ITV

Category: GECs

  • Akanksha Khatri from Mirzapur, UP wins India’s first ever digital food reality show, India’s Digital Chef!

    Akanksha Khatri from Mirzapur, UP wins India’s first ever digital food reality show, India’s Digital Chef!

    MUMBAI: Conceived and created by One Digital Entertainment with judges Sanjeev Kapoor, Saransh Goila and Amrita Raichand, India’s Digital Chef aimed at giving the country its first ever digital chef. 16 home chefs of different ages and ethnicities, went on to fight for the title of India’s Digital Chef. 

    After 15 episodes and 4 distinct stages of cook-offs, 29 year old Akanksha Khatri, won the final round against Rashmi Ahuja to win the first season of the show. The finale was a tough fight between modern vs. traditional approach to food. Akanksha’s journey on the show was quite astounding as her recipes always managed to take the judges by storm. She went on to prove herself as the fusion queen always taking risks and innovating with flavours and ingredients on the go. 

    Akansha has won a world class, high end cooking range for her dream kitchen from KRBL as well as a highly advanced water purifier from Livpure. One Digital Entertainment will now invest in her to provide her with mentoring, production and marketing support to build her own digital properties across platforms in order to pursue her dream of becoming an established chef by helping her build herself as a brand and monetise and syndicate her work with their vast experience in the industry. 

    Akansha said, “ I’m ecstatic. Cooking was my dream and now to finally be able to pursue it as a career with One Digital Entertainment’s support is too exciting. I can’t wait to start cooking in my dream kitchen, start making more delectable recipes and share with you all!” 

    Chef Sanjeev Kapoor says, “Akanksha had stunned us with her melange and combination of healthy food. Even the other contestants were so innovative with their recipes. It is heartening to see so much talent lying around in the corners of our country hence it’s an amazing feeling to be a part of this show with One Digital Entertainment and other judges to find such talented home chefs. I am quite excited to see what the second season has in store.” 

    Gurpreet Singh, co founder of One Digital Entertainment commented, “Akanksha showed real promise from the first episode and we are very happy we have found a chef as talented as her. It has been a great experience for us to make this show and we are already beginning work on season 2. Season 2 will see more home chefs coming from all over India as our goal has always been to support and invest in the best talent around.” 

    One Digital Entertainment is India’s largest digital video content network working with over 3000 artists, celebrities and influencers and also the creators of various genres of first of its kind digital format series and web documentaries that stand out in the entertainment market. 

  • BIG Ganga Goes All Out to Delight Its Audience This Festive Season, Launches Engrossing Range of Shows

    BIG Ganga Goes All Out to Delight Its Audience This Festive Season, Launches Engrossing Range of Shows

    MUMBAI: With the festive season right around the corner, BIG Ganga, the number one Bhojpuri channel in the Hindi heartland, gears up for the launch of some exciting shows to further deepen its connect with viewers in Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal. The upcoming shows, Aaj Ki Durga, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs, Roj Hoyi Bhoj #SwadkeSath and Doo Duni Ke Panch are created with the intention to enhance and enrich the viewing experience of audience. Two special on-ground events -Shaurya Samaan, the bravery awards for the common man and Jai Chhathi Mayi, an on-ground event to celebrate the most popular festival Chhath Puja in the region, have also been created. 

    Through a special dedicated show on Navratra, Aaj Ki Durga will showcase the stories of extraordinary women who been the ideal role model and have done exemplary work for their society or nation and will be telecast on Oct 17 and 18 at 4:30 pm. The channel is also launching a singing reality show for kids, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs which has already left behind a legacy. With the show’s authentic and challenging format, the very best of singing talent will be selected and crowned as the champion. It is important to note that the kid’s talent show will be making a return to the region after a 6-8 years gap, which is testament it being an extremely big initiative by the channel in the region. With talent on the show coming from all corners of the country, viewers can surely witness participation from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Mumbai, and Delhi among others, making it a oneofitskind show in the region.

    In addition to raising the entertainment quotient with an exciting festive lineup, BIG Ganga is also set to launch a cookery show–RojHoyiBhoj #SwadkeSath based on the culinary expertise of the common man of the region. The channel will also be adding a comedy show to its repertoire of festive offerings with Doo Duni ke Panch, which is based on satirical songs and poems. The two shows will be telecast from October 22 onwards.

