Category: Press Release

  • India Today Group’s vice-chairperson, Kalli Purie, gets global recognition

    India Today Group’s vice-chairperson, Kalli Purie, gets global recognition

    MUMBAI: Ms. Kalli Purie, Vice-Chairperson of India Today Group, was conferred upon the ‘India’s Most Powerful Women in Media’ award at the famed Confluence Excellence awards at the British Parliament on September 27th. It is noteworthy, that only two weeks back, she was also honored with the ‘Outstanding Media & Entertainment Award’ at the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London.

    Accepting the global recognition, Ms. Kalli Purie said, "It is very satisfying to be recognized internationally for the work we are doing at the India Today Group. In many fields like creating content for mobile and social we are leaders in the world. Its exciting and daunting to create prototypes for media around the world to follow.

    Handling a business with a golden legacy in an industry that is changing at an unprecedented pace can be very challenging. But I have followed a mantra by our chairman Mr. Aroon Purie in one of his letters from the editor – 'Men Age, Magazines don't', which I believe today is ever more relevant. This made us see what others saw as dark turmoil as a window of shining opportunity. We have taken the solid foundation and diversified in a way befitting the original DNA of our organization."

    A graduate from Oxford University, the UK in Politics, Philosophy & Economics, Kalli Purie is armed with a clear vision about the future of news, she is leading one of the most-awarded and celebrated team of journalists in a futuristic newsroom that she helped build, apt for the multimedia, multi-device world we live in. A serial entrepreneur, she brings a rich experience in running a wide range of media properties- from 5 television channels Aaj Tak, Aaj Tak HD, India Today Television, Dilli Aaj Tak, Tez, apps, a digital newspaper, championing world-class events, to devising a social media strategy for the group. She is also the lead for all signature, thought leadership events of the group – The India Today Conclave, Agenda Aaj Tak, Safaigiri, Sahitya Aaj Tak, India Today Mind Rocks, Panchayat Aaj Tak, India Today Global Roundtable and many more. Her unified leadership in television, digital and events is the cornerstone for the successful synergy in the Group.

  • Prerna Rajpal signs on Buzzinga Digital for her fine jewelry brand, Amaris by Prerna Rajpal

    Prerna Rajpal signs on Buzzinga Digital for her fine jewelry brand, Amaris by Prerna Rajpal

    MUMBAI: Known for her exquisite designs, Prerna Rajpal, Chief Designer and Founder of Amaris by Prerna Rajpal has made quite a name for herself in the segment. To help enhance its digital presence, Rajpal has signed up with Buzzinga Digital.

    Amaris by Prerna Rajpal is a Delhi-based, fine jewelry brand known for crafting elegant, bespoke pieces with diamonds, precious stones, and gold. Her designs are not only aspirational and glamorous but also reflective of a client’s individualistic fashion sense. Both the brand and it’s lead designer, are highly celebrated by the national fashion fraternity.

    With the expertise of Buzzinga Digital, a versatile 360-degree digital marketing agency, the brand will build its digital persona to further its reach and online presence.

    About the association, Rajpal had this to say, ‘’We at Amaris, are set to expand our presence pan-India and across the international market. Amaris is a young jewelry brand with aggressive growth plans and understands the key role digital media can play to communicate our brand ethos, ideology and design sensibilities. Hence, while considering a digital agency, we had very specific criteria to meet. Much to our delight, Buzzinga Digital fit the bill, checking off all boxes. We are glad to have them on board and hope to see them as long term partners.''

    Commenting on the same, Yashraj Vakil, CEO, Buzzinga Digital, said, ‘’We are very excited to be associated with Prerna and Amaris. The brand has a very lively communication approach, which is something we admire in our clients. We look forward to working with Prerna to help Amaris shine brighter than ever before and build a name that is second to none in the luxury jewelry space through a thoughtful and insightful digital approach." 

    Kindly let me know if any further information required. 

  • Get ready to ‘Watch With The World’ on Comedy Central

    Get ready to ‘Watch With The World’ on Comedy Central

    MUMBAI: Make room for more, as Comedy Central extends its already exciting line-up with the latest seasons of Young Sheldon, The Good Place, Mom, Superstore and brand-new series – Bob Hearts Abishola. Premiering the latest episode every week, viewers can watch these light-hearted and hilarious shows right after their international telecast on ‘Watch With The World’ from Monday to Friday at 10pm, exclusively on Comedy Central.

