ITV

Category: GECs

  • Colors partners with vivo as presenting sponsor for Bigg Boss 2019

    Colors partners with vivo as presenting sponsor for Bigg Boss 2019

    MUMBAI: COLORS collaborates with the premium global smartphone manufacturer, vivo as the presenting sponsor for Bigg Boss 2019. Produced by Endemol Shine India, the show has attained a cult status over the years and has become one of the sought-after reality shows hosted by actor Salman Khan. 

    Promising to be packed with utmost thrill and excitement, the new all celebrity season will have many surprise elements that will make it a stellar watch for the audience. 

    Elaborating on the sponsorship, Viacom18 Head, Network Sales Mahesh Shetty said, “Bigg Boss is one of the largest platforms in the entertainment segment.  With every season, the show has set new benchmarks in the television reality space and has become one of the widely viewed shows of the country. The format and content of the show allows us to experiment with brand integrations and associations that reach out to a sizable number of audience across all age groups and  it is the only show that cuts across festivities. With its growing success and popularity, more and more brands have come forward to explore innovative customizations and partnerships to deliver their business ambitions. vivo is one of the trusted mobile phone brands with a growing consumer base and we are happy to welcome them on board as the presenting sponsor.”

    Talking about the collaboration,  vivo India Senior Vice President Jerome Chen said, “We at vivo are constantly looking for innovative ways to connect with our consumers and their interest areas. We always aim to create new and effective marketing platforms that will engage our audiences across the country. We are excited about our partnership with COLORS for Bigg Boss. The show is one of the most popular reality TV shows that brings the diverse audience together with its entertaining content.”

    Being the most anticipated and celebrated shows of Indian Television, the upcoming season of Bigg Boss will continue to entertain the audience with high octane drama and action. 

  • Viacom18 partners with Film Heritage Foundation for the 5th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2019 to save our cinematic heritage

    Viacom18 partners with Film Heritage Foundation for the 5th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2019 to save our cinematic heritage

    MUMBAI: Till a few years ago, most people were not aware that films needed to be preserved and that India had lost a colossal amount of our film heritage due to our ignorance of film preservation and restoration.

    Viacom18, India’s youngest Media & Entertainment company and Film Heritage Foundation have been partnering for 4 years now, to create awareness for the pressing need to preserve and restore both films and film-related photographic and paper materials to future-proof our cinematic heritage through intensive training conducted through the annual week-long film preservation and restoration workshops. Over the last 4 years, the partnership has enabled these unique workshops to be conducted annually around the country, beginning from Mumbai in 2015 and then moving to Pune in 2016, Chennai in 2017 and Kolkata in 2018. Acknowledging the rich legacy of the Telugu Film Industry and the fact that Hyderabad is a hub for cinema from all over the country, Viacom18 and Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) announce the 5th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2019 (FPRWI) in Hyderabad. Esteemed actors Nagarjuna and Amala were present to announce the workshop along with Founder of Film Heritage Foundation, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and MD, Viacom18 and Shri. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Government of Telangana.

    The workshop will take place in Hyderabad, India from December 8 to 15, 2019 and will have participation from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and for the first time from Afghanistan. Applications for the week-long workshop will be open from August 25 to October 20, 2019. Application forms can be downloaded from www.filmheritagefoundation.co.in. FPRWI 2019 will focus on the need to skill and train a resource of archivists to take on the challenge of preserving and archiving film heritage. 

    Speaking about the 5th edition of the Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and MD, Viacom18 said, “Cinema is an integral part of our country’s cultural DNA and we owe it to our future generations to pass it on. This is the reason why we have continued to partner with the Film Heritage Foundation. This time we have extended our partnership to  bring our message of preservation and training in this specialized field to the Telugu Film industry that has been an integral part of Indian cinema and has given the industry a galaxy of talented directors, actors and musicians not only on a regional level but also for the Indian film industry at large. Eminent film makers like Raghupati Venkaiah Naidu, H.M. Reddy, B.N. Reddy, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, L.V. Prasad, D. Ramanaidu, Ramoji Rao and N.T. Rama Rao et al were not just revered across the world as film personalities but also shaped the discourse of socio-political culture both within and outside of India. At Viacom18, we understand and believe it’s imperative that we preserve and restore the work done by these great personalities.”

