarchies of power and narrative permission. Making a biopic often requires some level of access, approval, or cooperation from the family or state. And no surprise, those who challenge dominant power structures rarely get invited to tell their version of events. Even when stories from the margins are made, they often arrive with caveats softened, symbolic, or tucked into streaming platforms without theatrical fanfare. So while the genre looks inclusive, it's often playing safe. Or worse, playing favorites. The Messy Truth Behind the 'True Story" And then, of course, there's the biggest illusion of all that what we're watching is the truth. Most biopics are anything but. To dramatize a life is, by definition, to edit it. Timelines are restructured. Facts are rearranged. Dull years are deleted. Events are reimagined with flair and fog. Sometimes, that's artistic license. But often, it's strategic storytelling. Biopics have become a delicate dance of PR, public memory, and performance. Legal teams are on alert. Families demand scripts be shown in advance. In powerful circles, a favourable film can be a career booster or a legacy reset. And when lawsuits do arise, the excuse is ready: 'This is fiction, inspired by real events." This genre now thrives in that murky space, not quite documentary, not quite imagination. The result? Audiences walk away believing they know what happened. But what they often get is a narrative scrubbed of its grime, controversies reframed, and inconvenient truths either diluted or deleted. advetisement It is Omnipresent The biopic boom isn't confined to Bollywood alone, it's a pan-India phenomenon sweeping across languages and regional cinemas with equal intensity. In Tamil, Thalaivii told the dramatic arc of Jayalalithaa's life, navigating her journey from actress to formidable politician, though critics pointed out its sanitised portrayal of realpolitik. Malayalam cinema delivered Celluloid, a poignant tribute to J.C. Daniel, the father of Malayalam cinema, while also highlighting caste-based discrimination, a rare case where the form dared to be critical. ' Ennu Ninte Moideen' also from Malayalam, stood out for its tender yet tragic retelling of the real-life love story between Moideen and Kanchanamala, set in 1960s Kerala. While technically more of a romantic drama than a traditional biopic, it drew heavily from letters, diaries, and real-world accounts, earning both critical and box office success. Thus, proving that real-life romance, too, has cinematic muscle. In Telugu, 'Mahanati ' received widespread acclaim for its lush, tragic portrayal of yesteryear star Savitri, balancing reverence with vulnerability and capturing the harsh realities of a woman's stardom in a patriarchal industry. advetisement Marathi cinema has also dabbled richly in the genre, from 'Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush' on freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak to 'Anandi Gopal ', based on India's first female doctor, both films used history to provoke reflection on contemporary values. Even Kannada cinema's 'Kantara' while not a biopic borrowed heavily from real rituals and folklore, blurring lines between lived experience and cultural re-enactment. These regional biopics carry their own flavours and stakes, often tied to linguistic pride, local legends, and forgotten icons proving that the hunger for 'real" stories is neither uniform nor surface-level. But across languages, the same questions persist: Who gets to be remembered? And who gets rewritten? Where Do We Go From Here? And yet, despite the manipulation and fatigue, we keep watching. Because somewhere deep down, we still want to believe. That stories matter. That memory matters. That cinema, at its best, can still reflect more than just entertainment.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Guess What Makes Karishma Tanna A "Gujju Queen" - Her Love For Theplas Of Course
Karishma Tanna is a true-blue 'Gujju queen.' No, we are not making the claims, but the actress has claimed it herself. Her latest Instagram entry is nothing but clear proof that she loves authentic Gujarati food. In the video, the Scoop film star was seen vibing to the now-viral song Intaha Ho Gai Intezar Ki from the 1984 movie Sharaabi. The fun clip, however, has a culinary twist. Karishma walks inside what appears to be her vanity van, lip-syncing to the lyrics. Her team offers her a myriad of dishes, including wraps, sandwiches, salad bowls and a fruit spread. But guess what? She refuses them all only to savour a plate of thepla. This flatbread is a staple snack in Gujarat prepared with wheat flour, fenugreek leaves (methi), and lip-smacking spices. Karishma Tanna dances joyfully as she takes a scrumptious bite of the thepla, calling herself a 'Gujju queen'. The video ends with the actress blowing kisses to the paratha. The side note read, 'My love forever .. you will know it in the Reel.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karishma K Tanna (@karishmaktanna) Previously, Karishma Tanna treated fans to a random photo dump. A foodie at heart, it was her gastronomical adventures that stole the show in the carousel. The opening frame captured the 41-year-old holding a plate of til laddo topped with pistachios. She brought one piece of the sweet close to her mouth and her delightful expressions proved her love for Indian mithais. Next, Karishma Tanna indulged in the goodness of strawberries drizzled with gooey chocolate syrup from Chantilly cafe in Mumbai. Karsima Tanna's desi outing involved relishing muthia — a type of fried dumplings mixed with spices and veggies, popular in Gujarat. In two additional plates, there were crispy gobi and onion pakodas paired with red and green chutneys. Finally, in the last slide, Karishma enjoyed what seems to be an appestising Spanish delicacy — Flamenquin casero. This deep-fried roll is usually filled with ham and cheese. 'Random Post .. don't ask me why,' she captioned. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karishma K Tanna (@karishmaktanna) Karsima Tanna's epicurean diaries are just so drool-worthy. Agreed?
