Dreamgirls is musical make-believe

Dreamgirls director Bill Condon, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover (L-R) promote the film. Photo / Reuters

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Bowing to pressure from Motown, makers of the Oscar-nominated film Dreamgirls have said the musical was a work of fiction and apologised for any confusion with the legendary record label.

Full-page advertisements paid for by DreamWorks Pictures were published last week in Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, adapted from the hit Broadway musical of the same name, is loosely based on the story of one of Motown's greatest acts, Diana Ross and the Supremes.

But it has rankled a number of recording artists, writers and others connected with the label who felt Motown was falsely depicted in a negative light.