    On the journey of FHF so far,  Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Founder, Film Heritage Foundation said, “Film is an art form. It is history in motion and a reflection of the times we live in. That is why films must be saved. In keeping with Film Heritage Foundation’s mission to save every bit of India’s film heritage possible, we began conducting workshops in 2015 aimed at training individuals to preserve our celluloid heritage as well as how to tackle the challenges of digital preservation for the future. These workshops would not have been possible without the continuing support of Viacom18 and Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation right from 2015 and the Tata Trusts who came on board in 2017, not to mention the unstinting support of our brand ambassador Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. The Hyderabad workshop has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Nagarjuna and Amala who have offered the premises of Annapurna Studios and the Annapurna College of Film & Media to conduct the workshop. The Telugu film industry has come forward in force to support the cause including Chiranjeevi, Suresh Babu, S.S. Rajamouli, K. Vishwanath, K. Raghavendra Rao, Sowcar Janaki, B. Saroja Devi and Jamuna.

    Supporting the need of restoration of film heritage, Nagarjuna, one of the most revered actors of the Telegu film industry said, “Here at Annapurna Studios we have created a museum just for the countless awards my father won in his lifetime. When you look back on the incredible films he made – “Laila Majnu”, “Devadasu”, “Missamma”, “Mayabazar”, “Batasari”, “Premabhishekham”,  it is a magnificent body of work that we must keep alive for future generations to appreciate the work of a truly legendary actor of Indian cinema. If he were alive today, he would have been very proud that Annapurna Studios have partnered with Film Heritage Foundation and the best archives around the world to educate and train future film archivists who will go forward to save India’s film heritage. I am looking forward to welcoming the participants and the international faculty of eminent film archivists to Annapurna Studios as they come together to help us save our film heritage.”

    FPRWI 2019 is an initiative of Film Heritage Foundation and the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) in collaboration with Annapurna Studios and in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences, Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, L’ImmagineRitrovata, Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archives), Cinemateca Portuguesa, Institut National de L’Audiovisuel (INA), Haghefilm Digitaal, San Francisco Silent Film Festival, FIAT/IFTA, A.V. Preservation by Reto, Media Inventions s.c., The Criterion Collection, Prasad Digital Film Lab and ARRI.

    Covering every aspect of film preservation, the workshop is considered the most comprehensive of its kind in the world and has become the model for FIAF’s international training programs. The intensive week-long workshop, certified by FIAF, will cover both lectures and practical classes in the best practices of the preservation and restoration of both films and film-related paper and photographic material and will be taught by a faculty of international experts from leading institutions around the world. Classes will be followed by daily screenings of restored classics from around the world.

    The 5th edition of the workshop, will have basic and advanced courses running simultaneously. The advanced courses will focus on training alumni from the earlier workshops as well as those working in museums, archives and film facilities who would like to update their skills. The basic course is targeted at less experienced individuals who would like to explore film preservation as a possible career option. Fresh topics will be introduced in the digital preservation stream like open source tools and resources, metadata, born digital and data wrangling. Practical sessions in chemical treatment of film in serious condition will also be introduced in FPRWI 2019. Additionally, practical sessions with the latest and world class ARRISCAN XT will give participants hands-on training on scanning archival film.

    FPRWI 2019 will be conducted by a faculty of international experts from leading institutions around the world including:

    ·        David Walsh – FIAF – Film and digital technology and preservation strategies

    ·        Ray Edmondson – Archive strategy, management and business plans

    ·        Nora Kennedy – Metropolitan Museum of Art – Photographic conservation

    ·        AdelheidHeftberger – Bundesarchiv – Cataloguing

    ·        DavidePozzi – L’ImmagineRitrovata – Restoration ethics and practice

    ·        Rob Byrne – San Francisco Silent Film Festival – Digital restoration

    ·        Reto Kromer – Digital technology fundamentals and digitization

    ·        Brecht Declerq – International Federation of Television Archives – Running a digitization project

    ·        Etienne Marchand – Institut National de L’Audiovisual – Digital infrastructure and born digital

    ·        Mick Newnham – Disaster planning

    ·        Dawn Jaros – Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences – Paper conservation