    Elaborating on the same, Hashim D’Souza – Head of Programming, English Entertainment, Viacom18, said, “Comedy Central is the most-watched English entertainment channel on Indian television, and over the years has established a reputation of showcasing a rich programming line-up that delivers quality entertainment to viewers across the board. With an assortment of comedy and jaunty show, there’s something for everyone on our Watch With The World block.”

    Hashim further added, “Bringing fresh content every day of the week, within hours of its international premiere we’re airing popular and critically acclaimed shows like Young Sheldon, The Good Place, Mom, Superstore and Bob Hearts Abishola during the week, along with new episodes of the 2019 Emmy award-winning sketch series Saturday Night Live and multiple BAFTA winner The Graham Norton Show on the weekend for our comedy-loving audiences.”

    To infuse your primetime with some of the best and latest in comedy, tune-in to Comedy Central from Monday to Friday at 10pm and Watch With The World

  • Can a lie be the truth, or will the truth turn out to be a lie? Unravel a murder mystery with the World Television Premiere of ‘Badla’ on Zee Cinema on 29th September at 12 pm

    Can a lie be the truth, or will the truth turn out to be a lie? Unravel a murder mystery with the World Television Premiere of ‘Badla’ on Zee Cinema on 29th September at 12 pm

    MUMBAI: ‘Kya main wohi che (6) dekh raha hoon jo tumne mujhe dikhaya, ya woh nau (9) jo mujhe dekhna chahiye’. Does this line entangle your mind wires? Well, that was the aim as appearances can be deceptive and so can the truth. This iconic dialogue perfectly encapsulates the premise of the Rs. 88 Cr box office hit and critically acclaimed crime thriller ‘Badla’.

    Renowned filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh who has helmed suspense thrillers like Kahaani and Teen, tells the story of ‘Badla’ in a puzzling kind of way, letting the viewers think that they know what’s going on, but tears their expectation apart with a new shocking truth. Cleverly written thriller, Badla narrates the story of an accused lady who finds herself in a maze of situation and her only hope to get out of it is her lawyer. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Badla features Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu who will be seen in a lawyer and victim relationship once again. The films also stars Amrita Singh, Tony Luke, Manav Kaul, Denzil Smith, and Tanveer Ghani. Unravelling this murder mystery, Zee Cinema will air the World Television Premiere of Badla on Sunday, 29th September at 12pm.

    Commenting on the World Television Premiere on Zee Cinema, Director Sujoy Ghosh said, "I am from a generation that witnessed television more than any other platform and with the movie being premiered on Zee Cinema, the movie will now reach out to a different set of audience who still religiously turn to the television for entertainment. Making Badla was a challenge as I had to take a story that I didn't want to change, but at the same time make it relevant to the Indian audience. Adding nuances like the commentary of the Mahabharata blended well with the story line and also helped convey the message of the film to different age groups. At the same time it also helped add context to the plot line."  

    On being a part of the film, Amitabh Bachchan who has been honoured with Dada Saheb Phalke award said, “I am truly delighted that my film ‘BADLA’ will be having its World Television Premiere on Zee Cinema on the 29th of September 2019 at 12pm. Working on this mystery thriller has been a most rewarding experience for me . Sujoy Ghosh the Director of the film needs to be given credit for putting this intricate tale in a most exciting and watchable manner. Taapsee, who has worked with me before, is a most accomplished artist, and it has been a joy to be working with her again. The writing the screen play and the camera work need special mention – they are responsible in giving this film its immense value .My wishes for the success of this venture on this special occasion.”

    Commenting on her Character Naina in the movie, Taapsee Pannu said, “One of the biggest contributing factors for me to take the role was the way my character revealed the many layers of being a strong, self-made authoritative woman, who at the same time felt vulnerable. I love playing layered characters as it adds immensely to the plotline. Another highlight was the fact that this was the second time I was sharing screen space with Amitabh Bachchan-sir. I'd like to believe that Sujoy Sir saw a certain dynamics in us coming together again in the 'lawyer and client' relationship, and that gave the whole story so much more dimension. To sum it up, all I can say is that I have never done a film like this before in my career and I truly hope that the audience who missed it in theatres watches the World Television Premiere on Zee Cinema”    

    “Badla has proven that good stories irrespective of genre continue to attract viewers, it was great to see audiences accept Badla in a big way.  The world television premiere of Badla on Zee Cinema will take the movie to a larger audience and we are excited to bring it to television after its immense success in movie theatres”, says Gaurav Verma, Chief revenue officer, Red Chillies Entertainment.

