Category: Regional

  • Planet Marathi completes four years, set to launch two new films

    Planet Marathi completes four years, set to launch two new films

    Mumbai: Marathi digital platform Planet Marathi has completed four years in the industry. Formed by Akshay Bardapurkar in 2017, the platform has attempted to reinvent Marathi entertainment with Planet Marathi Production, Planet Marathi OTT, and Planet Talent.

    In 2020, Planet Marathi Production released its first movie AB Aani CD on Amazon Prime Video, which also marked the actor Amitabh Bachchan’s debut in the Marathi film industry.  The digital platform announced that it will soon present two more mammoth productions in Marathi. The first is an emotional tale of Goshta Eka Paithanichi written and directed by Shantanu Ganesh Rode and the second is a content-driven feature film based on Vishwas Patil’s novel ‘Chandramukhi’. 

    “Planet Marathi is committed to redefining Marathi entertainment. The goal was never to just make films, we always had a broader vision. We wanted to bring grandeur and glamour to Marathi films so that they get their rightful place in the 100-crore club. Our films too should come back with Academy awards,” said Planet Marathi founder Akshay Bardapurkar, adding that the coming years will revolutionize the Marathi entertainment industry. 

    The OTT platform also aims to give a ‘first-day first show’ experience by offering audiences a chance to purchase their tickets online with a one-time fee. With big-wigs like Amit Bhandari, Ujjwal Nirgudkar, and Singapore-based investment entity, Vistas Media Capital onboard, Planet Marathi promises to take Marathi content, talent, and filmmaking to global heights.

  • Colors Tamil brings world television premiere of Nayanthara’s crime thriller

    Colors Tamil brings world television premiere of Nayanthara’s crime thriller

    Colors Tamil, the youngest GEC in Tamil Nadu is all set to bring the world television premiere of Nee Enge En Anba, a crime thriller that stars Nayanthara in the lead roles. The movie will be premiered in Colors Tamil as a part of its Movie of the Month segment on 16 May at 02.00 PM, and a repeat telecast at 05.00 Pm on the same day. 

    Directed by Sekhar Kammula, Nee Enge En Anbe is the Tamil remake of the  Bollywood blockbuster Kahaani which starred Vidya Balan in the lead role. 

    Nayanthara will be seen playing the role of a desperate IT professional who reaches Hyderabad in search of her husband. As she gets the support of a police officer, several dark secrets start unveiling. 

    Nee Enge En Anbe was released in 2014, and audiences have been waiting for its television premiere for the past seven years. Apart from Nayanthara, the film also stars Vaibhav Reddy, Pasupathy, and Harshvardhan Rane in other prominent roles. 

  • Zee Telugu celebrates 16th anniversary with Zee Mahotsavam

    Zee Telugu celebrates 16th anniversary with Zee Mahotsavam

    KERALA: Zee Telugu has completed 16 years in the industry. The channel began its journey on 18 May 2005, and since its inception, it has been curating compelling content that matches the tastes and preferences of a varied palette of viewers and has carved a special place in the hearts of Telugu audiences. 

    As a part of the 16th anniversary celebrations, the channel will telecast Zee Mahotsavam on 16 May at 5 pm. In keeping with the new normal, adhering to the government regulations, and most importantly in the interest of people’s safety, the Mahotsavam was held in a restricted studio setup. 

    The 16th year jamboree is hosted by the exuberant Sreemukhi. Fueled with laughter, banters, dance, and musical performances, the event was attended by Ali, television mega star Prabhakar, along with other popular faces in the television industry. 

    The Zee Mahotsavam show will also showcase the 16-year journey of actors like Prabhakar, Ravi Krishna, Pawon, Tanuja among others while they share memorable moments with the channel. The 16 minutes 16 song would be the highlight of the event where the Zee Kutumbam would dance to the title songs of all iconic shows.

