or


[10/24/11 - 08:29 AM]
"Marathon Boy" Tells the Turbulent Story of a Child's Journey from Slum Dweller to National Sensation in India When the Documentary Debuts Nov. 3 on HBO
The film kicks off a month of weekly documentaries about modern-day India debuting on HBO and HBO2.

[via press release from HBO]

"MARATHON BOY" TELLS THE TURBULENT STORY OF A CHILD'S JOURNEY FROM SLUM DWELLER TO NATIONAL SENSATION IN INDIA WHEN THE DOCUMENTARY DEBUTS NOV. 3 ON HBO

Film Kicks Off A Month of Weekly Documentaries About Modern-Day India Debuting on HBO and HBO2

Six years ago, in an impoverished corner of India, an orphanage director and a slum boy captured the imagination of their country. Plucked from obscurity and thrust into the national spotlight, Budhia Singh ran 48 marathons by the age of four, winning thousands of fans and making headlines around the world. But what started as a remarkable rags-to-riches saga morphed into a tale of greed, corruption and broken dreams. The action-packed MARATHON BOY recounts Budhia Singh's fascinating story when it debuts THURSDAY, NOV. 3 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 3 (4:45 a.m.), 6 (1:30 p.m.), 9 (8:15 a.m., 6:30 p.m.), 12 (4:30 p.m.) and 14 (2:15 p.m., 10:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 20 (1:00 p.m.) and 25 (11:15 a.m.)

Filmed between 2005 and 2010, MARATHON BOY is a riveting exploration of poverty, corruption and exploitation. Born next to a railroad track, Singh was sold by his destitute mother to a street hawker at age three. Destined to lead a desperate existence as a beggar, he was rescued by Biranchi Das, a concerned local judo coach who ran an orphanage for slum children.

Recognizing in Singh an uncommon talent for long-distance running, Das became his mentor and nurtured the boy's gift. A master showman, Das also organized marathon events designed to showcase Singh's talent and raise his profile, thereby turning him into a folk hero for the underprivileged masses.

Fascinated by the boy's ability after reading about him online, British filmmaker Gemma Atwal set out to film his story, focusing on his complex relationship with Biranchi Das, whose genuine affection for the child is countered by his zeal to burnish Singh's celebrity at all costs. Allowed direct access over the course of five years, Atwal and her crew captured many of the boy's racing milestones as a three- and four-year-old, as well as intimate moments between Singh, Das and his wife Gita, who is interviewed for the film, along with several other principals.

Atwal chronicles the government's growing disapproval of Das' tactics, especially in the wake of the four-year-old's highly publicized 40-mile run - a marathon is just over 26 miles - in 93-degree heat, after which Singh collapsed on the "victory" stand.

That incident, combined with criticism of Das by Singh's birth mother, Sukanti Singh, led to investigations of the coach, who lost custody of Budhia in 2007. The conclusion of MARATHON BOY is jarring and unexpected, as Singh is coerced to entrap Das, who pays a heavy penalty for helping turn a slum boy into a celebrated, albeit polarizing, figure across India.

In addition to striking location footage shot in Orissa and Delhi, MARATHON BOY includes animated shadow puppet sequences that underscore a dark fairytale quality of this unsettling story.

The film is the first of four documentaries about contemporary India debuting on HBO and HBO2 in November. The others are: "The Bengali Detective," a profile of Rajesh Ji, who solves crimes in the city of Kolkata while following his dreams of being a professional dancer, debuting Nov. 16 on HBO2; "The Sound of Mumbai," the upbeat story of tenacious, musically inclined Indian street children recruited to perform a one-time-only concert with members of the elite Bombay Chamber Orchestra, debuting Nov. 23 on HBO2; and "Pink Saris," profiling the unlikely female activists of Northern India's Gulabi Gang, who battle violence against women, debuting Nov. 30 on HBO2.

MARATHON BOY is the first feature of Gemma Atwal, who has worked as a freelance director and producer on a variety of documentaries. Prior to her documentary work, she spent four years working as a journalist in Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe.

