ITV

Category: Regional

  • Zee Thirai kicks 2021 into high gear with movie premieres & specials

    Zee Thirai kicks 2021 into high gear with movie premieres & specials

    MUMBAI: The new year is upon us, and Zee Thirai is all set to ring in 2021 with verve. Zee Thirai’s tag line Rathathil Kalandhadu Cinema comes to life through its consistent offering of engaging films and innovative concepts, enthralling ardent movie buffs time and again. The channel is all set to flag off the new year with an all new buffet of movie segments and an eclectic mix of films for viewers’ entertainment.

    In anticipation of the new year, the channel recently launched 1 Mani Thirai Arangam, a matinee movie special with a special thematically curated line-up of movies each week, showcasing different themes, making the viewers’ matinee movie experience special. Among the other segments being offered in the upcoming year is Comedy Galatta, Family Entertainer and Suspense Thriller, to name a few.

    Staying true to its promise of delivering 52 premieres for 52 weeks, 2021 promises to be action-packed with Zee Thirai. During the month of January 2021, the channel has in store a fantastic slate of movies ranging from horror to comedy, premiering every Friday at 7 pm.

    Uyarndha Manithan is a 2017 romcom written and directed by Maruthi Dasari and stars Sharwanand and Mehreen Pirzada in lead roles. Karuppankaatu Valasu is a Tamil movie starring Neelima Rani and George Vijay in prominent roles. This recently released 2020 thriller, centered around a smart village, is gripping and full of unexpected twists and turns.  Oru Kidayin karunai Manu is a 2017 Tamil drama film, written and directed by Suresh Sangaiah, featuring Vidharth and Raveena Ravi in the lead roles, and lo and behold – a goat – in a pivotal role. Nethra stars Vinay Rai, Subiksha, and Thaman Kumar in leading roles, and this thriller was released in 2019. The Great Father is a 2017 thriller film originally made in Malayalam by Haneef Adeni and stars Mammooty, Sneha, and Arya.

    With every passing year, one of the first things people do is mark the on their calendars. Zee Thirai prides itself in going the extra mile to add a spark to the festivities for its viewers. Pongal marks an important festival for the Tamil community and celebrating with them is Zee Thirai with a special WTP of Asuraguru on 14 January 2021, at 7 pm. This is a 2020 action thriller film written and directed by A Raajdheep and stars Vikram Prabhu, Mahima Nambiar in lead roles while Subbaraju, Yogi Babu, and Nagineedu essay supporting roles.

    Of Zee Thirai’s various segments, 'Ticket to Hollywood' has been well received by the audience, wherein blockbuster Hollywood movies are made accessible to a Tamil speaking audience. This January, the channel will be airing Jumanji: The Next Level on 24 January 2021 at 12 pm. Part of the well-loved Jumanji franchise, this movie is a 2019 fantasy adventure comedy directed by Jake Kadsan featuring a galaxy of Hollywood’s who’s who including Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Nick Jonas, to name a few.

    Below is the list of movies airing on Zee Thirai, starting 1 January 2020:

    1 January – Uyarndha Manithan

    8 January – Karuppankaatu Valasu

    14  January – Asuraguru

    15 January – Oru Kidayin karunai Manu

    22 January – Nethra

    24 January – Jumanji: The Next Level

    29 January – The Great Father

  • Zee Bangla begins 2021 on a sweet note with Mithai

    Zee Bangla begins 2021 on a sweet note with Mithai

    NEW DELHI: Bengal, known for its rich culture and heritage of sweets, has witnessed an evolution. With the rise of consciousness around health and innovation in sweet making, the traditional sweets of Bengal are dying a slow death much like the culture of joint families which are slowly losing relevance in today’s fast-paced lifestyles.

    Zee Bangla has always pioneered Bengal’s indigenous ingredients and revived intricacies of Bengal’s heritage so that they don’t become extinct. A classic example of the same is bringing back the folk and kirtan forms into its mega musical reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa which beautifully emphasises the brand promise – ‘NotunChondeLikhboJibon’. And with its new launch – Mithai, the brand has embarked on a journey to revive the lost traditional sweets that Bengal was once famous for.