    “It has been a tough year for people and businesses alike but there has some good news with vaccination being accessible soon to most of the citizens, we hope to see some positive change. Having said that, it is still very important to stay at home and break the chain. Everyone is doing their bit to maintain a friendly distraction and Zee Telugu has successfully brought families together with the varied content offerings in the last year. In such an age, it’s a challenge for a GEC to stay relevant, but throughout our journey, we have reinvented our content to suit the palate of the changing times,” said Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd Telugu cluster head Anuradha Gudur. 

    Gudur also thanked viewers who supported the channel in this 16-year journey and urged everyone to stay safe during these pandemic times. 

  • Covid aid: Zee Bangla Cinema says ‘we’re there for you’ with amraachhi.org

    Covid aid: Zee Bangla Cinema says ‘we’re there for you’ with amraachhi.org

    NEW DELHI: Zee Bangla Cinema, in association with its digital partner Mind and Matter, has launched a website named Amra Achhi (amraachhi.org) which means ‘We are there’ to provide all Covid-related help to people in West Bengal. 

    The website is a one-stop destination for all information related to Covid-19 care in the state. In a statement, the channel said the sole objective behind launching this site is to ensure people get all the helping hand and also encourage others to contribute to their fellow citizens in this difficult situation. 

    The uniqueness of this platform is that it will grow organically through a crowd-sourcing model. Through this initiative, the channel will enable people to volunteer for their locality and show their comradeship with one another.

    This initiative will also encourage people to become Covid heroes in their locality and assist families affected by the pandemic. It aims to extend the helping hand to the needy ones by supplying essential medicines, utilities, and rations. 

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd cluster head-east Samrat Ghosh urged people of West Bengal to visit the site and do their bit for those in need. 

    “This platform will bring all the people together who want to be there with you when you indeed need them. I would appeal to everyone in West Bengal to visit the site and come forward to become a Covid hero in their locality. We believe this small initiative along with help from our viewers can make a big difference in these challenging times,” said Ghosh. 

  • Sun TV Network donates Rs 30 crores towards Covid relief efforts

    Sun TV Network donates Rs 30 crores towards Covid relief efforts

    NEW DELHI: Sun TV Network is donating a sum of Rs 30 crores to provide relief to those affected by the second wave of the Covid2019 pandemic. 

    The donated amount will be spent on several initiatives currently underway in various states of India including, proceeds to the various programmes initiated by the Centre and state governments. The network is also partnering with NGOs that are providing oxygen cylinders, medicines etc to those in need.

    In addition, the company will leverage its resources, including all its media assets, to spread awareness about the pandemic among TV viewers across India and the rest of the world.

  • Zee Biskope drives awareness this Mother’s Day with ‘Tu Chinta Mat Kar Maai’

    Zee Biskope drives awareness this Mother’s Day with ‘Tu Chinta Mat Kar Maai’

    NEW DELHI: Bonding with Mother is a strong emotional impulse amongst Indians and more so in Bhojpuri milieu where the audience is highly driven by the mother figure be it in entertainment or movies or in devotional space – like Chatthi Maiyya, Saraswati Mata, Santoshi Mata and so on. Mothers are the epitome of love and care. She’s always concerned about our wellbeing and safety. In today’s pandemic, one of the biggest challenges is to instil a sense of responsibility amongst youth and the general population towards protecting themselves by following Covid-19 preventive practices diligently. Taking this into consideration, Zee Biskope launched an initiative titled ‘Tu Chinta Mat Kar Maai’ on 9 May, Mother’s Day aimed to assure our mothers of our safety. The idea behind the initiative is to instill that sense of responsibility through an emotional appeal – do it for your Mother. The one who has sacrificed so much for you, it’s time you sacrifice your convenience for her and follow right practices for your safety. She has always cared only for your well-being, so isn’t it time that you ensure that too her, the least that she is asking? The core thought is that ‘’being responsible towards your mother’” pitch will instil responsible practices amongst those who revere mother figure as the most important aspect of life.