    ·        Marianna de Sanctis – L’ImmagineRitrovata – Film repair

    ·        Benjamin Tucker – Film handling

    ·        Maura Pischedda – L’ImmagineRitrovata – Chemical treatment of film in serious condition

    ·        Guy Borlee –- Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna – Access, presentation and programming

    ·        ThiloGottschling – ARRI – Scanning archival film

    ·        Oliver Danner – Bundesarchiv – Soundtrack technology

    ·        Jakub Stadnik – Media Inventions s.c. – Reformatting and restoring soundtracks

    ·        Gerard de Haan – Haghefilm Digitaal – Colour correction

    Applications for the 2019 workshop will be open from August 25 to October 20, 2019. Selected applicants will be notified and scholarships will be presented to deserving local and international candidates.

  • Zee Telugu to premiere blockbuster Horror – Comedy ‘Kanchana 3’ on August 25

    Zee Telugu to premiere blockbuster Horror – Comedy ‘Kanchana 3’ on August 25

    We all have heard stories of supernatural powers disrupting lives but what if the same power adds a twist that sets everything right? Zee Telugu is all set to entertain your entire family this weekend, with the showcase of the World Television Premiere of ‘Kanchana 3’ on Sunday, 25th August 2019 at 5:30 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    Actor-filmmaker Raghava Lawrence is back with the fourth instalment to the highly popular and successful Kanchana franchise which kicked off with the 2007 film Muni. The story encircles the ghost fearing Raghava, played by Lawrencce and his happy family comprising his mother, played by Kovai Sarala, brother played by Sreeman and sister-in-law played Deva Darshini. The whole family including Raghava’s cousins played by Vedhika, Oviya, Nikki Tamboli witness strange, scary incidents in their house followed by, Raghava getting possessed. The subsequent events lead to the revelation of another character Kaali, played by Lawrence again and how an evil minister Sankar, played by Tarun Arora and his brother Bhavani, played by Kabir Duhan Singh ruined Kaali and his lover Rosy. In what way Raghava helps Kaali to achieve his revenge is what the movie is all about.

    Kanchana 3 is directed and co – produced by Raghava Lawrencce, produced by Kalanidhi Maran and music is scored by S.S.Thaman.

    Tune into watch Kanchana 3 only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu H.D at 5:30 PM PM on 25th of August 2019

  • COLORS Tamil extends fiction line-up from Monday to Saturday

    COLORS Tamil extends fiction line-up from Monday to Saturday

    Chennai: On popular demand, COLORS Tamil has announced an extension in the telecast of its fiction line-up. Starting 17 August 2019, viewers can now catch their favorite show from Monday to Saturday, offering a perfect start to an entertaining weekend packed with action, drama and more.

    As viewers are set to unwind for a relaxed weekend, COLORS Tamil will keep them glued to their television with intriguing plot line and a surprise twist in the tale in addition to bringing down the wait time to just one day. As COLORS Tamil’s stars make way to entertain viewers for six days a week, here is a quick sneak peek at what is in store:

    Oviya (Monday to Friday, 6:30 PM): Madhavi comes up with a whole new ploy to put Surya and Oviya in trouble. On the contrary, Madhavi‘s plan strengthens the bond between Surya and Oviya. Excited Surya confesses his love for Oviya. Will Oviya accept his proposal? To know more watch the show on COLORS Tamil at 6:30 PM.

    Thari (Monday to Friday, 7:00 PM): Double trouble for Annam in the upcoming weeks as she loses the much-awaited handloom competition and is on the verge of losing her land as well to Nakshatra. Having won the competition, Nakshatra is on cloud nine and throws a party to celebrate her victory. Will Dhruv encourage Annam and help her in her fight to protect her land? Tune into COLORS Tamil at 7:00 PM to know how Annam tackles challenges that come her way.

    Malar (Monday to Friday, 7:30 PM): Malar is gripped with fear as Varun continues to threaten and blackmail her for money. Circumstances force Malar to decide upon selling her kidney to settle Varun’s demand. Watch Malar every Monday to Friday to know how she diligently handles Varun and escapes from his grip.

    Sivagami (Monday to Friday, 8:00 PM): Sivagami suspects the mysterious death of Padmavathi. Despite shifting her carcass to avert Sivagami from digging further into the case, Eshwari lands in trouble with a DNA evidence. How did Sivagami unearth the murder mystery? Tune into COLORS Tamil at 8:00 PM to find out if Eshwari will be rightly punished for all her misdeed.

