ITV

Category: Regional

  • Colors Tamil to present world TV premiere of ‘Ulkuthu’ on 20 March

    Colors Tamil to present world TV premiere of ‘Ulkuthu’ on 20 March

    Mumbai: Colors Tamil is set to telecast the world television premiere of “Ulkuthu” on 20 March at 5 p.m.

    Directed by Caarthick Raju, the film features actors Dinesh and Nandita Swetha in lead roles. It also stars Chaya Singh, actor-stunt choreographer Dhilip Subbarayan, Sharath Lohitashwa, and John Vijay in supporting roles.

    “Considering the effort we put into the film, I am thrilled that its television premiere is on Colors Tamil and would reach vast audiences,” said director Caarthick Raju. “The film brings two genres, revenge and comedy, together. It was not easy but I am glad that all the pieces fit into the puzzle.”

    Set in a serene coastal town, “Ulkuthu” revolves around Raja who is in pursuit of two feared loan sharks – Kaka Mani and his son Saravanan – to avenge the death of his sister. During his quest, he befriends Sura Shankar in the fishing hamlet, who wants him to marry his sister Kadalarasi. Things take a turn for the worse when Raja ends up hitting and humiliating Saravanan.

    “The film gave me a new look altogether, with the character being unique compared to my previous roles,” said actor Dinesh. “I loved playing the mass-hero who has several grey shades and hidden agendas up his sleeves. With the film premiering on a prominent channel like Colors Tamil, I am confident that the audiences will be at the edge of their seats while having a good laugh with their families.”

  • SC stays centre’s ban on Malayalam news channel MediaOne

    SC stays centre’s ban on Malayalam news channel MediaOne

    Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim relief to Malayalam news channel MediaOne, staying the central government’s decision to revoke the channel’s security clearance.

    A bench of justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath ordered that the channel can resume operations in the same manner in which it was being operated before revocation of security clearance, according to a report by Bar and Bench.

    The apex court also directed the government to file its counter affidavit in the matter.

    On the issue of whether the files containing adverse intelligence inputs can be disclosed to the channel or not, the court said it would keep the issue open for final disposal.

    The appeal by MediaOne had challenged the Kerala high court division bench judgment which had upheld the central government’s ban.

    The channel, owned by Madhyamam Broadcasting, had applied for broadcast permissions to be renewed from 30 September 2021 to 29 September 2022. MediaOne was issued a notice by the I&B ministry on 5 January revoking broadcasting permissions under the uplinking and downlinking guidelines stating that it was denied security clearance by the ministry of home affairs. In response to a show-cause notice by the ministry, the company mentioned that they are “unaware of the grounds of denial of security clearance.”

    When the case was heard by the Kerala high court, the central government told the bench that the decision to revoke the license was based on credible national security concerns, however, it refused to state what the concerns raised by MHA were and contended that a party cannot insist on observing natural justice principles in a situation involving national security.

  • Q Marathi sets off with four top national advertisers, 17 digital creators

    Q Marathi sets off with four top national advertisers, 17 digital creators

    Mumbai: With the biggest national FMCG advertisers such as Himalaya, L’Oréal, Pepsi, and Reckitt, and 17 top Marathi digital creators on board, Canada-based QYOU Media’s regional foray Q Marathi is off to a good start.

    Starting 15 March, the free-to-air market of over 84 million Marathi audiences in Maharashtra will have access to ‘original-to-TV’ content from across genres including comedy, romance, horror, animation, drama, and religion and spirituality in the form of Q Marathi. Reinforcing the network’s core DNA, the channel will tap into the world of social video to feature content from Marathi digital creators and social media stars.

    Why Marathi

    Q Marathi channel head Neeta Thakare says that while the network plans to venture into a bunch of languages and genre niches going ahead, the decision to begin with Maharashtra was both natural and strategic. “The state being the company’s base and a top management that is strongly rooted in the Marathi cultural ethos, helped. Marathi being third-most spoken language, as well as Maharashtra’s high literacy rate, disposable income, and digital savvy youth make it an attractive market for content providers and advertisers alike,” Thakare shares.

    This is evinced by the coming on board of some of the biggest pan-India brands such as Himalaya, L’Oréal, Pepsi, and Reckitt as ‘founding sponsors’, along with several others. These are among the top advertisers, nationally.

    According to Q Marathi programming head Ashutosh Barve Marathi channels are generally driven by retail advertising by local stores and businesses. “Having four pan-India clients as ‘founding sponsors’ for a start-up channel is a significant achievement. It reflects the faith these diverse brands have in us and our content for being able to connect them to the right kind of audience.” he says.