    Ahead of the World Television Premiere of Badla on Zee Cinema, Ruchir Tiwari, Business Head, Zee Hindi Movies Cluster said, “Zee Cinema has always strived to bring to our audience content that is wholesome and entertaining. This very mantra sets us apart from the competition in the Hindi movies channel genre. Badla is one such film, where the plot is very engaging, as it gets the viewer involved. The audience looks for clues and wants to solve the mystery even before the movie ends. With a stellar star-cast, a tight script and beautiful cinematography, Badla is a movie that will keep the views at the edge of their seats making it a perfect weekend watch.”

    Set against the backdrop of Glasgow’s icy air, Badla narrates the story of Naina Sethi (Taapsee Pannu), a dynamic young entrepreneur, who is under house arrest for a crime that according to her she hasn’t committed. Naina claims that she is being framed for it by someone hinting to Rani (Amrita Singh) who has been questioning Naina for her son's whereabouts. To prove her innocence, she hires Badal Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan), an attorney with a track record of winning every case in 40 years of his career. While he wants to win this case as well, he has only three hours to uncover the facts and prove Naina’s innocence. Hence, Badal tells Naina to pay attention to all the minute details and tell the truth behind the fateful night of the murder that took place in a locked room of a hotel. With the story unfolding, various characters and truth comes into light which will keep the viewers guessing about the real killer and their motive.

    Will Naina be proved innocent? Why was she in a hotel room? Will Badal be able to figure out the truth?

  • B4U Bhopuri brings Navratri Special Show to mesmerize the audience

    B4U Bhopuri brings Navratri Special Show to mesmerize the audience

    MUMBAI: B4U Networks new entertainment channel, B4U Bhojpuri, which has huge popularity among the Bhojpuri audiences in a very short time, is going to start some new shows on the occasion of Navratri.  It is bringing two new Navratri special shows, called as “Bhajan Sagar Navratri Special” and “Dular Devi Mai Ki”.  B4U Bhojpuri will run these special shows for 12 days and will be seen in Bhajan Sagar show which is telecasted every morning. In these shows, one will get to see mesmerizing songs of different avtars of Devi ma. With songs like Lalki chunariya odh ke, Doli chadhi chali maiya, Nimiya ke daar maiya, Ara ke dusshera the channel has tried to bring the viewers together through other narrative stories related to the goddess.

    The program Dular Devi Mai ki, will showcase all the Navratri special songs in the melodious voices of Pawan Singh, Khesari Lal Yadav, Ritesh Pandey, Sanjana Raj and Akshara Singh. On other hand in Bhajan Sagar’ Navratri Special, one will get to see religious things related to Devi maa along with many hymns and songs based on Navratri theme.

    B4U Bhojpuri, which rules the hearts of Bhojpuri viewers, is known for telecasting special shows and super hit movies. Blockbuster films of action superstars like Nirhua, Pawan Singh, Vishal Singh, Khesari Lal has successfully gained audience’s love and attention. And this is the reason why B4U Bhojpuri was on top in the BARC ratings of last month.

  • EPIC Channel Curates Day Long Travel Destination Special for Tourism Day

    EPIC Channel Curates Day Long Travel Destination Special for Tourism Day

    MUMBAI: In line with it’s ethos of celebrating every facet of India, EPIC Channel, India ka apna infotainment, has curated a day-long showcase of fascinating stories behind India’s tourism destinations to celebrate World Tourism Day on 27th September 2019.

    Since inception, EPIC channel has made a mark for itself in the infotainment television landscape by constantly experimenting with genres like sports, food, history, travel and culture.

    The tourism day special will showcase hand-picked episodes from the channel’s most popular shows like Ekaant, Kahi Suni, Way Back Home, Road Less Travelled, and from EPIC Specials- Himalayan Misfits, Jewels of the Sea, and Curry Pow for the viewers to witness some unknown tales about places whose significance and beauty has been forgotten over the years.

    Himalayan Misfits, which will grace TV screen as a world television premiere, is a unique documentary that explores the unparalleled beauty of the Himalayas through three extreme sports that have seen their inception among its landscape.

    While Ekaant uncovers the hidden opulence and stories behind some of India’s abandoned places, Kahi Suni will take viewers through some legendary tales steeped in mysticism, spirituality, and religion. Way Back Home and The Road Less Travelled will showcase some of the most intimate and intriguing aspects of Indian destinations. Curry Pow offers a peek into the emerging snowboarding culture and  Jewels of the Sea will take viewers through the 500 islands of Andaman and Nicobar through the eyes of host Tom Alter.