    Mynaa (Monday to Friday 8:30 PM): The collector in town is curious about the tattoo on the villagers while the people are hiding the truth. On the other hand, little Myna under Singaperumal’s custody plans to escape from the house with the help of Shiva but bumps into the collector. Will Collector learn the truth about Singaperumal from Myna? Watch the show in COLORS Tamil at 8:30 PM to know what Myna has in store for the most feared man in the village.

    Perazhagi (Monday to Friday 9:30 PM): Nethra is shaken to know Kayal’s plan to tie the knot with Prithvi. With her wedding to Prithvi approaching, Kayal’s intention leaves Nethra puzzled. Who will Prithvi get married to? Will Kayal outsmart Nethra and win back her love? Watch out how Kayal takes on Nethra to reveal her true face at 9:30 PM only on COLORS Tamil.

    Thirumanam (Monday to Friday 10:00 PM): Learning the brewing issue between Santhosh and Janani Maya plots to create a permanent rift between the couple. Tricking Shakthi to be on her side, Maya plots to end San-Jan relationship forever. Will Maya’s happiness last long with all the despair in San-Jan’s life? Will she succeed in her new attempt? Tune into COLORS Tamil at 10:00 PM to find out if the couple fight against all odds and unite.

    The channel is available on all leading cable networks and on all DTH platforms – Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO 1555), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553). Have you missed any episode? Don’t worry, tune-in to Voot to catch up all your favorite shows.

  • Star India distributes eco-friendly flags on account of India’s 73rd Independence Day!

    Star India distributes eco-friendly flags on account of India’s 73rd Independence Day!

    In an encouraging and positive endeavour towards a greener India, Star India has distributed eco-friendly National flags which have been sourced from 21Fools. With a novelty in thought, these flags are made out of waste cotton and are embedded with marigold seeds. As it is known how every year on 15th August, when the nation celebrates Independence day, millions of little Indian flags are bought and sold for the purpose of symbolism and promoting national sentiment, and once used are discarded disrespectfully and hence end up becoming an environmental hazard. But these eco-friendly flags, after their use can be respectfully placed in soil and can turn into healthy saplings, contributing towards a healthy and greener India

    The above initiative is directly inspired by Shubhendu Sharma, an Industrial engineer and Eco-entrepreneur, who after speaking on the stage of TED Talks India Nayi Soch  (aired on Star Plus in Dec 2017) about his campaign ‘Tiny Forests’, aimed at planting trees and creating mini forests, gained such traction that he went around the world planting trees and has been doing notable work in his field.

    Star India came up with this idea, thereby extending its support towards the promotion of planting trees which is a major requisite for human beings in today’s times.

    Needless to say it’s a brilliant initiative and as more and more citizens are getting wary of this, we are sure of having an eco-friendly celebration of Independence Day!

    “Harey Rang se jab khil uthega gulistan humara, tabhi to hogi Nayi Baat!’

    TedTalk will air soon on Star Plus !

  • Sony Pictures Networks India takes a lead with its ‘Freedom of Entertainment’ initiative

    Sony Pictures Networks India takes a lead with its ‘Freedom of Entertainment’ initiative

    MUMBAI: In a unique industry initiative, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is introducing closed captioningfor its linear televised programmingstarting with two of its popular Hindiserials, ‘Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein’ (Sony Entertainment Television) and ‘Jijaji Chhat Per Hai’ (Sony SAB).Starting 15th August 2019, the afternoon episodes of these two shows will be closed captioned in Hindi.

    Through its ‘Freedom of Entertainment’ initiative, Sony Pictures Networks India  aims to make entertainment an inclusive experience for everyone including persons with disabilities. 

    This is one of the many pioneering initiatives undertaken by SPN.In the months to come, SPN intends to extend this close captioning feature to other popular shows, to ensure that the entertainment it offers can be enjoyed by all.Depending on the technical capability of the downstream platform/service provider, viewers will have the choice to switch-on or switch-off the closed captions.

    Please watch our shows with closed captioning and provide feedback by writing in tobrand@setindia.comas we endeavour to better this experience.
     