    The content proposition

    Talking of content, uniquely positioned as the ‘Bhannat Aahe’ channel in a market dominated by pay channels Star Pravah, Zee Marathi, Colors Marathi, and Sony Marathi and the sole FTA brand Sun Marathi, Q Marathi promises to carve out a niche for itself as the “OTT of Marathi television through its edgy and exclusive programming,” asserts Barve.

    Elaborating on the channel’s unique proposition, he notes, “In recent times the Marathi audience has taken to digital and youth content in a big way in terms of both consumption and creation. There are so many brilliant creators from the small town and villages who are churning out videos in the long-form 10/15/20-minutes space on a regular basis. As a brand driven by the booming creator economy, the Q is bringing this content to the underserved youth that is currently limited to consuming mostly drama and mythology on television. In the future we may open to shorter content and social commerce, among other things.”

    All the talk about youth and youth/digital/edgy content aside, can the channel as a GEC afford to eliminate other section of audiences? Barve clarifies that Q Marathi is definitely a family-inclusive channel. “We are programming for the entire spectrum of the audience with shows that talk of diverse subjects like childhood memories of grandmother’s home and another one that is reminiscent of Malgudi days, and yet other which depicts live-in relationships. So, while our content is always very ‘young-at-heart’, it most definitely caters to the entire family.”

    Making it known

    The Q Marathi is being promoted through a phased 360-degrees campaign, with a focus on reaching out to interior regions of Maharashtra. Currently, in the awareness-building phase, the campaign is heavy on print, shares Thakare.

    Pointing out another unique feature of the Q’s promotional strategy on digital, Barve says, “it is for the first time a TV channel is using the social media might of its creator partners as a force multiplier to reach out to the ‘aam aadmi’ in a sustained manner.”  

  • Colors Tamil to present world TV premiere of ‘Thaen’ on 13 March

    Colors Tamil to present world TV premiere of ‘Thaen’ on 13 March

    Mumbai: Colors Tamil is all set to present the world television premiere of the blockbuster film “Thaen,” as part of its Sunday Cine Jumbo programming. Viewers can watch this critically acclaimed film on 13 March at 5.30 p.m.

    Written and directed by Ganesh Vinayakan, “Thaen” is a 2021 drama film starring Tharun Kumar and Abarnathi in the lead roles and Aruldoss and Bava Lakshmanan in supporting roles.  “I am excited that ‘Thaen’ will be airing on a popular channel like Colors Tamil,” said actor Tharun Kumar. “It is an engaging film that encompasses the dire social and political issues of the current times. With an engaging thread and powerful drama, I am certain that this would be a great weekend watch for the audience.”

    The film is an adaptation of a real-life incident that narrates the story of Velu, a young uneducated beekeeper and an economically backward husband who encounters the death of his wife Poongodi diagnosed with a rare disease. The dark emotions come into play when Velu carries his dead wife to the cremation ground as he was unable to pay for the mortuary van. This brings forth the plight of the people belonging to the tribal community in the forest areas who are inaccessible to the services, which others enjoy.

    “I was inspired to create ‘Thaen’ as I wanted to bring to light the real-life story of the Muthuvan tribes of Tamil Nadu who faced a similar episode as showcased in the film,” said director Ganesh Vinayakan. “With this story, I wanted to create awareness among the audiences on the predicaments of the economically backward sections of the society. I am glad that my film is airing on Colors Tamil, a channel that proposes to create impacting stories for its viewers.”

  • QYOU Media forays into regional market with Q Marathi

    QYOU Media forays into regional market with Q Marathi

    Mumbai: In a bid to expand into the regional market, QYOU media is all set to launch a family-oriented Marathi GEC ‘Q Marathi’ on 15 March. In line with the network’s core DNA, the new free-to-air Marathi channel will curate to showcase a mix of content from leading Marathi digital creators on national television.

    “Q Marathi will serve fresh, unique and original-to-TV content to the FTA universe across genres including comedy, animation, drama, and more,” said the media company in a statement. “It will also innovate and curate to bring local influencers on TV, thus deepening synergies with the creator economy and generating opportunities for digital talent on television,” it added.

    Speaking on strengthening the networks offering in India with the launch of Q Marathi, QYOU Media CEO Simran Hoon said, “The Marathi market and audience is among the most evolved ones in India and is an attractive market to be a part of, especially for a young network brand like QYOU Media that is willing to experiment, innovate, and take risks.”