    Mithai is a warm, ‘mishti story’ of going back to the roots, celebrating family values and rituals. It revolves around a business family which has stood strong for over 50 years by staying true to self. The Modak family, residing in south Kolkata, is known for its traditional Bengali sweets and has many franchises across the city. They are a joint family celebrating relationships and every occasion in the true sense. But Siddhartha (Adrit Roy), of the current generation of the family, had a difficult childhood with losing his mother at a young age and staying away from the family for an impressionable amount of time. He has grown up dreaming of going beyond and doing things on his own. He is the modern-day health-conscious man who doesn’t like sweets and has no interest in being part of the family business.

    While our male lead has a worldly outlook, our female protagonist Mithai (Soumitrisha Kundu) comes from rural Bengal. Mithai was born to a sweet-making karigar family and is a karigar herself. She makes delicious monohara sweet and comes to Kolkata every day to sell them. On one such day, she is introduced to the Modak family. As she immediately wins everyone’s hearts, she takes up the challenge to get Siddharth to lover her sweets. Thereon, she embarks on a journey to bring Siddharth back to the family beliefs and take the business to greater heights.

    The concept is entirely developed and produced in house and directed by Rajendra Prasad Das and written by Shaswati Ghosh. The show will premiere from 4 January, Monday-Saturday at 8 pm.

    This show will revisit many forgotten parts of Bengali culture specially sweets like monohara and showcase the rooted nostalgia of a joint family. It will also have an eternal love story following the most basic and relatable concept of human relationships- opposites attract via portrayal of two sides of Bangaliyana – the urban and the traditional.

    ZEEL cluster head – east Samrat Ghosh said, “As a brand, we are deeply rooted in Bengali values and cultures – and we put continuous effort to bring it alive both in our fiction and non-fiction offerings into new rhythm. We are sure that such efforts of ours would help our viewers to relive and reconnect with the strong culture and value of Bengalis. Mithai is a story of Bengali culture of “togetherness” in staying in a joint family, a story of exhibiting strong family values, a story of sharing happiness and sweetness– and all these will centre around in the revival of a traditional mishti called monohara.”

  • Colors Tamil to usher in 2021 with two new shows

    Colors Tamil to usher in 2021 with two new shows

    MUMBAI: Colors Tamil has plans to kickstart 2021 on a high note. It is set to launch two shows for its discerning audience thus strengthening its offering across both fiction and non-fiction content. Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, a Monday-Saturday fiction drama show  will premiere on 4 January 2021, and Bhajan Samraat, a unique bhajan singing show will premiere on 10 January 2021 at 8 am and will air daily.  

    Set amidst bustling city life, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal is a story narrated through the eyes of two key protagonists, Surya Kumar – an honest IPS officer – and Kayalvizhi, a fun-loving young girl. Sillunu Oru Kaadhal showcases a new dimension in a modern relationship after Surya Kumar and Kayalvizhi tie the knot only to enter an unexpected turbulent marriage.

    Colors Tamil’s second new launch, Bhajan Samraat, is a singing reality show and is being launched as devotees celebrate the festival of Margazhi. Bhajan Samraat will witness the best of talent from across Tamil Nadu taking the stage and will be judged by eminent personalities of carnatic music.

    Colors Tamil business head Anup Chandrasekharan said, “The guiding philosophy at Colors Tamil has always been to bring in fresh and differentiated content for our viewers. We were the first GEC in Tamil Nadu to restart original programming as we started emerging from the lockdown. And now, we will welcome 2021 on a special note with the line-up of two new exciting shows. While Sillunu Oru Kaadhal will bolster our Monday to Saturday prime-time offering, Bhajan Samraat will strengthen the daily morning band. We are sure that both shows will strike a chord with viewers and further strengthen our engagement with them.”

  • Zee Telugu beefs up weekends with Sai Dharam Tej & Middle Class Melodies cast

    Zee Telugu beefs up weekends with Sai Dharam Tej & Middle Class Melodies cast

    MUMBAI: With a promise to keep viewers enthralled like never before, Zee Telugu is all set to present a wholesome entertainment experience this Sunday from 8- 10 pm only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD channels.