    This Mother’s Day, Zee Biskope invites the viewers to pledge to their mothers that they will take care of themselves in the pandemic situation. Viewers will be asked to record a video assuring their mothers how they will take care of themselves with the tagline “Tu Chinta Mat Kar Maai” as a must. They then need to share their videos with ZeeL through Whatsapp number 8291829161 between 9 to 20 May. The most heart-warming will be featured on Zee Biskope on 23 May as video capsules aired through the day.

    The awareness campaign gives voice as well as a platform to the viewers aiming to impart the feeling of affirmation assuring Mothers that their children are safe as they are following responsible practices. It will not only add as a boost to their emotional caring for their loved ones but also ease the pressure with this helping hand. This will further strengthen the family bond. The campaign will see the association of top Bhojiwood celebs like Chintu Pandey, Yash Kumar, Smriti Sinha, Anara Gupta along with influencers urging viewers to join the initiative and create a productive impact in a constrained reality.

    ZeeL cluster head – east Samrat Ghosh said, “Right since its inception, ZeeBiskope has consistently and successfully brought Bhojpuri viewer communities together through its campaigns going on to touch millions of hearts. Considering the situation today, it is even more important for all of us to stay connected and support each other. We have always tried to come a step closer to our viewers through our content. Through this campaign as well, we aim to address the most serious issue now but expressed in an emotional and topical way which is expected to create the right impact.”

    Zee Biskope & BIG Ganga business head Amarpreet Singh Saini said, “What best gift can we offer to our mothers on Mother’s Day than assuring them about our safety? Given we are in the entertainment space, we prefer not to go the hard hitting way but to create a sense of responsibility through a topical occasion. While the initiative will be joined by multiple Bhojiwood celebs and influencers at the launch phase, we expect that the campaign will be fronted by the mass viewers. Let’s join in to say ‘Tu Chinta Mat Kar Maai’.” 

  • Colors Bangla to telecast Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020

    Colors Bangla to telecast Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020

    New Delhi: Colors Bangla is all set to telecast the fourth edition of the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020 on the channel at 6 pm on 9 May. The event will also be simulcasted live on Filmfare’s Facebook page.

    The star-studded awards ceremony was held at The Westin, Kolkata on 3 March, and was filled with glitz and panache as popular names from the Bengali film industry walked the red carpet. A host of celebrities including Anirban Bhattacharya, Aparajita Adhya, Kharaj Mukherjee, Madhumita Sarcar, and Ash King attended the event.

    “We are proud to have hosted an award ceremony that matches up to the sheer grandeur of the Bengali Film Industry that continues to make waves every passing year,” said Worldwide Media CEO Deepak Lamba, highlighting that Bengali movies have made their mark in the world of cinema through cults films and classics which have been recognised globally. “From Ray’s masterpieces to some amazing contemporary narratives by the current generation of filmmakers and artists, this film industry has proven its credibility year after year. And it’s a great feeling to bring back the coveted black lady to honour such brilliant performances and work produced by this talented bunch,” he added.

    Apart from several celebrity performances, the telecast will include exclusive video-on-demand engaging content including the red-carpet action and behind-the-stage fun performance rehearsals.

    Speaking on the long-term association with Filmfare, Colors Bangla business head Sagnik Ghosh said, “Colors Bangla enjoys the reputation of being home to the best of entertainment, visual extravaganza and as a channel, we continue to entertain our audiences through various programs. Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020 has the iconic pedigree of Filmfare and we are proud to be associated with it as the Broadcast partner of choice. This year has been hit badly by Covid and we are happy to bring in some fun and enjoyment for the audiences.”

    Joy Personal Care was the title sponsor of the fourth edition of Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020. The event was powered by Shyam Steel TMT REBAR, in association with Berger Silk BreatheEasy and Vimal Elaichi. Facebook and Instagram were the global digital partners and Colors Bangla was the exclusive telecast partner.