Scoop
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
Upcoming Night Works On SH1 Fanshawe Street To Greenlane
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is advising drivers to plan ahead for multiple night-time closures on State Highway 1 (SH1) between Fanshawe Street and Greenlane (southbound) over the next two weeks. The road closures are required for NZTA contractors to carry out essential work, including paving and stormwater maintenance. State Highway 16 (SH16) between Stanley Street and Wellesley Street (westbound) will also be closed. The southbound closures are scheduled between 10pm and 5am on: Sunday 20 July Tuesday 22 July Thursday 24 July Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 July For people travelling south on SH1, there will be a signposted detour via SH16 link to Port, Wellesley St, Grafton Rd, Khyber Pass Rd, Broadway, Great South Rd and Greenlane East. Emergency services will need to use the detour routes. These works are weather dependent and contingency dates have been put aside for 31 July, 7 and 8 August. Please check the Journey Planner for real-time information. From Monday 28 July, the closure may be shortened from Gillies Ave to Greenlane. If you would like to stay updated, please sign up to email alerts here. Ramp closures and lane restrictions may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Using Scoop for work? Scoop is free for personal use, but you'll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features. Join Pro Individual Find out more
Fashion Network
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Scoop SS26: continuity and strength
Anyone looking for a radically new and different trend direction might have been disappointed with the latest edition of Scoop this week. But anyone seeking a strong, quality product offer with which they could just about fill their entire store for SS26 would have come away happy. The overall story was, as always with this show, about subtly, imperceptibly even, moving the trend forward and brands known for a unique style that stays relatively constant. It's also a testament to the enduring appeal of the loose-cut printed dress and it's sometimes interesting to see how many interpretations of that can be found and can genuinely stand out from the crowd. The event remained at London's Olympia this time (although in a different hall — Olympia National — that was easier to find than last season) and with its 'Magical Edition' theme, the venue's embellishment, the ethereal mannequins as you entered, even the xylophone player at the entrance all added an entertaining edge to a show that's very much a 'let's get down to business' one. And business is key. Forget the runways and seminar programmes at other shows. Here it's all about the stands and the collections. And those stands are increasingly mixed between the women's clothing that makes up the bulk of the offer, the accessories and ever more jewellery and beauty exhibitors. So to get down to detail, there were over 200 premium, contemporary designer collections and visitors came from some distance away (Japan and the Caribbean probably being the furthest). European buyers were out in force, with the negative psychological impact of Brexit perhaps less of an issue? There was a strong Irish contingent of buyers too (maybe due to the same reason), as well as plenty from Northern England, Scotland and Wales, in addition to the heavy presence of those from the Southern England for whom London is a much easier trip. Visitors included independents such as Matthew Williamson, Cordelia James, Chattertons, Cavells, The Dressing Room, Bob & Ted, Sister, Anya, Doyle's, Sass & Edge, Browns, and The Mercantile. And major department stores including El Corte Inglés, Galeries LaFayette, Printemps, Anthropologie, Le Bon Marche, Fenwick, John Lewis, Frasers, Voisins, Morley Stores, and Macbees were there. Brand focus The mix of brands showing was cosmopolitan too with plenty from the UK, of course, but 35 from France, 25 from Spain, 10 from Greece, and 20 each from Italy and Denmark. On the show floor, Nordic contemporary brand Noen embraced the print and embroidery focus of the show but did it with an individual twist. Particularly striking was its Art Nouveau-influenced line-drawn print, found on dresses and separates and appealing enough to work for co-ords that might have been overpowering if more colours had been used. The overall colour palette was built around white with blues, greys, lilacs, creams and a hint of lemon. The team told us that buyers wanted 'newness, freshness, natural fibres, something quirky, not 'flat' and nice embroidery'. And buyers were very aware that 'consumers don't want a one-day wonder, they want to build up wardrobes'. At the joint Bl-nk (pronounced Blank) and