When it comes to filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s style of filmmaking, there is always a sense of rawness associated with them that make them an intriguing watch. Be it his fictional movies like Chhalaang or the ones based on real-life like Shahid, his stories are always rooted in reality and present a new facet of human beings each time. And that is what makes his cinema relatable to me. Now, the filmmaker is all set to kick off a partnership with Netflix, and I am really excited about that prospect.
Hansal will make his debut on the platform, with the series Scoop. Inspired by the book written by Jigna Vora, Behind The Bars In Byculla: My Days in Prison, Scoop is a character drama that traces the journey of Jagruti Pathak, an ambitious crime journalist. It recently went on floors under the production company, Matchbox Shots.
Source: Instagram | @hansalmehta
The story follows Jagruti’s journey as her world comes crashing down when she is charged for the heinous murder of a fellow journalist, Jaideb Sen, and ends up in a prison cell with those she once reported on. The others charged include a notorious sharp shooter, a nefarious bookie and the infamous, Chhota Rajan. Her wait for the truth to be uncovered as she prepares for a trial, makes for an intriguing story.
Speaking about it, Hansal said,
“Reading Jigna Vora’s book – ‘Behind The Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison’ piqued my interest and compelled me to bring this story alive on screen. We’ve already begun filming and I’m excited about this story being my first collaboration with Netflix. Great stories can only benefit from a service that can make it reach a wider set of audience, Scoop is that kind of a story and with Netflix, we will be able to take it to audiences across the globe. With my co-creator Mrunmayee Lagoo and producers Matchbox Shots, I am seeking to delve deep into a tale of our mediatised times and the human cost of stories that we consume on a daily basis.”
Sanjay Routray, the producer at Matchbox Shots, said,
“When we first laid our hands on Jigna Vora’s book ‘Behind the Bars in Byculla’, we were astounded and instantly knew that this inspirational story of grit and courage needs to be told on a wider medium. Netflix was the obvious choice for us because filming it as a series gives us the opportunity to nuance the characters and their emotions further. For a tale with such a gut-wrenching narrative, only a mastermind like Hansal Mehta would be able to do complete justice. He’s a natural when it comes to bringing such hard-hitting, real-life stories to life. Honestly, our collaboration with Hansal and Netflix just aligned seamlessly, and it’s the perfect combination for stellar storytelling.”
