Streaming platforms go the Bollywood way with biopics, real-life stories

Whereas Netflix noticed traction for its movie Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Woman, the actual life story of an Indian Air Pressure officer, Dangerous Boy Billionaires —a four-part documentary on Indian businessmen Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Subrato Roy and Ramalinga Raju was tremendously appreciated.

Whereas Trying to find Sheela, a documentary on Ma Anand Sheela a former affiliate of the controversial religious guru Osho Rajneesh was launched on 22 April on Netflix, SonyLIV’s Rip-off 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story stays some of the common reveals within the internet area.

By the way, The Huge Bull, a extra fictionalized tackle Mehta proved to be the most important opener of the 12 months to date for platform Disney+ Hotstar after its premiere earlier this month. A number of platform house owners and content material creators Mint spoke with stated whereas buying rights to doc somebody’s life or to a guide on them could also be costly, the allure of real-life tales lies of their complicated and layered construction. As a various nation, India throws up loads of examples of figures which are inspiring, whom persons are interested in or who’ve already garnered public consideration previously.

“A narrative whether or not fully primarily based on actuality or impressed by it, is held to the identical commonplace by audiences as a very fictional story. However it’s maybe the authenticity of the drama and the honesty of the characters that make these tales most relatable,” Tanya Bami, director, worldwide originals, Netflix India stated. Biopic Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Woman primarily based on the primary feminine Indian Air Pressure officer to go to warfare, was the preferred drama movie on the service in 2020. Plus, documentary viewing grew greater than 100% over the 12 months, with Dangerous Boy Billionaires standing out as some of the common titles within the style.

Karan Bedi, chief government officer, MX Participant, who has seen traction for collection Queen, loosely primarily based on the lifetime of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, stated India is a nation of heroes throughout sectors, be it sports activities, politics or enterprise. “Persons are all the time focused on studying extra about these they appear as much as. This (real-life tales and biopics) could be very fertile floor and one thing we’re exploring actively,” stated Bedi.

The platform has a few such reveals lined up, stated Bedi declining to share particulars. Plus, in contrast to characteristic movies, internet reveals shouldn’t have to wrap up a narrative inside two hours and might go deeper to supply a extra nuanced view relatively than only a hagiographic take, he stated.

Loads of these individuals and incidents return to a time when there weren’t as many media avenues to supply round the clock protection and lots of particulars could have by no means reached viewers although they had been keenly , stated Marathi movie producer Akshay Bardapurkar who’s making a present on RSS founder Ok.B. Hedgewar. “Additionally, a variety of younger viewers used to up to date, city life can be curious to see costumes or atmosphere relationship again to a Nineteen Eighties or 90s Mumbai or Delhi,” he added.

To make certain, whereas buying rights to a biography or autobiography could not come low-cost, the larger problem arises when the present relies on info within the public area with out instantly naming the individuals concerned, stated Nimisha Pandey, head, Hindi originals, ZEE5.

“It’s each difficult and provoking as a result of a few of these are individuals you understand somewhat about, and can now see their story,” stated Pandey whose platform has premiered Karenjit Kaur-The Untold Story of Sunny Leone moreover reveals akin to Jeet Ki Zid (primarily based on the actual lifetime of Main Deependra Singh Sengar who fought within the Kargil Warfare), State of Siege: 26/11 (primarily based on the 2008 Mumbai terror assaults) and flicks akin to The Sholay Woman (primarily based on Bollywood’s first stuntwoman Reshma Pathan).