    Amplifying its connect in the region, BIG Ganga aims to felicitate those who have done extraordinary work for the betterment of the society via Shaurya Samaan. This special event will be aired on October 26, 7 pm onwards. That isn’t all, after successfully celebrating and getting a tremendous response for the most popular and marquee property Jai Chhathi Mayi on Chhath Puja in the past; the channel brings back the celebrationsthis year as well by organizing afour-hour musical on-ground event that will be held on Patna,for its audience.

    Commenting on the festive line-up, a BIG Ganga spokesperson said, “Known for its original content, BIG Ganga’s aim is to not only entertain the viewers, butalso provide them with something they can cherish along with their families throughout this festival season. Most of our new line-ups are very topical in nature and will prove to be a visual treat. The next two months are the most celebrated months in North India and we wanted to gift our viewers bouquet of shows along with organizing riveting on-ground events. BIG Ganga’s festive lineup has been created by keeping in mind the interest and preferences of our viewers and at the same time to provide a great platform for advertisers and stakeholders alike, to reach out to the audience.” 

  • Star Bharat brings Kaal Bhairav Rahasya 2 with a new mystery

    Star Bharat brings Kaal Bhairav Rahasya 2 with a new mystery

    MUMBAI: India has had age old history associated with myths legends folklore and one of the biggest myth has been that of the curses. But Science and Spiritualism, both try to decipher life and its meaning in their own respective ways. However, there is much that remains to be completely understood. There are mysteries that sometimes remain unexplained for centuries. And one such enigma is the subject matter of Kaal Bhairav Rahasya 2. The show reveals an unsolved mystery of a family based in a fictitious village set in Madhya Pradesh.

    After the success of the first season, Kaal Bhairav Rahasya in the second season will narrate an engrossing and gripping tale of a royal family residing in Kanakgarh, which has been under the spell of a deadly curse since 150 years. A curse that ensures death of every male heir born in the family will die before his 30th birthday. After an intriguing clash between myth and mystery of Kaal Bhairav Rahasya, this season promises to keep the audience intrigued, revelling in this genre of unseen and unheard of reality.

    The show stars Gautam Rode in a lead role. The unpredictability of Kaal Bhairav Rahasya’s curse will make the viewers wonder about the adversity of truth and superstitions believed to prevail in this village.

    Gautam Rode said, “I am thrilled to return to television as Veervardhan and with Kaal Bhairav Rahasaya. The show provides its viewers a vicarious thrill.  Adding to this experience, we wanted to make our first announcement as disruptive as we could.”

  • Network18 reports improved numbers for Q2 FY19

    Network18 reports improved numbers for Q2 FY19

    BENGALURU: Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani’s media arm, Network18, reported improved numbers for the quarter ended 30 September 2018 (Q2 2019, quarter under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter Q2 2018). The company reported 9 per cent y-o-y growth in consolidated revenue for Q2 2019 at Rs 1,237 crore as compared to Rs 1,138 crore in Q2 2018. Network18 reported a lower loss of Rs 68 crore in the quarter under review as compared to Rs 71 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Consolidated operating EBITDA increased 59 per cent y-o-y to Rs 92 crore in Q 2019 from Rs 58 crore in Q2 2018.

    Network18’s numbers comprise numbers from its publically listed subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Ltd and from NW18 digital, print and others.

    TV18 Broadcast numbers

    TV18 consolidated revenue of Rs 1,118 crore in Q2 2019 was 11 per cent higher y-o-y than Rs 1,084 crore in Q 2018. TV18 consolidated operating EBITDA for Q2 2019 increased 42 per cent y-o-y to Rs 108 crore from Rs 76 crore in Q 2018

    Revenue growth in Q2 2019 was across all revenue streams. The company’s operating revenue from business and general news (TV18 standalone) increased 26 per cent y-o-y to Rs 200 crore from Rs 159 crore. The segment’s operating EBITDA increased 10 per cent y-o-y in Q2 2019 to Rs 31 crore from Rs 28 crore. Regional news ex-Lokmat including entertainment operating revenue during the quarter under review increased 36 per cent y-o-y to Rs 95 crore from Rs 70 crore. The segment reported a substantially lower loss of Rs 8 crore for Q2 2019 as compared to Rs 28 crore for Q2 2018.The entertainment segment (Viacom18 and Indiacast) saw a 6 per cent y-o-y increase in revenue to Rs 903 crore in Q2 2019 from Rs 855 crore. Operating profit of the entertainment segment increased 12 per cent y-o-y to Rs 85 core from Rs 76 core.