Conditions Apply stand, it was an interesting situation of the former (and older) brand being new to the show and the latter having shown there for 10 years. Also interesting was that while print was a major story for Bl-nk in the dominant colours of mid-green and pink, 'we haven't done quite so much, we've incorporated more block colours, so more plains, in order to enable our clients to be able to have a little bit more breadth in terms of how they can style. We think it's slightly bewildering to have something that's very, very print heavy, but then to have a plane to break it up makes it slightly more palatable'. That said, the label has been more ambitious for the season with items like a dress with head to toe lines of frills. For Conditions Apply, the story was built more around the fabrics and details, along with the prints — but it was another celebration of maximalism, although one that in this case made the most of traditional Indian textile techniques. Australian label Palm Noosa also embraced print but in a much bolder form. The watchword here was perhaps 'fun' and the story was all about conversational prints that were pure summer. Represented by agency Claret Showroom, dresses were cut loose and fluid and were primarily longer-length, although this time there were minis too — think slightly flared tunic shapes and fringed minis — suggesting a targeting of a wide age range as well as ensuring there's something for the existing, slightly older customer. French brand Les Filles D'Ailleurs is a regular at the show and one that can always be relied upon to offer an alternative to the maximalist, print-heavy focus that many of the labels embrace. This time its palette of an almost-lemon cream, white, pale pink, blue and grey was a subtle backdrop for surface effects and textural finishes. A simple full skirt was transformed with an ultra-light taffeta that can work as well when crinkled as when smooth. And a perennially popular shirt dress reinvented given an edge with an allover bubble texture. Spanish labels were out in force, as were jewellery brands, underlining the increasing importance of this category to fashion boutiques as well as specialist jewellers. Combining both, UNOde50 (showing for only the second time) summed up the strong trend for sometimes-abstract organic forms in gold or silver, largely devoid of gemstones. Founded in the 1990s and with prices ranging from around £35 up to £150, it hits the sweet spot for many womenswear boutiques, although its designs are as much about 'statement artworks' as fashion pieces so it's no surprise to hear that it sells to art galleries as well as fashion stores. It saw particularly strong interest in its Manta Ray collection at Scoop. Another Spanish brand and Scoop first-timer, PDPaola, has been intensifying its efforts in the UK market in recent periods (as well as the US) with store openings and it's clear from its presence at the show that wholesale is crucial too. Featuring sterling silver, 18-carat gold- and rhodium-plating, it has an in-built advantage with its 1.6 million Instagram followers and actress Kelly Rutherford as a brand ambassador. Despite having 45 stores globally, it's also strong in wholesale and in the UK already sells to Selfridges, Liberty, John Lewis and a number of major independents. At the event it was showing its letter necklaces, charms, and sculptural pieces (again, a major trend at the show and a strong interpretation of it by a co-founder who was originally an architect), which it said were well-received by independent retailers. The brand is considering returning to the show based on the sales on day one alone. And once again from Spain, footwear brand Naguisa was doing strong business based on its reimagining of Spanish classics. Think espadrilles with a twist and more. That could have simply been a new type of braiding for an espadrille effect around the edge of a pair of sandals. But it was also taken further with crochet and intricately woven leather uppers (both of which we're told were proving popular). The view from the show floor It was hard to find anyone showing at Scoop with a bad word to say about it. And while a few seasons back, some had bemoaned the move from the Saatchi gallery to Olympia, everyone seemed happy this time with the space at Olympia National. And despite Sunday afternoon (day one) being quiet, perhaps due to the men's Wimbledon final, exhibitors seemed happy with overall attendance by day three. Alex Radford of agency Palladio Associates said it had been 'super busy' with the Vilagallo, Dream Catcher and Orfeo Paris brands it was showing all strong. It saw 'a lot of good buyers' including French department stores. 