  • CBS, Viacom merge to form ViacomCBS Inc

    CBS, Viacom merge to form ViacomCBS Inc

    MUMBAI: US-based media and broadcasting companies, CBS and Viacom, have announced the news of a merger into Viacom CBS Inc. While Viacom will hold approximately 39 per cent of the shares, CBS will own about 61 per cent on a fully diluted basis.

    The all-stock merger creates a combined company with more than $28 billion in revenue, as suggested by media reports.

    Erstwhile CEO of Viacom, Bob Bakish will lead the new entity as president and CEO.

    Media proprietor and chairman & CEO of CBS Joseph Ianniello will continue in his role.

    Other key employments include Christina Spade as executive VP and chief financial officer, and Christa D’Alimonte as executive VP, general counsel and secretary.

    The board of directors will consist of 13 members: six independent members from CBS, four independent members from Viacom, the president and CEO of ViacomCBS and two National Amusements designees. Shari Redstone will be appointed chair.

    Bakish said, “Today marks an important day for CBS and Viacom, as we unite our complementary assets and capabilities and become one of only a few companies with the breadth and depth of content and reach to shape the future of our industry. Our unique ability to produce premium and popular content for global audiences at scale—for our own platforms and for our partners around the world—will enable us to maximise our business for today, while positioning us to lead for years to come. As we look to the future, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities ahead for the combined company and all of our stakeholders—including consumers, the creative community, commercial partners, employees and, of course, our shareholders.”

    Ianniello said, “This merger brings an exciting new set of opportunities to both companies. At CBS, we have outstanding momentum right now—creatively and operationally—and Viacom’s portfolio will help accelerate that progress. I look forward to all we will do together as we build on our ongoing success. And personally, I am pleased to remain focused on CBS’s top priority—continuing our transformation into a global, multiplatform, premium content company.”

    Vice chair of the boards of directors for CBS and Viacom Shari Redstone said, “I am really excited to see these two great companies come together so that they can realise the incredible power of their combined assets. My father once said ‘content is king,’ and never has that been more true than today. Through CBS and Viacom’s shared passion for premium content and innovation, we will establish a world-class, multiplatform media organisation that is well-positioned for growth in a rapidly transforming industry. Led by a talented leadership team that is excited by the future, ViacomCBS’s success will be underpinned by a commitment to strong values and a culture that empowers our exceptional people at all levels of the organisation.”

    The combined entity will house a portfolio of consumer brands, including CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central and Paramount Network, as well as one of the largest libraries of IP, spanning every key genre and addressing consumers of all ages and demographics. This library comprises 140,000-plus TV episodes and 3,600-plus film titles. The combined company will also have more than 750 series currently ordered to or in production.

     

  • Zee Entertainment launches the Media & Entertainment Industry’s largest Learning & Development program for front line managers

    Zee Entertainment launches the Media & Entertainment Industry’s largest Learning & Development program for front line managers

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), a leading media and entertainment powerhouse, has announced a pioneering initiative ‘Embark’ for the capability development of its front line managers. 

    Embark will focus on building front line managerial capabilities, both behavioural and functional. This program has been undertaken with a strong belief that front line managers are the linchpin between the broad strategies of management and their on ground execution. Embark in its entirety will upskill 450 front line managers across the organization and will provide 25,000+ hours of training. It is one of the most ambitious capability building exercise undertaken by ZEEL & one of the largest L&D program in the M&E industry.

    Based on behavioural, technical and digital skills, the program will be executed in four key phases that will empower, create and institutionalise the learning journey for a seamless transition of employees into their new managerial roles. Spanning seven months, the participants would go through multiple interventions inclusive of case  studies, skill-drills, role-play, webinars & e-reads across touch-points to help build their managerial capabilities. 

    “Managers are culture carriers, performance multipliers, risk mitigators and brand  custodians of any Company. With Embark, we aim to offer a holistic learning program for our front line managers that will empower them with an innovative and advanced working style and technical expertise,” said Mr. Animesh Kumar, Chief People Officer, ZEEL. “We are glad to partner with KPMG in India for this pioneering initiative that will help build a managerial capability intervention within the organisation focused  on internal talent growth ” he further added. 

