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NGC commissions Pope Francis biopic & Space Shuttle Challenger disaster special

Published

10 years ago

November 10, 2015

MUMBAI: National Geographic Channel is planning two specials focused on people and events that have had a profound impact on modern history. Jorge Mario Bergoglio – otherwise known as Pope Francis – will be the subject of the powerful and moving biopic, Rebel Pope. While Space Shuttle Challenger’s ill-fated 1986 flight will be revisited on its 30th anniversary via rare footage from the time in Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes.

Both one hour films are set to air globally on National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and 45 languages in early 2016.

Rebel Pope interweaves dramatic, scripted accounts of episodes from Bergoglio’s pre-Vatican life and career with documentary interviews from those close to him during this time. From Bergoglio’s childhood to his entry into the Jesuit order, the film tracks his rise through the Church hierarchy, and eventual emergence as the popular “Bishop of the Slums.” His radical views would stir controversy in some circles, but also put him in line to lead one of the world’s oldest and largest religious institutions. Filming on the biopic will take place in Argentina and Colombia.

NGCI executive vice president and head of international content Hamish Mykura said, “Pope Francis is a fascinating figure with an incredible backstory that hasn’t been told in full until now. Rebel Pope is the definitive story of his rise to power. Between the scripted elements and the interviews, we really get under the skin of this man of the people to find out how his inspiring beliefs evolved and what the influences were that shaped him on his path to the papacy.”

On 28 January, 1986, the eyes of the world were turned toward Cape Canaveral as NASA prepared to send the first civilian into the stratosphere. Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes follows the story of the Space Shuttle Challenger and its crew, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe. Chosen from thousands of applicants, the 36 year old’s objective was to expand the understanding of the nation’s school children about space and the next generation of interplanetary travel. But her dreams – and those of NASA – were tragically cut short when the Challenger exploded just after lift-off in front of a live television audience.

The events of the days leading up to the disaster are detailed in this unique film, told solely via rarely seen national and local news reports, and little-known internal NASA archival footage featuring Christa McAuliffe rehearsing the lessons she planned to give from space as well as from cameras inside Mission Control in the hours after the tragedy occurred.

Mykura added, “As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Challenger disaster, the opportunity to go behind the scenes in a way never seen before and put the event into the context of its time, is a rare privilege. With leaps and bounds being made in space exploration, it is vital that we fully understand the trajectory that led us to this point and acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives in our quest to better understand the solar system.”

Rebel Pope is produced by Fox Telecolombia, a production company part owned by Fox International Channels. It is written and directed by Patrick Reams.

Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes is produced by 1895 Films. For 1895 Films, the executive producer is Tom Jennings, whereas for NGC Mykura is overseeing both productions.

Related Topics:National Geographic Channel NGC Pope Francis

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Kumar Mangalam Birla makes KBC debut with Amitabh Bachchan

Published

2 months ago

December 29, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.

Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.

In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.

The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.

The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

Factual

Rocky heats up NCR as Road Trippin returns with winter bites

Published

2 months ago

December 26, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Winter’s bite just got tastier. Road Trippin With Rocky is back for its 15th season, with Rocky Singh rolling through the NCR to plate up comfort food, cult favourites and cold-weather cravings from 27 to 30 December.

The four-day journey opens in Noida, where Rocky kicks off with the much-loved Jain Tikki Wala in Sector 27 before wrapping the day at the always-humming Social. Faridabad follows, with stops shaped by local recommendations, while Gurugram brings a balance of indulgence and restraint from a standout vegetarian spread to smoky carnivore fare at The Pit, finished with Thai flavours at Banng.

Saving the grand finale for Delhi, Rocky dives into the capital’s contrasts from humble roadside falahar to refined fine-dining tables that define New Delhi’s evolving food scene. The promise is simple: honest recommendations that belong on every serious food lover’s list.

Over the years, #RoadTrippin has grown into one of HistoryTV18’s most successful digital-first properties. Built for viewers who snack on content on the move, the format’s easy humour, spontaneity and conversational style have kept audiences coming back season after season.

The numbers underline its pull. Across platforms, the franchise has clocked over 2 billion impressions and more than 550 million video views, turning each new season into a highly anticipated return.

Season 15 of #RoadTrippinWithRocky will play out across HistoryTV18’s and Rocky’s social media handles, a winter road trip that proves once again that in NCR, the cold only makes the food hotter.

Factual

Street of Stories Warner Bros doc amplifies GB Road’s unheard voices

Published

4 months ago

November 18, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: The cries may have gone unheard, but the stories now refuse to stay silent. Warner Bros. Discovery and Times Network have come together to shine a piercing, humanising light on Delhi’s GB Road, one of India’s most stigmatised spaces with Unheard Cries at GB Road, a documentary that trades sensationalism for truth, and myth for lived reality. The film premiered on 17 November 2025 on discovery+, offering rare, unfiltered access to a world long discussed but rarely listened to.

Crafted under Times Now Studios and shaped by producer and co-writer Rohit Chadda, the documentary draws on over 50 in-depth interviews with survivors, sex workers, police officials, social workers and experts. Instead of dramatisation or stylised retellings, the film builds itself on first-hand accounts bringing to the fore women whose lives have often been spoken about, yet scarcely spoken to.

At its heart, Unheard Cries at GB Road is a testament to the women who battle cycles of trauma, exploitation and coercion, while still searching for small, stubborn pockets of hope. Their accounts, delivered on record and often at great personal risk, reveal the emotional, physical and psychological landscapes of a district too frequently flattened by stereotype.

Warner Bros. Discovery, head of factual entertainment, lifestyle & kids for South Asia,Sai Abishek said the project demanded both courage and care. “Unheard Cries at GB Road is a story that demands to be seen and heard. Factual storytelling carries responsibility, and this film embodies that commitment. By giving these women the space to speak for themselves, the documentary brings rare honesty and emotional depth to a subject too often misunderstood.”

The production team gained access to the interiors of brothels, capturing the quiet routines, the harsh constraints and the precarious negotiations that shape daily life. Insights from the Delhi Police, NGO workers and legal experts situate these personal stories within the larger systems of trafficking, safety failures and legal gaps that the women must navigate.

Rohit Chadda said, “We made this film to confront a truth that has long remained ignored. Our commitment from the very beginning was to tell these stories with honesty, dignity, and responsibility – and we hope it resonates deeply enough to spark reflection, conversation, and a sense of hope, which results in long term change. Unheard Cries at GB Road is the first production under the banner of Times Now Studios, and we intend to build on this foundation by creating more meaningful, purpose-driven stories that deserve a platform and a voice.”

“This special documentary, produced under Times Now Studios and directed by Rohit Chadda and Yatharth Chauhan, is built on more than 50 in-depth interviews.”

While the documentary does not attempt to provide simple solutions, it offers something more vital, a vantage point grounded in truth. By presenting the voices of women who endure the unseen and the unimaginable on a daily basis, the film asks viewers to confront the complexity of GB Road with empathy rather than judgement.

Unheard Cries at GB Road is streaming now on discovery+, inviting the nation to listen truly listen to stories that can no longer remain in the shadows.