    The upcoming gala episode of Zee Telugu’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 13 season will witness Anand Devarakonda, Varsha Bollamma and Vinod Anatoju as special walk-in guests. The contestants along with the judges receive the opportunity to be in the company of the cast and crew of Middle Class Melodies. Besides, actress Varsha will entertain viewers by singing a Tamil song while Anand Devarakonda will take over the stage with an English song that will serve as the much-needed entertainment. The cherry on the cake would be the director Vinod Anatoju who would capture the hearts of the viewers with the song ‘Idi Gunturey’ from Middle Class Melodies. The special episode will be telecasted on 3 January 2021 at 8:00 pm only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    Talent resides in every individual; it is the multiplier of energy, determination and hard work. The stage is set, and participants are geared up to righteously flaunt their hidden flair on Zee Telugu’s big celebrity challenge as it returns with season five with adrenalin pumping performances. This week, supreme Star Sai Dharam Teja will promote his film Solo Brathuke So Better on the show and the ardent fans will receive the opportunity to witness him on the show on 3 January 2021 at 9:00 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    Adrushta Yogam 2021, yet another treat for Zee Telugu’s audience from 10:30 pm on 31 December with Vakkantham Chandramouli, Rama Ravi and Syamala. Also, bringing to you exceptional mornings with the new year, Zee Telugu to showcase Tejaswini Manogna in Aarogyam Mahayogam at 8:30 AM.

    To catch all the fun and extraordinary performances, stay tuned to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa season 13 this Sunday at 8:00 pm and Big Celebrity Challenge Season 5 at 9:00 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

  • Colors Marathi rings in the new year with two new shows

    Colors Marathi rings in the new year with two new shows

    MUMBAI: In line with its brand ethos of Navi Umed, Navi Bharari, Colors Marathi is all set to ring in the new year early with the launch of two new shows – Jai Jai Swami Samarth, and Sakkhe Shejari.

    Jai Jai Swami Samarth is a period drama presenting the life story of Swami Samarth and goes on-air from 28 December 2020, Monday to Saturday at 9:30 pm. The serial will showcase theories, philosophies and lesser-known life stories of Swami Samarth that hold true even today and continue to be the guiding light.

    Sakkhe Shejari, with Venky’s Purotein as special partner, is a first of its kind television non-fiction family show to be televised from 11 January 2021. The programme will see sets of neighbours compete with each other in a series of tasks and challenging situations to finally win the title of ‘best neighbours.’ India has a unique concept of ‘neighbours’ who have been living in the same society for so many years, that they are closer and more connected than blood relatives. The show will celebrate and honour the true bond between neighbouring families and cover various aspects such as respect, trust, belongingness, pride and selflessness.

    Colors Marathi programming head Deepak Rajadhyaksha said, “Maharashtra is a land full of rich history and cultural values. At Colors Marathi, we have been entertaining our viewers with content that is culturally rich and resonates with every Maharashtrian household’s values. Drawing synergies from our lockdown learnings, our aim is to deliver the best stories to our audiences. From fiction dramas to contemporary stories and big-ticket non-fiction shows to adopting international formats, our versatile portfolio has helped us position ourselves as the most preferred destination for meaningful stories with entertainment. With the launch of these two new shows, we will further strengthen our line-up, both in the fiction and non-fiction categories. With these new offerings, we are hopeful to create an impact and further enrich our audiences with memorable experiences.”

    With the addition of these two new shows to its existing line-up of Balumamachya Navana Changbhala, Sundara Mana Madhye Bharali, Chandra Ahe Sakshila, Sukhi Mansacha Sadara, Raja Ranichi Ga Jodi, Jeev Zala Yeda Pisa, Colors Marathi continues to provide compelling and meaningful stories to establish newer heights in the Marathi television industry.

     

     

     

     

  • Zee Tamil presents the world television premiere of ‘Saaho’

    Zee Tamil presents the world television premiere of ‘Saaho’

    MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year again! As yet another year rolls by, Zee Tamil, in line with its commitment to provide the best in-class entertainment to its viewers, brings the world television premier (WTP) of Saaho. Buckle up and prepare for the ride of a lifetime as Saaho airs on 25 December at 2:30 pm only on Zee Tamil and Zee Tamil HD.

    Written and directed by Sujeeth and filmed simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, Saaho stars Prabhas of the Bahubali fame, and Shraddha Kapoor. The film boasts an impressive star cast marking the Bollywood debut of actor Arun Vijay, Malayalam director turned actor ‘Lal’, along with Bollywood actors Jackie Shroff and Neel Nitin Mukesh in pivotal roles. This 2019 action thriller was one of the most awaited action Indian movies of the year with a whopping budget of Rs. 350 crores. The highlight of this mammoth project is the breathtaking action sequences choreographed by Hollywood stunt directors Kenny Bates, Peng Jhang & Bob Brown along with world class VFX effects, creating a visual treat through the neo-futuristic fictional ‘Waaji City’ designed by legendary production designer Sabu Cryil.