    NW18 digital, print and others numbers

    NW18 digital, print and others (NW18) revenue declined 28 per cent y-o-y to Rs 39 crore from Rs 54 crore. NW18 operating EBITDA was a lower loss of Rs 16 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 18 crore.

    Company speak

    Chairman of Network18, Adil Zainulbhai said: “Our regional properties across news and entertainment have shown significant improvements in viewership and monetisation, cementing our belief that vernacular content will be a key growth driver. We continue to see opportunities in the Indian media space; and aim to create segmented offerings to deepen our presence.”

    In the TV18 media release, Zainulbhai said, “TV18’s investments into regional have served to diversify our portfolio and reduce dependence on national markets. Our rising viewership in regional channels across both news and entertainment has been the primary driver this quarter. We shall continue to invest in the broadcasting space to capture growth opportunities.”

    Notes:

    Viacom18 and  Indiacast became subsidiaries of TV18 from 28 February 2018 and have been consolidated into TV18/Network18 financials from 1 March 2018. HomeShop18 has ceased to be a subsidiary of Network18 from 15 February 2018 as a result of its acquisition of ShopCJ through a share-swap.

  • Woh Talent Hi Kya Jo Kisi Ke Kaam Na Aaye; COLORS Announces the Launch of India’s Got Talent

    Woh Talent Hi Kya Jo Kisi Ke Kaam Na Aaye; COLORS Announces the Launch of India’s Got Talent

    MUMBAI: Don’t let talent go to waste advocates COLORS’ flagship reality show – Maruti Suzuki Arena presents India’s Got Talent powered by Vaseline and Frooti as it returns to wow viewers with some mind-boggling acts in its eighth edition. Giving all those who dare to dream a platform to make it real, this show stands for talent that rises above sex, age, social status or place. Helmed by a jury that gives judgement par excellence, shares a camaraderie that is legendary and are trendsetters in their own right – the favorite trio Kirron Kher, Malaika Arora and Karan Johar reprise their roles as judges in this season as well. Produced by Fremantle Media Pvt Ltd, this chapter of India’s Got Talent is hosted by ace comedian Bharti Singh and the fun loving Ritvik Dhanjani who will add to the entertainment quotient. The show will premiere on 20th October 2018 and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 10 PM on COLORS.

    With ‘Woh Talent Hi Kya Jo Kisi Ke Kaam Na Aye’ as its credo, this season brings audiences stories that need to be seen and heard.  This year’s highlight will include performances like techno act, bike formations by the CRPF women, Water aerial acts, Spell binding Illusionist, Malkhambh and first time ever – 3D projection and Holographic interactive acts. The quest for finding the best of the best spans the length and breadth of the country and talent from different parts of the society will walk through the ‘Hunar ka Darwaza’ to reach this stage that sees everyone as equal and are judged purely based on talent.

    Speaking about launch, Nina Elavia Jaipuria – Head, Hindi and Kids TV Network, Viacom18, said: “COLORS has over the years established itself as a progressive brand brought to life through its evolved content strategy. All our shows and communication represents the dynamic social fabric of India and now with a high decibel property like India’s Got Talent we will once again provide an unique opportunity for best of national prodigies to showcase their passion and craft. We are sure that this iconic show without any prejudice has inspired many to pursue their passion will once again enthrall its audience with its immersive and diverse talent.”

    Manisha Sharma– Chief Content Officer – Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18, said: “India’s Got Talent is a flagship brand for us and is an extreme delight to showcase unique and untapped talent from across the country. Bringing these beautiful art forms on stage and see their journey is what makes it complete. So, here is to another season of India’s Got Talent with our favorite panel, may the variety and journey be fulfilling to all.”