    Commenting on this, Akul Tripathi, Content and Programming head at EPIC Channel said “With the growing enthusiasm for travel we really wanted to take this opportunity to bring to our audiences, the stories behind some of the awe-inspiring destinations across the country. Along with celebrating the diversity and culture of India, EPIC’s programing strives to provide relevant insight that can add perspective, as they explore the country.”

  • Star Gold and Star Plus to premiere ‘Kalank’ on 2 October

    Star Gold and Star Plus to premiere ‘Kalank’ on 2 October

    MUMBAI: Star Gold and Star Plus brings an exclusive day-long property, ‘Blockbuster Family Day’ on 2 October. Both the channel will air three blockbuster movies ‘De De Pyaar De’, ‘Kalank’ and ‘Super30’ at 9 am, 12 pm and 3.30 pm respectively.

    Mid-week holidays are always cherished than weekends as families get more time to spend together. And it gets even more special when you have something to binge-watch with everyone! This Wednesday gear up for wholesome family entertainment filled with romance, drama and laughter as Star Gold and Star Plus curate an exclusive day-long property, ‘Blockbuster Family Day’.

    With magnificent sets, stunning costumes, mesmerizing music, a riveting storyline and poignant performances, this magnum opus features a stellar star cast – Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, and Madhuri Dixit. Set during India's pre-partition era, the movie revolves around the lives of six enigmatic characters whose long-buried secrets come to light when Roop (Alia Bhatt) is torn between respect for husband, Dev (Aditya Roy Kapur) and a newfound love for Zafar (Varun Dhawan).

    Star India's Spokesperson said, “Owning the mid-week holiday, we aim to break through the monotonous clutter and present an entertaining offering for the entire family. Our promise to showcase the latest and most anticipated Bollywood Blockbusters is once again exemplified by bringing Kalank's premiere on Star Gold and Star Plus. "

    Promising it to be a first-class entertainment, Star Gold has launched an interactive digital campaign for the satellite premiere of Kalank. A series of videos have been released on social media platforms where the star-cast of the film not only shares anecdotes about their ‘first-class moments’ in life but also urges the audience to send in their top-notch memories.

  • Emmy nominated highly popular family drama This Is Us season 4 premieres on Star World

    Emmy nominated highly popular family drama This Is Us season 4 premieres on Star World

    MUMBAI: India’s leading English entertainment channel, Star World, synonymous with the best television content from around the world, brings the latest season of the feel-good and highly acclaimed TV show – This Is Us. Revolving around the story of a family whose three same-aged siblings struggle in unique ways through their lives, the 4th season of the show is all set to take audiences through a roller coaster of multiple emotions. This Is Us Season 4 premieres in India on every Saturday, 28th September at 10PM only on Star World!

    Created and written by Dan Fogelman of Ryan Gosling-Steve Carrell-Emma Stone starrer ‘Crazy Stupid Love’, animated movies Tangled, Cars and Bolt and Matthew Perry-Zac Effron starrer 17 Again, the show stars a stellar ensemble cast comprising of Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Emmy award winner Sterling K Brown, Chrissy Metz and Justin Hartley among others.

    Highly praised for its direction, story-writing and acting from critics, viewers and industry veterans alike, the show has received multiple Emmy nominations and wins throughout the seasons till now. Sterling K. Brown has received an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Critics' Choice Award, among others for his acting in the series. Mandy Moore and Chrissy Metz received Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress. In 2017, the series received a total of ten Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, with Brown winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

    Following the lives and connections of the Pearson family across several time periods, the first three seasons of This Is Us teared us all up and gave viewers a weekly dose of nostalgia. Season three revealed that Rebecca, the mother of The Big Three, played by Mandy Moore, is indeed the mysterious "her" that the Pearson family referred to throughout the course of the show. Season four will see characters get some direction and open up to new things. Revealing some of the details, Dan recently commented that “The upcoming season is going to feel in some ways almost like a version of season one in the middle of our series.

    This phenomenal show makes its way into Star World’s property ‘Now Trending’ which showcases some of the latest and most anticipated shows that the channel recommends its viewers to watch! While it has been in the news that the show will be renewed for three additional seasons making it a total of 6, catch the season four officially hit the TV screens in India only on Star World starting 28th September every Saturday at 10PM!