    “Our unique storytelling, programming and content strategy have set benchmarks in the industry. Q Marathi is a reflection and an extension of our DNA; it is our effort to bridge the existing content gap and provide viewers with a fresh and new consumption experience. We are sure the channel will have an immediate connect with viewers,” added Hoon.

    “Q Marathi is designed to redefine Marathi GEC Entertainment and usher in a ‘New Era’ in television. The channel has a robust programming line-up with content cutting across multiple genres like comedy, drama, romance, horror that young Maharashtra will connect with,” said Q Marathi channel head Neeta Thakare. “The channel will engage with leading digital influencers and create opportunities for them on mainstream television.  It is our endeavour to deliver a young fresh dynamic bouquet of truly disruptive and path-breaking content for our discerning Marathi viewers while building Q Marathi as a destination for wholesome family entertainment.”

    Q Marathi will be available across leading cable and DTH operators.

  • Colors Tamil unveils promo of new show ‘Meera’ on Women’s Day

    Colors Tamil unveils promo of new show ‘Meera’ on Women’s Day

    Mumbai: Colors Tamil has announced a new fiction show “Meera” starring actor Kushboo. The show will go on air starting from 28 March.

    The show narrates the bitter-sweet relationship of a husband and wife and how they reconcile years later after their separation, owing to a violent episode.  In an effort to throw light on the growing violence against women, the channel has unveiled the promo of the show on International Women’s Day.

    The channel also initiated a unique ‘Missed Call’ campaign recently showcasing a short clip of the promo, prompting people to share their thoughts on whether or not it is justified for a husband to hit his wife with a toll-free number.

    The campaign was implemented after the internet broke into frenzy as actor Kushboo posted a photo of her with a swollen face and a handprint on her cheek on her Instagram handle with the #SayNoToViolence #StandWithMe #SpeakUpNow #Meera, leading many fans to speculate the myriad of reasons behind it.

    “With this show, Colors Tamil and actor Kushboo are taking a conscious step towards empowering women and urging them to stand up for their rights amidst the patriarchy with #StandWithMeera. Meera aims to enlighten the audiences that all sections of women face such brutality, even if they are well-educated or belong to the urban population,” said the statement.  

  • Disney Star to broadcast TV premiere of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’

    Disney Star to broadcast TV premiere of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’

    Mumbai: Disney Star Network is all set to broadcast the world television premiere of “Pushpa: The Rise” across four languages in Star Maa, Star Suvarna, Star Vijay and Asianet. The film will premiere on Star Maa and Star Suvarna in March followed by Star Vijay and Asianet in April.

    Directed by Sukumar, the action thriller featuring superstars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna, took the country by storm and garnered phenomenal success with its theatrical release in December 2021.

    “’Pushpa: The Rise’ is a rage worldwide across theatres and social media and is a welcome addition to the Disney Star network’s robust regional portfolio,” said the media company in a statement.

    “’Pushpa: The Rise’ is one of the most sought-after films in recent times and we are thrilled to bring the blockbuster title to our viewers at the comfort of their homes,” said a Disney Star network spokesperson. “We remain committed to delivering exciting content on our channels that delight our viewers and derive immense value to our advertisers. Demand for rich content amongst viewers is only growing and we look forward to presenting an exciting line-up of movies and entertainment shows on our network throughout the year.”

    As per IMDb, “Pushpa: The Rise” is the biggest grosser of 2021 and the film’s list of accomplishments continues as it also bagged the ‘Film of the Year’ accolade at Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2022.

    “As the multi-lingual viewing culture strengthens in India, the movie industry is betting big on regional content,” said the statement. “‘Pushpa: The Rise’ is one of the few regional movies that have managed to capture the hearts of both the Hindi and regional speaking audiences.”

  • Colors Tamil to telecast Rai Lakshmi’s ‘Cinderella’ on 27 Feb

    Colors Tamil to telecast Rai Lakshmi’s ‘Cinderella’ on 27 Feb

    Mumbai: Colors Tamil will telecast the world TV premiere of Rai Lakshmi’s horror film ‘Cinderella’ on 27 February at 7 p.m.

    The film is written and directed by Vinoo Venketesh under the banner SSI Productions and has Rai Lakshmi in the titular role. Sakshi Agarwal, Robo Shankar, Kallori Vinoth and Mohan Raman will also play key roles in the film.

