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FremantleMedia expands into scripted content, partners bestselling author Heather Lende
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia is further expanding its push into scripted content by teaming up with bestselling author Heather Lende to develop Find The Good, an uplifting drama series inspired by Lende’s memoir of the same name and her earlier memoir, If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name.
FremantleMedia’s global drama director Sarah Doole and EVP – creative director, global drama Christian Vesper (Top Of The Lake and The Honourable Woman) have acquired the rights and will oversee the rollout of the adaptation.
The books will serve as the inspiration for a TV drama about Heather, a small-town Alaska obituary writer who investigates the lives of her recently deceased neighbours. Her hometown of Haines (pop. 2,400) is as beautiful as it is perilous, and as a result, residents are just as likely to die from natural causes as they are from an avalanche, small plane crash or boat sinking.
For Heather, each assignment begins a new investigation. Like a detective, she uncovers everything from past glory to family secrets, from intimate community connections to love, loss, and regret. Each journey not only informs how Heather navigates her own life – she is married with five children and six grandchildren – but also encourages us to understand our own.
“Find The Good offers an honest, clear-eyed, optimistic worldview that today’s audiences are yearning for,” Vesper said. “Heather’s books are packed with authentic characters living real lives in this gorgeous yet sometimes harsh environment. Her writing reinforces our need for deep human connection and we’re looking forward to adapting the stories into a drama that the whole family can enjoy. Life. Death. Humanity. Heather’s stories have all of the elements of a successful, feel-good, multi-generational and multi-cultural drama with universal appeal.”
“I’m excited to partner with Sarah, Christian, and a company like FremantleMedia,” author Lende said of the acquisition. “Some people may think that what I do is morbid, but compared to front-page news these days, obituaries are downright inspirational. I don’t write about death, I write about life—one person at a time, and I do it while living in community that is like a family. If I have learned anything, it is that what matters in the end are relationships. Did he do a little good? Was she kind? Was he brave? Will someone miss her? I think that matters, and mostly, the answer to those questions is yes.”
Brian Pines of Hypomania Content and Ellie Altshuler of Nixon Peabody LLP brokered the deal. Lende is represented by Elizabeth Wales of the Wales Literary Agency. Find The Good and If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name were originally published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Co.
Heather Lende grew up on Long Island’s North Shore and attended private school and college before moving to Alaska 35 years ago. Lende has contributed to NPR, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, and others. She’s also a former contributing editor to Woman’s Day Magazine.
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FremantleMedia launches India’s first ‘Digital Talent Hunt’
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
