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Category: Press Release

  • The Laughter epidemic rages on Star One

    The Laughter epidemic rages on Star One

    Here’s your chance to catch the ‘Golden moments’ of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Dwitiya as Star One showcases memorable instances of the show right from it’s inception till the final on Friday, June 30 at 10:00 pm. The show raged on for 18 weeks, chronicling the successes and struggles of some of India’s and Pakistan’s best comic talents. From Rauf Lala’s famous ‘Tarzan’ joke to the Pakistani Jodi’s Tak Taka Tak, from Khayali Saharan’s satirical comedy to Dr. Tushar Shah’s subtle punches, relive the emotions, nostalgia and nail biting moments as you journey with them till the ‘Hasi Ka Shahenshah’ is announced. Cruise along with the ‘Wizards of wit’ – Navjot Singh Sidhu and Shekhar Suman and a host of celebrity judges like Bipasha Basu, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra etc. who were part of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge ‘Dwitiya’.

     

    For all those who missed out on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge ‘Dwitiya’, no need to fret! Make sure to tune-in and catch up on the ‘double dose of inimitable humour’ on Friday, June 30 2006 only on Star ONE.

     

    About the show:
    The show has been a phenomenon in itself, bringing the entire nation to a groundbreaking experience that had taken millions of Indians voting for their favourite contestants. The show also created a grandeur platform for upcoming comedians from India and across the border who demonstrated their creativity and gained phenomenal recognition amongst the comic aficionados. The show raged on for 18 weeks before culminating into the grand finale which saw Rauf Lala from Pakistan being crowned the winner. Rajiv Nigam from Mumbai was awarded the first runner-up position and Khayali Saharan, Pratap Fauzdar jointly shared the second runner-up place.

    For more information Contact:
    Komal Lath
    Vaishnavi Corporate Communications
    9819606441
    klath@vccpl.com

  • Star Movies pays a tribute with Absolute Bond

    Star Movies pays a tribute with Absolute Bond

    THIS NOVEMBER… EXPECT HOLLYWOOD’S BEST… EVERY NIGHT!!!

    This November, Star Movies has the ultimate treat for its viewers every single day of the month! Take a trip down memory lane with the best classics, Hollywood has ever produced and watch the exclusive premieres of the latest award-winning blockbusters with the biggest stars! Brace yourself to be thrilled by the spy who has the license to kill all through the month, as Star Movies pays a tribute with Absolute Bond!

     

    Star Movies will showcase all the Bond films from Monday to Thursday all through the month! Watch Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, George Lazenby… all the Bonds, all the action, all bond films such as Gold Finger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View To Kill, The Living Daylights, License to Kill, Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day and be a part of the non-stop bond mania!

     

    And if that’s not all … catch an exclusive sneak peek into the soon-to-release Bond movie, Casino Royale the 21st film of the James Bond franchise on Opening Night!!! The movie introduces Daniel Craig (Munich) as Bond, making him the sixth actor to play the legendary secret agent. Casino Royale is based on Ian Fleming’s book of the same name, the first one of the popular 007 series, and gives audiences a glimpse of the man before he holds his license to kill.

     

    The superstars come out every Friday night on Star Movies with box-office behemoths into your living room for the first time in India!!! Every Friday night this month, Star Movies premieres the latest Hollywood blockbusters with superstars Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Vince Vaughn. Tune in to see Hollywood’s best and brightest on Eurotrip, Kingdom of Heaven, Shattered Glass and Mr. And Mrs Smith, every Friday night, this November.

     

    So get ready for this special treat as Star Movies presents Hollywood’s best on your television sets, this November!

    About Star
    STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 50 television services in nine languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel). STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world’s largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems, direct-to-home services, terrestrial TV broadcasting, wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com

  • CNN PRESENTS shows real-life drama inside Combat hospital in Iraq

    CNN PRESENTS shows real-life drama inside Combat hospital in Iraq

    MUMBAI: Over two weeks, CNN PRESENTS: Combat hospital looks at the life and death struggles that the medical team face every day in the Iraqi capital’s military emergency rooms at the 10 Combat Support hospital in Baghdad.

     

    With exclusive and unprecedented access to the five doctors, 14 nurses and 22 medics who treat casualties from U.S. and coalition forces, the civilian population and even insurgents, in a building that Saddam Hussein once used for his own personal medical care, CNN PRESENTS: Combat hospital reveals the horror and humanity of present day Iraq.