  • Zee Telugu celebrates Mother’s Day with Mathrudevobhava event

    Zee Telugu celebrates Mother’s Day with Mathrudevobhava event

    KERALA: Zee Telugu is all set to entertain viewers with its Mother’s Day special event —Matrudevobhava. The program will go live on Sunday, 9 May at 5 PM. 

    Packed with extreme entertainment, Matrudevobhava consists of mindblowing performances that viewers can enjoy from their homes this Sunday. The major attraction of the event will be a special dance performance from actress Sudha Chandran. 

    Television Megastar Prabhakar will also celebrate his 22 years of marriage with a power-packed performance with his family. 

    The first-ever lady mechanic of Telangana Adi Lakshmi and motivational speaker Yamuna Pathak will be felicitated during the event for inspiring all of womanhood. Viewers’ favorites Bhavana and Raja Ravindra will recreate the iconic Matrudevobhava song and share special moments of their mothers. Fan favorites Ashika, Aishwarya, Anusha, and Pratap will be seen entertaining the channel’s ardent viewers.

    On 10 May at 1 PM, Zee Telugu will premiere Oohalu Gusagusalade, a mature, progressive fiction show that sensitively captures the journey of Abhiram and Vasundhara, who faced a debacle in their first attempts at marriage. The series stars Akul Balaji and Roopa in the lead roles. 

  • Zee Kannada brings the world television premiere of ‘Hero’

    Zee Kannada brings the world television premiere of ‘Hero’

    KERALA: Zee Kannada is all set to enthrall audiences with the world premiere of Hero on 9 May at 7 pm. The film will have its premiere on Zee Kannada and Zee Kannada HD. 

    Hero, directed by M Bharath Raj is a dark comedy, and it features Rishab Shetty and debutante Ganavi Laxman in the lead roles. The supporting star cast includes Pramod Shetty, Pradeep Shetty, and Ugramm Manju. 

    The film revolves around the life of Hero (Rishab Shetty) who gets dumped by his girlfriend (Ganavi Laxman). At one point in time, Hero re-enters the life of his girlfriend to take revenge, but he was not aware of the problems he could face. 

    The awkward meeting of the two exes soon turns into a bitter-sweet reunion as Hero realises that his ex-girlfriend is stuck in an abusive marriage with a goon. He has a sudden change of heart and wants to be her guardian angel, but what seemed like an easy escape turns into a cat and mouse chase where the hero and heroine face hilarious misadventures, dark secrets, and several obstacles. 

    Rishab Shetty has produced Hero. B Ajaneesh Loknath has composed the music for this film, while Aravind S Kashyap has cranked the camera. Hero had its theatrical release on 5 March 2021, and it received positive responses from critics and audiences alike. 

  • Zee Kannada strengthens afternoon band with ‘No.1 Sose’

    Zee Kannada strengthens afternoon band with ‘No.1 Sose’

    KERALA: With people in Karnataka cloistered in their homes due to the second wave of Covid2019, Zee Kannada has rolled out a new drama series — No.1 Sose to keep the fresh content flowing.

    No.1 Sose is a Telugu-dubbed serial, and it handles a powerful women-centric subject. The show addresses deep-rooted prejudices and bias against illiterate women, and it also tries to redefine the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. 

    The new drama series will premiere on at 1 pm on 10 May 2021 and air Monday to Friday on Zee Kannada and Zee Kannada HD. 

    The dubbed show stars veteran actress Sudha Chandran as Vagdevi, the lead character. The original Telugu serial marked her comeback on screen after a gap of 35 years and this will be her entry into the Kannada television industry. The role of her daughter-in-law Saraswathi is portrayed by Madhumita. The show explores the worlds of two different women with contrasting personalities, who elevate each other.

    “We are delighted to launch No.1 Sose which will bring in a whirlwind of change in our social fabric with its unique storyline. With a focus on redefining the relationships of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, we are confident that No.1 Sose will become a household favourite very soon and help,” said Zee Kannada business head Raghavendra Hunsur.