    Aradhana Bhola – Managing Director, Fremantle Media Pvt Ltd added saying, “The Got Talent format finds a place in the Guinness book of world records as the most successful reality television format. This is the 8th season that we are doing with Colors who continue to be our partners in every sense of the way. We are excited to bring forth talent from the most urban & rural parts of India to the audiences. We hope this amazing talent coupled with our experienced and fun filled jury will create yet another season of irresistible entertainment.”

    Speaking about her return to the show, Judge Kirron Kher said, “I eagerly await every new season because I love the courage and determination that the participants display in order to achieve their dreams, especially those who come from small towns and cities. Over the seasons, the show has witnessed unique talent that has also represented the country on international platforms. I’m proud to be associated with the show for all the 8 seasons, since its inception in India.”

    Fellow judge Malaika Arora further added saying, “My experience with the show gets better every season. Being able to witness acts that I didn’t know exist is something I look forward to. However, this year will see me dish out innovative hashtags for the contestants that manage to fascinate me with entertainment & talent”.

    Karan Johar concluded saying, “Every season has been inspirational, and I am looking forward to raising the judging parameters to ensure that contestants bring their best to the stage. We are on the lookout for the absolute best among the many that will showcase their talent on this mammoth platform that has turned many dreams into reality.”

    To enhance viewers engagement at every stage of the show, an integrated 360-degree campaign has been chalked out incorporating multiple mediums across the country. Our belief that real talent is that which is used for the betterment of society will be embodied by college students and citizens alike across 50 towns across the country the #TalentJohKaamAaye. The sea of talent mobilized through this campaign and amplified through Radio will spread joy to those who need it most the youth of this country to use their talent and spread joy to those who need it most.

    For India’s Got Talent, COLORS has roped in a volley of sponsors including Presenting Sponsors Maruti Suzuki, Powered by Sponsors Vaseline and Frooti and Associate Sponsors Macho Hint, Dish TV, Vim, Nirma Advance and Godrej Expert Rich Crème.

  • The latest season celebrates music as the biggest propeller for mankind; One that discards discrimination and recognizes only talent

    The latest season celebrates music as the biggest propeller for mankind; One that discards discrimination and recognizes only talent

    MUMBAI: Some shows become popular, a few others attain cult status, but very rarely does a show become an institution in itself. Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is one such prestigious platform that has pioneered and revolutionized the landscape of talent-based reality, as a genre, on Indian television. Having lived the channel’s philosophy Aaj Likhenge Kal even before it was articulated, the show has given generations after generations of aspiring singers a lifetime opportunity to showcase their golden voices and build extraordinary careers in the world of music. Be it Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Shekhar Ravjiani, Kunal Ganjawala, Sanjivani, Ranjeet Rajwada, Kamaal Khan or Amanat Ali, each of these music luminaries attribute their first break and their glorious success to this grand mecca of singing. Season after season, the show has not only reinvented music but brought the entire nation together to celebrate pure, unadulterated singing. After the raging success of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs last year, Zee TV is back with an exciting new season of its most iconic singing reality show. With the core thought of music for all – #MusicSeBaneHum, the new season will celebrate music as the one universal language that unites mankind and propels it towards growth. Sending out a strong message of all-inclusiveness and standing up against discrimination over caste, creed, colour, community, religion and sexuality, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will focus its spotlight on talent alone. This philosophy of the show is brought alive through its catchy, clutter-breaking jingle ‘Harega Harega’ that declares discrimination to be the prerogative of losers and music as the only winning proposition that looks beyond these trappings and recognizes true talent.  Produced by Essel Vision, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will premiere on 13th October and air every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM only on Zee TV

    Zee TV Business Head Aparna Bhosle said, “With the end of our immensely popular children’s acting talent hunt- India’s Best Dramebaaz, we now present viewers with the latest season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, a platform people look up to for setting the golden standards of excellence in singing. The show has earned its stature and credibility through consistency in providing the country a pool of only the most exceptional singers. In its newest season, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa focuses on rising above discrimination and uniting everyone with music as a universal language through its core proposition #MusicSeBaneHum. While letting go of discriminating barriers, we have let gone of the age criterion this season. The unanimous selection of gay icon Sushant Divgikar as one of the contestants by our judges, based purely on merit of his vocal abilities beautifully embodies the all-inclusive spirit of the season. We have a hard-hitting marketing campaign that goes one step further and announces the formation of the first-of-its-kind all-India parody political party called the ‘Rashtriya Sangeet Party’,  the manifesto of which is to discard labels that discriminate and bring people together to celebrate their talent and love for music.  The show’s judges have extended their support by flagging off the campaign, putting out powerful tweets representing the party’s core ethos.”