    Presented without narration, the programme is a compelling and gritty close-up look at the American military’s frontline hospital starkly depicted with the daily challenges that face the 10 Combat Support hospital in Baghdad. Graphic video and natural sound reflect the reality of the chaos and heroism in a wartime emergency room: gunshot wounds, burns, amputations and other devastating damage caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

    Filmed during 16 days of exclusive access to the Mountain Medic Combat Support hospital by CNN Baghdad bureau chief Cal Perry, CNN senior photojournalist Dominic Swann, and CNN’s Ryan Chilcote, viewers see why the maturity and professionalism required in a Combat emergency setting are hard-earned.

    A young nurse, Lt. Riane Nelson, R.N., talks ruefully about how she was “picked” to come to Iraq after being called to replace another nurse who became pregnant shortly before her tour of duty.

    Nelson’s supervisor, head nurse Lt. Col. John Groves, describes the back story of Nelson’s early inability to keep up with the requirements of their busy unit. Then, Nelson worked with other personnel to resuscitate a critical patient with CPR, saving her life. After that, says Groves, “her confidence skyrocketed.” By the time viewers meet Nelson, she is a self-assured and proficient team member, saving more lives during the programme.

    Outside of the emergency room, the unit tries to maintain some normality by playing football and baseball in the alley behind the hospital and even celebrating a co-workers 21 birthday.

     

    In one of the most compelling sequences in the documentary, the film crew captures the arrival of 12 casualties during a few moments of relative quiet for the medical team. Four are already dead. Seven U.S. soldiers and CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier are critically injured and fighting for their lives. The team goes back to work; their trauma rooms are full again.

     

    CNN PRESENTS is the most honoured documentary program in cable news. So far in 2006, CNN PRESENTS has been honoured by an Emmy, six New York Festivals Awards, two National Headliner Awards and a National Press Club Robert L. Kozik Award for environmental reporting.

  • Multihued and Affordable – the C139 from Motorola

    New Delhi, 15 February 2006: Motorola launched the C139, a chic candybar handset with a vibrant color display at an affordable price. The Motorola C139 sacrifices neither function nor style to meet your everyday communication needs, keeping you in touch and entertained while on the move. The C139 is the latest in the series of mass market phones from the technology giant making an aggressive stance at capturing the Indian market.

     

    The Motorola C139’s small shape fits comfortably in your hand and the keypad is designed for easy dialing. If you prefer your thumbs to do the talking, enjoy text messaging made effortless with iTAP predictive text entry. The zoom font makes typing faster and easier. Charged with an unbelievable battery power – up to 700 minutes of talk time – there is plenty of time to talk or text! The C139 is also equipped with multiple organizational features, making it a one-stop shop for on-the-go time management. Offering daily and weekly calendars, calculator, currency converter and stop watch, this mobile keeps you on top of your game. The C139 has been competitively priced at an amazing amount of Rs 3000.

     

    Speaking at the launch, Mr. Lloyd Mathias, Director Marketing India – Mobile Devices, said, “The C139 is a smart option for those looking for a chic handset packed with efficient features to serve their communication needs. The C139 is a symbol of Motorola’s efforts to serve mass-market consumers that hold tremendous growth potential. It is our constant endeavor at Motorola to drive technological innovations that cater to the needs of the consumer.”

     

    Motorola is on a concerted drive to serve the needs of the masses. The launch of the C139 is a statement that the company is reaching out to Indian homes to provide excellent mobile solutions at a reasonable price. Motorola aims to drive its growth as the definitive solution in telecommunications for the Indian market.

     

    About Motorola

    Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering “must have” products, “must do” experiences and powerful networks — along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.8 billion in 2005. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit www.motorola.com.

     

  • Nokia names October 20 ‘International Mobile Photography Day’

    Nokia names October 20 ‘International Mobile Photography Day’

    Camera phones have changed photography forever and right along with it our lives. In 2014, it is estimated that smartphone photographers will take nearly one trillion photos that’s hundreds of thousands a minute (three thousand by the time you read this sentence), capturing in an instant the poignant, funny, dramatic, hilarious, strange and memorable moments that otherwise would have been lost forever.

     

    In recognition of the evolving digital photography revolution, Nokia calls on photographers everywhere to grab their smartphones and celebrate with us on October 20 as we mark the first International Mobile Photography Day, a day dedicated to capturing all those once-in-a-lifetime, unexpected moments. Moments immediately immortalized and shared because now, people have the convenience of having a camera on hand, always, thanks to mobile phones.