'The layout this season is better, the wider aisles make it easier for the buyers and shows the collections better and make it easier to do business'. Sam Hunt and Tara Marie Roche of London and New York-based bags brand écotorie said they'd 'written orders, seen old friends and new customers, so we couldn't be happier. It's been the right type of retailers too, more premium, from lovely areas like Richmond, Chiswick, Norwich, Ireland, Scotland and overseas as well'. New to the event was Stephane Kelian and the label's president Estelle Bauer called it 'wonderful… Launching a French collection that is quite expensive can be difficult but here it has received incredible feedback. I do a lot of fairs including Germany and Tokyo, Scoop really stands out, the atmosphere is warm, and the entire show is beautiful. I would definitely like to return in February'. Maria Alvares Rilla of Spain's Sophie and Lucie called it 'the most beautiful show you can go to in Europe, it is boutique and so well curated. What [organiser] Karen Radley does at Scoop is to act as a host, so you feel you are part of something special and very personal. The show has its own rhythm, you can work steadily here without feeling overcrowded but meeting all the right boutiques and stores. For Sophie and Lucie it is an important show, and the UK is becoming one of our most important markets'.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Blue Peter makes history by hiring non-human presenter for the very first time
The BBC's children's show has been on air since 1958 but has made history again with the announcement that canine comedian Hacker T Dog will join the line up. Blue Peter has made history by hiring a non-human presenter. The flagship children's programme is one of the longest-running shows in the world but for the first time in its 67-year history, bosses have opted for a completely different kind of personality to helm the show. acker T Dog, a resident CBBC puppet, will now be part of the on-air team alongside Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney, Shini Muthukrishnan and Henry the Blue Peter pet dog. The puppet was initially voiced by Andy Heath when he made his debut on the children's network in 2009 as part of the TV show Scoop before Phil Fletcher took over a few months later, and has been a mainstay on-screen ever since. Over the years, the puppet has undertaken general hosting duties on the channel and even featured as a guest presenter on Blue Peter in the past. Announcing the news of his full-time position on the programme, he said: 'It's dead exciting! Thank you for letting me aboard the mighty ship Blue Peter. I am privileged, nay proud, to be involved in this fine institution and top-notch show. That's right folks, it's me Hacker The Dog, national treasure, and new Blue Peter presenter.' Hacker, who also featured in his own show Hacker Time from 2011 until 2016, is the 44th presenter to land a coveted spot on the prestigious programme. Puppeteer Phil also spoke of how he grew up with Blue Peter and is "thrilled" to join the team. Hacker has so far taken part in festive specials for Blue Peter, Red Nose Day and Children in Need shows, and also presented several 'Here's One I Made Earlier' craft segments. The puppet has also interviewed huge celebrities for the station, having spoken to the likes of Little Mix, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jack Black and John Cena amongst a host of others over the years. In the very early days of the programme, it was fronted by Christopher Trace and Leila Williams before John Noakes established himself as the longest-serving presenter with a 12-year stint throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Janet Ellis, mother of pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor, was also a notable member of the on air-team in its early decades, having fronted the at the end of the 1970s and on into the 1980s. In later years, the series made a star out of Konnie Huq when she became the longest-serving female presenter over a period of nine years from 1997 until 2008. TV favourite Helen Skelton appeared on the famous desk shortly after making her debut on CBBC show Newsround and then went on to host Countryfile in the years before she competed on Strictly Come Dancing. Hacker will join current presenters in the new look Blue Peter studio from Friday 5 September. To mark his debut as presenter number 44, Hacker will take viewers on a special tour of his hometown, Wigan, highlighting its most iconic spots. Sarah Muller, BBC Senior Head of Children's Commissioning +7, said: 'Audiences already love Hacker's guest appearances on Blue Peter, and now he's officially joining the team this September as we unveil the show's fresh new look. Viewers can expect plenty of mischief from the one-and-only Hacker T Dog.' Blue Peter airs on CBBC, BBC Two, Sign Zone and BBC iPlayer.