  • Introducing PLAY – Making Advanced Technology Accessible to New Age India

    Introducing PLAY – Making Advanced Technology Accessible to New Age India

    MUMBAI: PLAY, a Delhi based startup is entering the wearable and audio technology market in India. PLAY aims to make advanced technology accessible to new-age consumers and passionate enthusiasts who use tech to achieve their desired experiences.

    PLAY is on a mission to make technology a ‘delight’, with simplified offerings that enrich a consumer’s daily experiences – making them better and fantastic. A delightful device experience will be central to the brand offering.

    To begin with, PLAY will introduce two new product lines in the market – PLAYFIT and PLAYGO. PLAYFIT will offer a range of best-in-class smartwatch(es) and smart band(s), while PLAYGO will introduce next-gen wireless neckband(s) and headphone(s). PLAY is all set to debut at the two biggest online festivals in India – The Amazon Great Indian Festival (28/29th September – 4th October 2019) and Flipkart Big Billion Day (29th September – 4th October 2019).

    Commenting on the launch, Sandeep Banga, Founder and CEO, PLAY, said, “As the world evolves, technology is no longer the domain of technical experts but, enthusiasts and everyday consumers. At PLAY, our aim is to bring down those walls and let the consumer experience technology albeit, in the simplistic realms of their own comfort. This is an exciting moment for us as we venture into the connected wearable and audio technology segment in India. As India gradually awakens to a new dawn of a modern digital economy, it offers immense growth potential. We plan to be a part of this digital revolution with singular and unified customer experiences.”

    PLAY would strive to establish a consumer community with a sense of ownership and belongingness through shared experiences. An omnichannel brand, PLAY will begin with an online marketplace(s), to be combined later with a robust offline infrastructure and distribution model. The immediate target is to be available in approximately 100K Pin codes in India by this calendar year. Brand experience zones will be created Pan India, including – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad as value integration with key retail partners.

  • The all new Late Night Talk Show – A Little Late with Lilly Singh has made its way to India only on Star World

    The all new Late Night Talk Show – A Little Late with Lilly Singh has made its way to India only on Star World

    MUMBAI: The inaugural guests for debut episodes of A Little Late had Mindy Kaling, with a special appearance by Rainn Wilson, Kenan Thompson, Tracee Ellis Ross and Chelsea Handler. In addition to this, the channel also aired her primetime one-hour special which saw celebrities such as Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Aguilera, Tony Hale and the pop rock band – Five Seconds of Summer. The coming weeks will see Lilly talk to personalities such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Jessica Alba, some of the cast members of Downtown Abbey such as Elizabeth McGoven, Allen Leech, and Hugh Bonneville, along with celebrities such as Anna Faris, Jim Gaffigan, and Antoni Porowski.

    For roughly a decade, Lilly has written, produced and starred in original videos on YouTube, where she has an audience of nearly 15 million subscribers. In her videos, Singh shared the screen and collaborated with famous personalities such as Michelle Obama, Selena Gomez, Dwayne Johnson, and many more. She has now made history as the youngest late-night host in NBC’s history.

    Singh serves as Executive Producer on behalf of her company Unicorn Island Productions, along with John Irwin, a veteran producer who has vast experience with live telecasts, alternative and late-night programming including Late Night with Conan O’Brien and MadTV. In addition to Singh, the writing staff for the show will include Sean O’Connor, Marina Cockenberg, Sergio Serna, Mona Mira, Jen Burton, Joanna Bradley and Jonathan Giles.

    Further, Aliyah Silverstein has signed on as showrunner while Casey Spira, Polly Auritt, Sean O’Connor and Sarah Weichel are on board as co-executive producers. The show is directed by Ryan Polito.

    Singh is a multi-faceted entertainer, actress, producer, writer and creator. A leading force in the digital world, she has amassed a global audience of over 32 million followers across her social media channels, where she writes, produces and stars in comedic and inspirational videos. She has acted in the Emmy Award®-nominated HBO film Fahrenheit 451, opposite Michael Shannon and Michael B. Jordan, as well as Bad Moms and Ice Age: Collision Course. 

    Singh is the New York Times® bestselling author of How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life.  In 2017, UNICEF appointed Lilly as one of their Goodwill Ambassadors.

    Announcing the premiere of the talk show in India, Lilly Singh also posted on her social media accounts sharing her excitement and thanking her Indian fans for all support they have showered upon her. She also mentioned how happy she is to have her show available in her mother land, India. 

    A Little Late with Lilly Singh is produced by Universal Television, Singh’s Unicorn Island Productions and Irwin Entertainment. It currently airs in India every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM only on Star World.