     

    To mark the occasion, Nokia India announced a special initiative for its Indian consumers and photography enthusiasts. Starting Oct 20, 2013, all Nokia Lumia 1020 owners can get their favorite images printed and delivered at their doorsteps, thanks to the new ZoomIn app. All one needs to do is download the new ZoomIn app from Windows Store on to the Nokia Lumia 1020, launch the app and select the image(s) to be printed. Each consumers is entitled to 6 prints (2 of 12x24inch and 4 of 10x8inch) absolutely free of cost, in addition to a super-large 16×20 inch print at a 50% discount.

     

    “People today are documenting life around them in an entirely new way,” said Juha Alakarhu, head of Imaging Technologies at Nokia. “They’re no longer just taking posed pictures of family and friends, but capturing memories and stories through the magic of photos or videos. Photography has become a natural part of our daily lives!

     

    “That wasn’t possible until camera phones essentially put a professional grade camera in everyone’s pocket.” Alakarhu believes the Nokia Lumia 1020 – with a 41 MP sensor, Carl Zeiss lenses, PureView technology, Optical Image Stabilization and super high-res zoom – makes it the perfect choice for photos that have to be right the first time.

     

    Nokia is producing a “mobile photo documentary,” a series of photos from people all around the world depicting the most brilliant examples of life’s unexpected moments. The best-of-the-best photos will then be turned into a compelling “Life Unexpected” video. If you would like to join in the celebration and contribute your own “Life Unexpected” photo, share a memorable photo taken with the Lumia 1020 – or any smartphone – this Sunday (October 20), and then simply tweet or post your photo using 1020MobilePhotoDay. Your tagged image will then be considered for inclusion in the “Life Unexpected” video, along with some of the most renowned photographers in the world. (The video will be released on Monday, October 21.)

     

    So, go ahead, snap a photo on October 20, the International Mobile Photography Day, and share your moment with the world. And while you are at it, don’t forget to order your prints through the ZoomIn app on the Nokia Lumia 1020.

  • Watch the exclusive EXPLOSION of DJs Power On ETC

    Watch the exclusive EXPLOSION of DJs Power On ETC

    Mumbai February 23, 2006: ETC, channel that takes pride in taking films, artistes and musicians into the homes of its viewers, is now bringing a unique blend of musicians and trend of musical remixing in its show Chit Chaat called the DJ Power.

     

    Dj Logical Lloyd, Dj Sunil S. and Dj Kiran have come together on ETC to recreate the magic of Power Play Version 1.0 by Dj Aqeel. They will all unleash the power of remixed music exclusively for the viewers of ETC on Wednesday March 1st , 2006 at 8.00 PM

     

    Chit Chaat is a celebrity interview show, wherein every celebrities from show biz appears to share themselves with ETC viewers. Each episode the anchor shoots a few rapid questions to the celebrity and thus reveals interesting and unknown facets of the celebrity’s life. The program is intercepted with songs of the guest’s choice.

     

    ‘Power Play Version 1.0’ is the remixed version arranged by Dj Amit B, Dj Jatin Sharma, Dj Sunil S., Dj Kiran and Dj Logical Lloyd who were brought together by Dj Aqeel to create this dance album. ETC star anchor Suresh Menon sakes them question on selection of the song the remix techniques used, what made them take on the job of remix, what excites them in music and what is their take on music today. It is an interesting show interspersed with extempore singing by Dj Logical Lloyd, Dj Sunil S. and Dj Kiran.

     

    ETC is a music based entertainment channel with music dominating more than 98% of the programming content. In all India markets, ETC enjoys the largest reach amongst all the music channels. ETC is watched by more then 35 million households.

  • CNN-IBN and IBN 7 the official promotional partners for 37th International Film Festival of India

    CNN-IBN and IBN 7 the official promotional partners for 37th International Film Festival of India

    New Delhi, November 22nd 2006: CNN-IBN and IBN 7 are the official promotional partners for the 37th International Film Festival of India – country’s annual celebration of cinema -taking place from November 23rd to December 3rd 2006 in Goa, India.

     

    CNN-IBN and IBN 7 will present to its viewers exclusive interviews of IFFI delegates and celebrities on the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Aamir, Sudesh Bhonsle, and Bombay Vikings etc and will also preview the film screenings. In addition, the channels will also air the official launch of various movies like ARYAN, 90 MINUTES BY IQBAL RIZVI etc.