    This gripping thriller follows Akira, a sound engineer, who travels to a hill station to record the sounds of rare birds for a Hollywood project. She finds a Cinderella costume in an antique shop and brings it home and begins to have paranormal experiences. The rest of the film outlines what happens after that, providing ample opportunities for some amazingly funny and thrilling moments

    “I am extremely excited for my movie Cinderella to get its world television premiere in a channel like Colors Tamil,” said actor Rai Lakshmi. “Being a part of this movie gave me immense pleasure. It was great to work alongside Robo Shankar, Sakshi and many more stars for the first time. I hope viewers will enjoy my character as much as I enjoyed filming it.”

    “Cinderella will eternally be close to my heart as it imprints my journey as a filmmaker,” said director Vinoo Venkatesh. “I am excited and overwhelmed that my debut film is going to be watched by a wide spectrum through its world television premiere on Colors Tamil. As a team, we have put in a lot of hard work into this film and I strongly believe that the audience will be able to connect and relate with every character in it.”

  • Sun TV regains top slot in week 7: Barc

    Sun TV regains top slot in week 7: Barc

    Mumbai: With 2543.31 AMA, Sun TV has regained the top position in the Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (Barc) most-watched channels list for the seventh week of 2022 (12 to 18 February). The Tamil GEC was behind Star Maa and Star Utsav last week with 2496.27 (‘000s).

    Star Maa dropped to the second position with weekly ratings of 2392.09. At 2244.78, Star Plus was third.

    After being at No. two for several weeks, Star Utsav lodged itself at the fourth position in the seventh week. It was followed by Dhinchaak, Zee TV, Star Vijay, Sony Pal, Star Jalsha and Sony SAB.

    Maintaining hold over the mega cities and south, Sun TV registered average ratings of 440.68 and 2531.25 in the two markets respectively. Star Plus, Colors, Sony SAB and Star Vijay were other top performers in the mega cities, in that order. The remaining four slots in the south market were grabbed by Star Maa, Star Vijay, Zee Kannada and Zee Telugu.

    Among the regional markets, Maharashtra/Goa was led by Star Pravah at 1326.7 (‘000s), West Bengal by Star Jalsha at 1328.3, Odisha by Tarang (473.99), Karnataka by Zee Kannada (1369.69), and Rajasthan and UP/Uttarakhand by Star Utsav at 225.3 and 370.3 respectively.  

  • Colors Tamil deploys 360-degree campaign for ‘Namma Madurai Sisters’

    Colors Tamil deploys 360-degree campaign for ‘Namma Madurai Sisters’

    Mumbai: Colors Tamil has deployed a 360-degree campaign across print, digital and outdoor mediums for its brand-new fiction show “Namma Madurai Sisters.” The promotional blitz will cover over 30 sites across central and south Tamil Nadu.

    Invoking the ancient culture of South India, the campaign’s theme focuses on the classic Aadu Puli Aattam (Lambs and Tigers), an asymmetrical, strategic board game in which tigers ‘chase’ goats while the goats try to evade the tigers.

    The campaign titled ‘Paasathukum Pagaikum Idaiye Nadakum Aadu Puli Aattam,’ pits the Madurai Sisters- Indhrani (Chaya Singh), Meghala (Sunitha), Bhuvana (Sankavi) against their uncles on either side of the board with Kavya (Iraa Agarwal) the youngest sister and Nantha Kumar (Deepak Kumar), the male protagonist, observing the happenings with intrigue.

    The tigers in the game represent power while the sheep depict unity, symbolising the central trope of the show where the uncles, though powerful, are no match for the sisters, owing to their sisterhood and unity.

    Colors Tamil has enabled ground activations with interactive magnetic boards at several bus stations in Madurai. People can experience the game as they wait for transport, creating an engaging play zone that will instantly connect them to the show on the channel.

    Besides this, social distancing pathways have been creatively utilized with the engrossing game as seat brandings. The channel has also promoted the campaign on its social media handles using hashtags #PasakaraPullainga #NMS, in addition to employing several other platforms to excite viewers.

    “We’re pleased to introduce novel innovations in our campaigns, and I would like to compliment the marketing team who worked tirelessly to make this one truly engaging and interesting for the general audience,” said Colors Tamil business head Rajaraman S. “‘Namma Madurai Sisters’ is an enticing tale that stands true to our philosophy of presenting unique story arcs and inspiring narratives that have an impact on society. We are confident that this interactive campaign will help in promoting our show and reach audiences on a greater scale.”