    Guiding and grooming the young talents in their journey to become India’s musical doyens will be three supremely talented mentors who have been instrumental in taking Bollywood music to unforeseen heights. The multi-talented singer Sona Mohapatra will be making her judging debut with this season alongside Sa Re Ga Ma Pa veterans – the widely popular singer-composer Wajid Khan and the charismatic singer-composer-actor Shekhar Ravjiani. Along with the mentors, an esteemed panel of 15 music connoisseurs- experts from the music fraternity, will play the role of jury and assess the aspiring singers right from the audition stage and help mentors in selecting only the best. Returning as the host for this season will be young and dynamic singing heart-throb Aditya Narayan who never fails to charm the audiences with his wit and easygoing camaraderie with the mentors.

    Mentor Sona Mohapatra said, “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is special for me as I am making my foray into TV as a judge and extremely proud to be associated with the most prestigious and definitive singing platform on Indian television. What’s more, I’m proud to be the first woman to be a part of the panel of judges in all these years. And, I am even more happy to be part of a season that transcends cultural and social differences and presents music as a universal language that unites all. I am also joining hands with my fellow judges as a representative of ‘Rashtriya Sangeet Party’, a nationwide movement that demands acceptance of only music, setting aside any judgments or discriminations. The soul of the show will be bringing together people of different castes, creed, sexuality or gender and binding them with the power of music. On the judging panel, I will be looking for a combination of passion, authenticity and well-honed craft amongst the participants of the show.”

    Mentor Wajid Khan said, “I have been associated with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa for three seasons and I am looking forward to being of part of this season as well. The show has been instrumental in giving a platform to singers across the country to come forth and display their talents and I am excited to listen to the emerging voices of today’s generation. With music evolving year on year, the contestants must take an extra step in presenting themselves and sharpening their skills to the fullest. Moreover, this season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa focuses on music’s ability to rise above discrimination and bring about universal harmony. With this season we tend to raise the bar a notch higher and I hope for another successful season of the show.”

    Mentor Shekhar Ravjiani said, “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is very close to my heart and I have wonderful memories attached to the show. I look forward to creating new ones, listening to and mentoring the musical future of India.  Each one of the past seasons that I have judged has always been trailblazers, especially the 2007 season when the show went on to make history. I look forward to being part of this next chapter of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as it continues to ignite a passion for music in India through another pathbreaking season in 2018 and bring forth talents as we have never seen before.” 

    With the auditions being conducted in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ranchi, Itanagar,  Patna, Jaipur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bangalore, Indore, Ahmedabad, the show has left no stone unturned in scouting the best of singing talent. The shortlisted contestants will get the golden opportunity to perform in front of the mentor's panel and live out their passion for music in front of the entire nation.

  • Zeel numbers up in Q2 2019 on improved ad and subscription revenues

    Zeel numbers up in Q2 2019 on improved ad and subscription revenues

    BENGALURU: The Subhash Chandra led Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited reported 24.7 per cent year-on year (y-o-y) growth in operating revenue at Rs 1,975.86 crore for the quarter ended 30 September 2018 (Q2 2019, quarter under review) as compared to the Rs 1,582.75 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter Q2 2018. EBITDA for the quarter under review increased 37.6 per cent y-o-y to Rs 675.72 crore from Rs 491.16 crore. Growth in numbers was driven by 22.7 per cent and 21.3 per cent y-o-y in advertisement and subscription revenues respectively. The company reported ad revenue for Q1 2019 at Rs 1,210.60 crore as compared to Rs 986.74 crore in Q2 2018. Subscription revenue in the quarter under review was Rs 608.16 crore as compared to Rs 501.41 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    The company, however, reported lower profit after tax (PAT) and lower total comprehensive income (TCI) for Q2 2019 as compared to Q2 2018 on account of higher taxes in Q2 2019 and income from exceptional items in Q2 2018. PAT in Q2 019 was 38.2 per cent lower at Rs 386.10 crore as compared to Rs 625.09 crore in Q2 2018. TCI for Q2 2019 was 19.8 per cent lower at Rs 521.43 crore as compared to Rs 649.83 crore. For Q2 2019, Zeel has reported total tax expenses of Rs 262.42 crore as compared to Rs 148.87 crore in Q2 2018. Zeel had reported income from exceptional items – these were the proceeds of the sale of its sports broadcasting business to the extent of Rs 134.61 crore for Q2 2018.