     

    Dilip Venkatraman, Director Marketing and online projects, CNN-IBN and IBN 7 says “International Film Festival for India is the biggest gathering and a must attend event for business and entertainment leader from around the world. IFFI 2006 is an excellent opportunity for CNN-IBN, as the official promotional partner to increase awareness of the channel and extend its offering to the masses.”

  • Hutch Kalakkapovathu Yaaru Special on Vijay TV

    Hutch Kalakkapovathu Yaaru Special on Vijay TV

    The judges chinni Jayanth and Madan Bob, along with the host Uma Riaz Khan are real boost to the participants as they have been encouraging the new talents. Each week a ‘comedy king’ is chosen. Viewers can also take part in the SMS and online contests and choose their favourite comedians. Log on to vijay.indya.com to choose your favourite participants and win prizes!

    These comedy kings are sure to shine in silver screen in future, as the response from the viewers is tremendous. These participants who are stepping on to the stage for the first time also have performed astonishingly and have scored high marks in the contest. People who had come from small towns from Tuticorin, Trichy, Coimbatore and Madurai are now become popular amongst the viewers. Their comical performances are totally based on incidents and culture of their hometowns.

    Second Semifinals contestants are:

    Muthu Irulapandi from Madurai:

    Muthu gives a brief introduction about what comedy is all about and its basics. His jokes and themes were out of his personal experience. His jokes mainly revolve around family, children, couple & student comedy relationships. He says, “so far I have participated in more than 3 episodes of KPY, but every show gives me a fresh experience and enables me to know what’s happening around me as it generates new ideas”.

    Kovai Ashok from Coimbatore

    Kovai Ashok started his performance with automobile sound effects specially auto rickshaw…He made many modulation in his vocal to bring out various sounds of ‘Auto’ when it is driven by different Tamil film stars like ‘vennira aadai’ Murthi, Raguvaran, Surli Rajan and Goundamani… He says, “I am an ardent fan of all the comedians of black and while films. I used to admire them and wanted to become a good comedian. I am happy that my talent is recognized and now am able to perform in front of audience and make them laugh”.

    Robo Shankar from Chennai

    Robo Shankar performs the AIDS awareness program keeping humor as base; leading Tamil film star’s voices used for ‘Aids’ awareness. ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth and Raguvaran’ were the ones which got more applause. He says, ‘Kalakkapovathu Yaaru has helped me bring forth the talent from our very old Tamil movies that has been lying within me all these years”.

    Gopinathan from Chennai

    Gopi presented a song from Vasoolraja M.B.B.S (Kalaka Povadhu Yaaru) with this opening line he preceded the song with the lyrics about the show KalakkaPovadhu Yaaru.

    He performed a mime of a person got the habit of digging his ears with feathers finally he shows how a person suffer to take the feather from his ears. He says, ‘it’s a great platform for persons who are craving for a chance to prove their talents, thanks for shows like this’.

    MICHEL AUGUSTIN:

    He enacted a situation in which comedy actors Vadivelu & Vivek were caught in a wrestling arrina and how they happened to escape from the place. And he played the Trumpet music using his vocal sound for the patriotic (Jahe Jahahe Achcha). He says, ‘I am happy that on watch my performance people do laugh forgetting their distress at least for a while’.

    Through their rib-tickling jokes and performance the chosen ‘comedy king’ will be given a chance to host an all-new comedy show on Vijay TV. The finals will be held on 03 March 2006, as one and half hour show as well.

  • ‘Commercial Break’ trains spotlight on Delhi Agencies

    Advertising agencies in Delhi are now on the radar of the producers of “Commercial Break”, the show on JANMAT that re-discovers the advertising world for television.

     

    “Commercial Break” talks of the creative process, the highs and lows of the advertising world and the people who mould words and images to make us laugh, cry and think. The show on JANMAT is on every Saturday on 7.30p.m., with a repeat at 11 a.m. on Sunday. In a half hourly format, ‘Commercial Break’ covers one leading Ad Agency every week. On show are the agency’s memorable works, awards won and ad creatives that made the grade or fell by the wayside.

     

    In forthcoming weeks, prepare to watch fascinating episodes that zero in on leading lights in New Delhi from Dentsu, JWT, Lowe and Grey Worldwide. Chief Creative Officer at Dentsu, Gullu Sen was categorical when he said that “A bigger budget does not automatically mean better advertising”. At Dentsu, having a dream was the basis of future success!