MARATHON BOY is directed by Gemma Atwal; producers, Gemma Atwal and Matt Norman; executive producer, Alan Hayling; film editor, Peter Haddon; director of photography, Matt Norman; composer, Garry Hughes; animation, Ben Foley. For HBO: senior producer, Lisa Heller; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [october 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/01/24 - 02:01 PM]
HBO Orders Original Limited Drama "DTF ST. Louis" to Series
The limited series stars and is executive produced by Jason Bateman and David Harbour.

[11/01/24 - 02:00 PM]
Disney Branded Television Greenlights "How We Became the Biggest Band in the World" and "Vampirina" (Working Titles) for Disney Channel and Disney+
The Latter series is based on the books written by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, and inspired by the Disney Jr. animated series "Vampirina" from Chris Nee.

[11/01/24 - 12:48 PM]
Peacock Renews Long-Running Soap "Days of Our Lives" for 61st Season
The renewal comes on the eve of "Day of Days," the annual fan event at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles being held on Saturday, November 2, where the show's 60th season will be celebrated.

[11/01/24 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Rhythm + Flow" Season 2 - Cast Announcement - Netflix
The search for the next face of hip-hop moves to Atlanta as global hitmakers Ludacris, Latto and DJ Khaled join the judging panel to mentor fresh talent.

[11/01/24 - 12:00 PM]
60 Years After Debuting on the Network, Christmas Classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Returns to NBC for a Special 75-Minute Telecast on Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Said date was the same it premiered in 1964 as part of the "General Electric Fantasy Hour."

[11/01/24 - 11:54 AM]
"High Potential" Continues Linear Dominance as ABC Wins Tuesday 10 p.m. Hour in Total Viewers for First Time in 4 Years
Season to date through week five, "High Potential" stands as ABC's most-watched (10.42 million) new series in six years - since the 2018-2019 season with "The Conners."

[11/01/24 - 10:31 AM]
Video: AMC/AMC+ Debut Riveting First-Look at Season 3 of the Hit Noir Thriller "Dark Winds"
The series will return with all new episodes exclusively on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, March 9 at 9pm ET/PT.

[11/01/24 - 10:05 AM]
TBS "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT "Christmas Maximus" Kick Off Holiday Programming on Saturday, November 2
With countless blockbuster films airing over 8-weeks, TNT "Christmas Maximus" takes holiday movies to the next level, serving as a hub for endless seasonal offerings and high-energy classics.

[11/01/24 - 10:03 AM]
'Tis the Season for Holiday Cheer on ABC
Highlights include a new season of "The Great Christmas Light Fight," along with news of a season 13 pickup for 2025.

[11/01/24 - 10:00 AM]
FOX and Gordon Ramsay Count Down to the Super Bowl with "Kitchen Nightmares: Road to Super Bowl LIX"
Gordon Ramsay's iconic series returns with a supercharged two-hour episode, Wednesday, January 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), with regular episodes airing on Wednesdays from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT, beginning January 8 on FOX.

[11/01/24 - 09:30 AM]
Prime Video Reveals "Pimpinero: Blood and Oil" will Premiere Exclusively on November 22
The film is set in the desert bordering Colombia and Venezuela, where gasoline smugglers known as "pimpineros" risk their lives transporting illegal fuel from one country to another.

[11/01/24 - 09:06 AM]
Freeform's "25 Days of Christmas" Returns with Yuletide Cheer This December
A delightful collection of Christmas favorites is being offered to make spirits bright, including "Home Alone," "The Santa Clause" trilogy and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000).

[11/01/24 - 09:00 AM]
Watch CBS News and Stations' "America Decides: Election '24" Team Coverage Across Broadcast, Streaming and Digital
Primetime election night coverage on CBS and CBS News 24/7 will begin at 7:00 PM, ET, anchored by Norah O'Donnell from CBS News' election headquarters in New York City.

[11/01/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Miss Scarlet" Season 5 Preview
Criminals have never stumped Eliza Scarlet, but a new Detective Inspector...? She's on the case!

[11/01/24 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..." - Date Announcement - Netflix
Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor. Grammy-winning singer. Beloved comedian. Jamie Foxx returns to the stage to set the record straight.