    Zeel chairman Chandra said, “Media and entertainment industry around the world is going through some seminal changes and India is no different. Digital has opened new possibilities for content creators and multiplied the entertainment choices consumers have at their disposal. As India’s leading entertainment content company, ZEEL is strongly positioned to capitalise on this new growth opportunity. Our deep understanding of the Indian consumers will be as instrumental in helping us become the leader in the digital space as it was in helping us achieve the leadership in television. In a short time, ZEE5 has received an overwhelming response and I am confident that the platform will continue to scale-up going forward.”

    Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “ZEE5 is the fastest growing entertainment platform in the country. In a little over six months, it has become the second most popular OTT platform. With a monthly active user base of 41 million and an average daily time spend of 31 minutes, it is growing faster than our expectations. Despite the strong initial performance, I believe it is just the beginning of a long digital journey for us. With a strong pipeline of original content and partnerships with key players in the digital ecosystem, we are confident that ZEE5 will become the default entertainment platform for digital audience.”

    “Our broadcast business continues to grow at an impressive pace as evident from the domestic advertising and subscription revenue growth numbers. We continue to consolidate our viewership share which is driving our market leading growth. We believe that our broadcast portfolio has the potential to further increase its market share and the launch of new channel in Kerala will surely help it. The advertising and subscription revenue growth will be aided by the scaling-up of digital business and the growth outlook for both remains strong. This robust performance also gives us room to increase our investments in digital, if required,” added Goenka.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Zeel

    Total expenses in Q2 2019 increased 20.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 1,290.60 crore from Rs 1,147.05 crore. Employee benefit expense reduced 7 per cent y-o-y in Q2 2019 to Rs 168.72 crore from Rs 181.40 crore in Q2 2018. Operational cost in the quarter under review increased 25.5 per cent y-o-y to Rs 725.34 crore from Rs 578.89 crore in Q2 2018.

    Finance costs increased y-o-y in Q2 2019 to Rs 5.45 crore from Rs 0.28 crore during the corresponding period of the previous year. Other expenses increased 26.6 per cent y-o-y in quarter under review to Rs 240.03 crore from Rs 189.57 crore in Q2 2018.

    The company incurred 49 per cent higher fair value loss on financial instruments at fair value through profit and loss for Q2 2019 at Rs 22.02 crore as compared to Rs 14.78 crore in Q2 2018.

  • &TV presents epic fantasy Vikram Betaal Ki Rahsya Gaatha depicting the battle between good and evil

    &TV presents epic fantasy Vikram Betaal Ki Rahsya Gaatha depicting the battle between good and evil

    MUMBAI: The magical and mysterious tales of the courageous King Vikram and the fascinating spirit Betaal, transported the audience to an enchanting world and etched a special place in the hearts of people many years ago. &TV is all set to bring alive this tale in a larger-than-life avatar, giving the fabled narratives a contemporary take through its new epic fantasy Vikram Betaal Ki Rahsya Gaatha. Depicting the tussle between good and evil, the show will take viewers through the quest of the intelligent King Vikramaditya to find the wise ghost Betaal as challenged by the evil Bhadrakaal. On the other hand, the wily Betaal has identified that it is only brave King Vikramaditya who can cause the downfall of the dark Bhadrakaal. Engaging in this battle of brain and brawn, popular television actor Ahem Sharrma will be seen essaying the role of the righteous King Vikramaditya. The versatile theatre and film actor, Makarand Deshpande steps into the shoes of the witty Betaal, while the powerful character of Bhadrakaal will be played by veteran actor, Sooraj Thapar. The show brings together a strong ensemble cast including names like Ishita Ganguly, Amit Behl, Sonia Singh amongst others. It is slated to go on air on 16th October 2018, every Monday – Friday at 8:00 pm only on &TV.

