Hello Readers. It’s Friday and here I am with Leeds1888, your weekly dose of media and entertainment insights. In this week's Story of the Week, I explore the depths of Indian mythology to uncover a captivating tale that embodies all the essential components of a classic mystery narrative.

In this Issue , you will find :

• Box-office collection of the top Hollywood & Indian movies

• An enigmatic tale of King Yayati from Indian mythology that offers valuable insights on crafting compelling mystery narratives.

• Buzz from the media & entertainment industry

• Pearls from the past

STORY OF THE WEEK

For ages, India has been renowned as the birthplace of storytelling. The ancient Indian mythology is replete with mysterious and classic narratives. Let me now present one such tale for you.

In ancient India, King Yayati sought the magical fruit of immortality. His minister found it, but was offered the power to see the future by a demon. He took the offer and saw that the king's reign would be tyrannical.

The minister faced a moral dilemma, but eventually revealed the truth to the king. The king threw him in prison, but a wise prince eventually convinced the king to release the minister and appoint him as his chief advisor.

This ancient Indian myth is a suspense thriller, filled with tension and conflict. The minister's mission to find the fruit is a dangerous and uncertain journey, with the demon as a formidable opponent. The demon's offer of the power to see the future creates a sense of unease and moral ambiguity, as the minister is torn between loyalty to the king and the greater good.

The story's twist ending adds to the suspense, as the reader wonders how the king will react to the minister's revelation. The king's betrayal of the minister and subsequent imprisonment creates a sense of injustice and foreboding.

But there is hope. The arrival of the wise prince brings a glimmer of redemption, as he works to convince the king to do the right thing. And in the end, the minister is vindicated and appointed as the prince's chief advisor, bringing justice and fairness to the kingdom.

The classic elements of a thriller are present in this story. First, there is a protagonist, the minister, who is on a mission to find the magical fruit. Second, there is an antagonist, the demon, who is guarding the fruit. Third, there is a goal - to obtain the fruit. Fourth, there is a conflict - the demon's offer of the power to see the future, which creates a moral dilemma for the protagonist.

The story also has a sense of suspense and tension as the minister approaches the demon's lair. The reader wonders if he will be able to defeat the demon and obtain the fruit. The demon's offer of the power to see the future adds to the tension, as the reader wonders what the minister will do.

The story also has a twist ending, which is another classic element of a thriller. The reader expects the king to achieve immortality, but instead, the minister has a vision of the future and realises that the king's reign will be disastrous. This creates a sense of surprise and uncertainty, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. It is fascinating to observe that Indian folklore has incorporated classic elements of storytelling that were present much before the formal conception of storytelling.

BUZZ FROM THE MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT WORLD

BuzzFeed, the online news division, is shutting down, marking the end of an innovative era in digital journalism. Despite its initial success as a unique startup and its later achievements such as winning the Pulitzer Prize, it ultimately succumbed to the harsh financial realities of digital publishing that have affected numerous similar organisations. Read more on

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/business/buzzfeed-news-shut-down.html

PEARLS FROM THE PAST

The world’s First Mystery thriller Movie was Sherlock Holmes released in the year 1916

Sherlock Holmes, the 1916 American silent film, is an adaptation of the popular detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The film features William Gillette, who is widely regarded as the definitive actor to portray the character of Sherlock Holmes on stage, reprising his role for the silver screen.

Directed by Arthur Berthelet, the film was produced by Essanay Studios, which was a major player in the American film industry during the early 20th century. It was shot entirely in Chicago and was one of the earliest adaptations of Doyle's work in film.

Sherlock Holmes was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and it helped to establish the character as an enduring pop culture icon. The film's success also paved the way for a series of sequels and adaptations featuring Gillette as Holmes.

Today, the film is considered a classic of the silent era and a significant milestone in the history of cinematic adaptations of literary works. It remains a must-see for fans of the Sherlock Holmes franchise and for anyone interested in the history of cinema.

And that's a wrap for this week's edition of Leeds 1888 by yours truly! I hope you had a blast reading it and learned a thing or two. Don't be shy, share the love and spread the word about this awesome newsletter!

See you again next week!

Take care,

Vipul.