     

    Senior VP and GM at JWT, Delhi, Rohit Ohri admitted of competition among JWT branches countrywide but that it was healthy and constructive! His take on celebrities endorsing products was cautious: “Using celebrities is a gamble,” he said. Pepsi reigns over his mind: “When you hold Pepsi in your hand, its much more than just a drink!

     

    “If you see from our point of view, we are the No.1 agency,” is what Executive Vice President of Lowe, Mohit Beotra believes. He backs his belief with his client list adding that the only parameter of success is the success of the brands that you manage. Lowe’s USP is finding surprising solutions that engage customers and help business grow.

     

    Prataph Suthan, National Creative Director of Grey Worldwide staked his confidence upfront: “We are an extremely aggressive and very fierce agency and India Shining was one of our most successful campaigns despite the political fallout.” He reiterated his confidence in India by saying companies who want to grow must do business in India.

     

    Commercial Break departs from the current industry norms of having a very formal or structured interview format. Instead it also introduces segments on old Indian commercials that have entered Indian marketing lore – for example the 40-year old Hamam ad campaign was recently showcased. There are segments on international ad campaigns, a Vox Pop for the common man and focus on the top three ads of the week.

     

    Positioned as India’s first Views Channel, JANMAT has brought a fresh breeze in the country’s TV viewing landscape. JANMAT is a 24-hour current affairs channel targeted towards the discerning Indian audience. Through its innovative positioning and its interactive programming JANMAT is breaking old stereotypes.
    Catch COMMERCIAL BREAK on Saturday on 7.30p.m., with a repeat at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

  • Gulf Air appoints new general manager for India

    Gulf Air appoints new general manager for India

    A consistent achiever and winning performer, Nambiar has risen from the ranks of Gulf Air, having joined it in 1999 as District Sales Manager in Doha, Qatar from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

     

    After a nearly three and a half years stint in Doha, he moved to Nairobi, Kenya on promotion as Area Manager for East and West Africa. In June 2004 he was elevated to the position of General Manager at Gulf Air headquarters in Bahrain, the biggest station of Gulf Air network, before moving to Dubai in January 2005.

     

    A Bahrain-born Indian, Nambiar brings to the position a depth of knowledge and experience that will serve him well in this highly competitive market.

     

    “I am delighted to take up the new position in India, which is an important market for Gulf Air,” says Nambiar.

    “Gulf Air is, and will continue to be, a major player in this rapidly growing travel market. I hope to continue with my undeterred spirit to further develop the market. I am thankful to Gulf Air management for their confidence.

    Regional General Manager Robin Middleton says Gulf Air’s relationship with India goes back to the 60s when it started its first flight to Mumbai in 1960 – the first gulf airline to operate into India.

    “It is one of the top five revenue producing markets for Gulf Air, and it continues to be one of the largest international carriers serving this important country, which is a rapidly-growing economy,” he says.

    “We are confident that under Rajeev’s leadership and in conjunction with our GSA Jet Airways, Gulf Air will continue to go from strength to strength, not only in creating an even stronger profile with new innovative products but also by providing our Indian customers with our unique brand of Arab hospitality and culture, for which we are renowned.”

     

    About Gulf Air
    Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is presently owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the region.

     

    More than half a century later, the regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central in defining the brand and service ethos within the contemporary and global environment.

     

    Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 44 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft.

     

    Under President and Chief Executive James Hogan, the successful implementation of the first phase of a restructuring programme, which commenced in 2003, has resulted in the establishment of a platform for sustained commercial operation.

     

    It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’boutique airline’ vision.

     

    The dramatic turnaround in fortunes has won international recognition. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) presented the airline with the prestigious Airline Turnaround of the Year Award for 2003. Gulf Air was also the recipient of the 2003 Platinum Award for the Best Airline in the Middle East and North Africa, which recognised the airline’s commitment to service excellence. Other awards include:

    Winner – Middle East Leading First Class Airline, World Travel Awards 2005
    Winner – World’s Leading Airport Lounge, World Travel Awards 2005
    Winner – Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline Travel Award 2004
    Winner – Skytrax Most Improved Airline Award 2004
    Winner – Skytrax Best First Class Onboard Food Category 2004
    Winner – Skytrax Best Business Class Check-in Category 2004
    Official Airline and Sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2006

    For further information please contact:
    Rashmi Shetty / Riann Vaz
    Tel: 022 22812957 / 60
    Mob: 98217 65776 / 98198 64424