    Artistically portraying Vikram’s several futile attempts to bind the free spirit’s tail to himself, Vikram Betaal Ki Rahsya Gaatha showcases the challenges faced by the King while choosing between right and wrong. Through captivating illustrations, it will also bring forth the untold story between Betaal and Bhadrakaal and the repercussions of their starkly opposite ideologies. With each character having a magnificent and strong appearance, the show will take viewers through the three contrasting worlds of Vikram, Betaal and Bhadrakaal, while also offering a vital life lesson at the end of each episode. Peninsula Pictures, headed by Alind Srivastava and Nissar Parvez along with Writer and Creative Producer of the show, C. L. Saini are the creative minds behind this epic fantasy.

    Commenting on the new fiction offering, Vishnu Shankar, Head, &TV said, “Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gaatha is one of our most ambitious projects and we are proud to present it on such a majestic scale. It’s also one of the first few shows to launch right after the break of our new brand campaign ‘Hai Khaas Har Andaaz’ and takes forward the ideology. At the heart of the show is an effort to convey gems from Indian culture and traditional knowledge to the society and families in an entertaining manner suitable to today’s time. We are sure it will revive childhood memories of the evergreen tales of Vikram and Betaal, adding a hint of nostalgia yet giving the new generation a chance to live this epic fantasy and gain some valuable lessons. Apart from the grandeur involved in the show, the characters have been mounted on a huge canvas and audiences can expect nothing short of a visual spectacle.”

    Talking about the show, producers Alind Srivastava and Nissar Parvez, Peninsula Pictures said, “While a small segment of the Indian audience might have seen the stories of Vikram and Betaal, a large part of them have not even heard about the characters or the stories depicted in these tales. Vikram Betaal ki Rahsya Gatha will not only attempt to bring forth several stories that have been lost in time but will also concentrate on the real and untold stories of Vikram, Betaal and the infamous character, Bhadrakal. With a modern look and feel to support these characters, the story further delves into the making of King Vikramaditya and his journey to be the royal and poised King that he is. The essence of these timeless classics remains the same, but the characters and stories have a younger and edgier vibe to them which is sure to appeal to the younger audience as well.”

    Returning to television after 20 long years is acclaimed theatre artist, director and film actor, Makarand Deshpande, essaying the character of Betaal. He said, “I am looking forward to play Betaal in Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gaatha. He is an intelligent and generous spirit who wishes to help humanity in any capacity. His clever and tactful way of throwing challenges at the great King Vikramaditya in the form of riddles showcases the wise and free-spirited side of him. Unlike the original character, the new Betaal is a friendly spirit that floats in the air and will have an ivory appearance. He has a misty tail for his legs that will wrap around King Vikramaditya’s waist. The character is sure to appeal to the audience and I hope this new creation also works its magic, just like the previous rendition of Vikram and Betaal did.”

    Adding to his excitement on playing the character of King Vikramaditya, the popular actor, Ahem Sharrma said, “I am very happy that I have the opportunity to play the character of King Vikramaditya in Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gaatha. Vikramaditya’s name itself reflects the strength and bravery of the King of Ujjain. Although he is praised by many for his intelligence and righteousness, he possessed an egoistic trait that compelled him to take up Bhadrakaal’s challenge of capturing Betaal. It’s this weakness of his that constantly finds him torn between choosing the good and evil. He has an authoritative aura surrounding him which has been proficiently incorporated in his modern-day look consisting of leather tunics, royal golden embroidery and fine jewellery complemented with a shining golden sword that reflects upon his opulent life. I am really enjoying portraying this powerful character and I hope that the audience love and appreciate this new version of the classic tale.”

    Thrilled about essaying the grand and powerful character of Bhadrakaal, actor Sooraj Thapar said, “Until now Bhadrakaal was often just a character many had heard of, but for the first time the audience will see the character of Bhadrakaal prominently in Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gaatha. His evil and cunning side is represented through his magnificent, dark and unusual avatar. Extremely sharp with his moves, Bhadrakaal has a manipulative charm which he often uses to his advantage to get what he wants. With an extreme power and control over the five elements of earth in his hand, he often finds ways to be a constant obstacle in Vikramaditya and Betaal’s story. Bhadrakaal’s dark world and tussle with Betaal is sure to add more intrigue to this epic show.”  