    “With the demand on organizations to constantly renew themselves, they can no longer adopt a short-term approach to building capability. As a business and a strategic imperative, we believe that organizations in the M&E industry must incorporate new-age and holistic learning designs that act as catalysts to enable them to build the right capabilities,” said Girish Menon, Partner & Head – Media & Entertainment, KPMG  in India.

    Considering the current disruptions, challenges, and emerging trends in the M&E industry, Embark will help reinforce ZEEL’s commitment to invest in its talent pool & bring in best practices on managerial effectiveness & leadership development. 

    To harness the power of making extraordinary the reality, ZEEL, through this partnership will build a motivated workforce that will continue to provide the Company with superlative performance across functions. The initiative will revolve around building an  organizational ecosystem that attracts the best talent thereby enabling the Company to deliver exceptional performance.

  • Action, Adrenalin and Lakshmi Manchu – Zee Telugu’s Zee Heroes will entertain you like never before!

    Action, Adrenalin and Lakshmi Manchu – Zee Telugu’s Zee Heroes will entertain you like never before!

    Every day we wake up with the hope of battling all our fears, but very few gather the strength to look fear straight in the eye and conquered it! The 10 promising contestants of Zee Heroes have done exactly that, and to make their lives a little more precarious, Lakshmi Manchu – the fun, friendly and fearless will host the show. Capturing moments of sanity and insanity, anxiety and withdrawals, fun and laughter, bruises and breakdowns, Zee Telugu premiered Zee Heroes on 4th August at 9:00 PM.

    Commenting on the show, Sunanda Malasetti Muthyala Muggu Fame said, “I want to prove how strong I am, and win every stunt, no matter what it is. I want to be remembered as the daredevil queen.” Tejaswi Madivada Fame Bigg Boss 2 said, “Winning is important but experiencing the show and enduring the tasks is more important. So, win or lose, I want to stay till the end.” Akarsh lead actor Attarintlo Akka Chellalu said he is part of this show because, “I want to explore my limits in this adventurous journey, and I want to know how far I can go.” Giving Thailand a flavor of Indian comedy, Ramprasad Jabardasth Fame agreed to be part of the show, for the final money prize.

    The lady comedian Vidyullekha said, “I am an adrenaline junkie and I love daredevil tasks. I have my own set of fears and hope to conquer them through this show.” Speaking about his return with another reality show, Samrat Reddy Bigg Boss 2 Fame said, “I love to mentally challenge myself.” Singer Anudeep said, “I like being adventurous and performing the stunts helps us understand and learn about our strengths and weakness.” Adding further, Miland Roadies Fame is a part of the show to gain the exposure and experience. Actress Apoorva said, “Outdoor activities are something I really love.” Miss AP Srishti said, “I love challenging myself. I want to push my limits as much as possible.”

    As the contestants make their way to begin performing their first-ever task, a little surprise awaits them when they learn the clues for the task are in Thai language.

    Watch the contestants experience new challenges that will force them to redefine their definition of fear, forever only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD at 9:00 PM every Sunday.

  • Viacom18 Studios’ Andhadhun and Padmaavat win big at the 66th National Film Awards

    Viacom18 Studios’ Andhadhun and Padmaavat win big at the 66th National Film Awards

    MUMBAI: Establishing itself as a pioneer in showcasing path-breaking films for audience across the landscape, Viacom18 Studios, the motion pictures arm of Viacom18, won big at the 66th National Film Awards for its films Andhadhun and Padmaavat.

    The 66th National Film Awards recognises the best in Indian cinema and the announcement was made in the national capital this evening. While Andhadhun was adjudged as the Best Hindi Film and Best Adapted Screenplay, Padmaavat won laurels for Best Choreography, Best Music Director and Best Male Playback Singer. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana was declared the Best Actor for Andhadhun.

    Speaking on the success of the films, Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios, said, “After Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Mary Kom & Queen, Andhadhun wins the National award in the best film category. I feel deeply honoured and humbled that we are doing something consistently right with our films. Padmaavat winning gives me a great sense of fulfilment given the tough journey we all had. My compliments to Sriram Raghavan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the stellar cast of both the films & teams that made this possible.”

    Viacom18 has been a pioneer in producing award winning films such as Bhaag Milka Bhaag, Mary Kom and Queen to name a few. The studio has carved its place in the industry at the pinnacle of entertaining and meaningful cinema.