    Get ready to enter this sawalon ki maya, jawabon ki duniya, as &TV presents the timeless legend Vikram-Betaal’s collection of iconic tales in a present-day avatar with Vikram Betaal Ki Rahsya Gaatha.

  • ZEE5 to launch web series on Priya Kumar’s bestselling novel ‘I Will Go With You’

    ZEE5 to launch web series on Priya Kumar’s bestselling novel ‘I Will Go With You’

    MUMBAI: After foraying into multiple genres like biopics, thrillers, docudramas among others, ZEE5, India’s largest multilingual entertainment destination is now set to adapt a web series on ‘I Will Go With You’, one of noted author Priya Kumar’s best-selling novels. Titled ‘Row No. 26’, announcements on the cast, production house & director to follow.

    Row No. 26 is set to take audiences on an unforgettable ride of life and death. While the book has already garnered a great response from readers, ZEE5 promises that the show will do equal justice to the book and make the experience enthralling and immersive.

    On announcing ZEE5’s first show based on a book, Manish Aggarwal, Business Head, ZEE5 India, said, “From past experience, we have seen that our audiences love new formats of story-telling. This is our maiden foray into the genre of web series based on books – an interesting addition to our existing repertoire of genres such as thriller, comedy, docudrama, biopics, etc. ‘I Will Go With You’ by author Priya Kumar has received a phenomenal response from readers and our effort will be the same with Row No. 26. 

    Priya Kumar, Author, commented, “Breathing life into my 5th book ‘I Will Go With You’, ZEE5 is all set for the story to take form into a web series titled Row No. 26. This will be an exciting journey for all the fans of I Will Go With You on boarding The Flight of a Lifetime with ZEE5.”

  • The Walt Disney Company names new organisational structure for media networks biz

    The Walt Disney Company names new organisational structure for media networks biz

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company, as part of the integration planning for its pending acquisition of 21st Century Fox, today announced plans for a new organisational structure for its media networks segment, conditional upon closing of the deal. Under the new structure, several 21st Century Fox executives would assume leadership roles at the Disney business segment once the acquisition closes.

    “The strength of 21st Century Fox’s first-class management talent has always been a compelling part of this opportunity for us,” said The Walt Disney Company chairman and chief executive officer Robert A Iger. “Upon completion of the acquisition, this new structure positions these proven leaders to help drive maximum value from a greatly enhanced portfolio of incredible brands and businesses.”

    Peter Rice will become chairman, Walt Disney Television and co-chair, Disney Media Networks, reporting directly to Iger. The new organisation under Rice will include ABC Television Network, ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, Disney Channels, Freeform, Twentieth Century Fox Television, FX Networks and FX Productions, Fox 21 Television Studios, and the National Geographic channels.

    “I love making television and have been fortunate to work with incredibly talented executives and storytellers. Disney is the world’s preeminent creative company, and I look forward to working for Bob, and with his exceptional leadership team, to build on that amazing legacy. I also want to thank Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch for the privilege of working on such a wide array of movies and television, both entertainment and sports. It has been a wonderful thirty years,” Rice said.

    Rice’s appointment will take effect upon completion of the acquisition. He is currently president of 21st Century Fox and chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Networks Group.

    Reporting to Rice will be: Dana Walden, Chairman, Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment; John Landgraf, chairman of FX Networks and FX Productions; Gary E. Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners; Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide and James Goldston, president, ABC News

    Walden’s portfolio will include Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios, as well as ABC Entertainment, ABC Studios, Freeform and the ABC Owned Television Stations Group. She is currently chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Television Group.

    Disney Media Networks co-chair Ben Sherwood and Disney|ABC Television Group President, will remain in his current role during the transition period until the acquisition closes.

    “I want to personally thank Ben Sherwood for his years of service at ABC and Disney. Ben has been a valued colleague, and I deeply appreciate his many contributions and insights, as well as his professionalism and cooperation in this transition,” Iger said.

    Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox has received formal approval from shareholders of both companies, and Disney and 21st Century Fox have entered into a consent decree with the US Department of Justice that allows the acquisition to proceed, while requiring the sale of the Fox Sports Regional Networks. The transaction is subject to a number of non-US merger and other regulatory reviews.