    Saaho, a classic story of power struggle, begins when the head of the Roy Group of companies passes away in an accident. A battle for the coveted ‘throne’ then ensued among the prominent members of this family. Meanwhile, in India, undercover agent Ashok Chakravarthy and his partner Amritha Nair are on the lookout for a thief (Jai) who has made off with close to two trillion rupees. The movie proceeds to uncover the mysterious connection between these seemingly independent plot lines – a cop chase and an emerging gang war!

  • Zee Tamil to present new show Thirumathi Hitler

    Zee Tamil to present new show Thirumathi Hitler

    MUMBAI: Tamil general entertainment channel – Zee Tamil is known for its unique show concepts and distinct storylines that Tamil audiences have cherished and loved over the last decade. The channel is set to enthrall the viewers like never before by bringing Tamil Nadu’s youngest mother-in-law – Thirumathi Hitler, a fresh and unique fiction show which is sure to tickle your funny bone. Launching on 14 December, Thirumathi Hitler will be telecasted on weekdays from Monday-Friday between 6:30-7:00 pm  on Zee Tamil and Zee Tamil HD.

    Thirumathi Hitler, is a fun filled dramedy that revolves around the young, bubbly, and charming girl Hasini, played by the talented Keerthana Poduval whose motto in life is to take on challenges anytime someone defies her abilities. In contrast to her personality is the perfectionist AJ a.k.a Abhinav Janardhan who preaches high standards and forces his way-of-life on those around him. As the story evolves, their unique love entanglement turns into a comedy of errors as Hasini finds herself to be the mother-in-law to three daughter-in-law who are much older than her. The drama that ensues forms the crux of this rib-tickling show.

    Popular actor Amit Bhargav plays the character of AJ and is accompanied by esteemed industry veterans including Actress Ambika, playing the mother of the hero and Professor Gnanasambandam, playing the father of the heroine. The other star cast include Actress Keerthana-stepmother of the heroine, Sowmiya, Bhavya Shree & Subbalakshmi play the role of daughter-in-laws. The show is being produced under the banner of Aayshmaan Production by Aaysha Abdullah & Armaan Abdullah with creative direction by S.N Rajkumar.

    Zeel  EVP & cluster head-south business Siju Prabhakaran said, “The launch of Thirumathi Hitler is an extension of our vision to be varied and distinct in the range of fiction storylines that we present to our audiences. The show is light-hearted and fresh in its approach towards life and the society around us. We are confident that the show will transcend the boundaries of age and spread fun, joy and excitement among our viewers”.

    Click Below to watch the promos of Thirumathi Hitler

    Launch Promo 1:

    Launch Promo 2::

  • Bigg Boss season 4 has given me great satisfaction, says host Nagarjuna

    Bigg Boss season 4 has given me great satisfaction, says host Nagarjuna

    MUMBAI: Star Maa’s biggest reality show Bigg Boss season four is currently on air after having launched in the midst of the pandemic in September. The show which has had three successful seasons in the past has beaten its own records this season with an explosive launch of 20+ TVR (SD+HD) and a week on week strong performance enjoying a slot share of 42 per cent+ (SD+HD) among the four GECs. Using the massive platform of Bigg Boss, Star Maa consolidates its primetime each year and launches some new blockbuster shows. This year spurred by the success of the season and the love the audience has shown the property, Star Maa has boldly moved Bigg Boss to 10pm on weekdays and brought one of its biggest fiction properties Vadinamma to the 9:30pm slot. With this the Star Maa primetime now extends till 11pm promising its viewers an extra half hour of entertainment each night.

    Bigg Boss which now has six contestants fighting for the title of this year is at its entertaining best. With contestants from diverse backgrounds and very varied strengths, the climax promises to be something to watch out for.  Host Nagarjuna said “The greatest satisfaction is when you can entertain crores of audience every week. And that too in the difficult times of pandemic. Bigg Boss season 4 has wiped off the previous records established by Bigg Boss season three at a national level. 20+ TVR made it the biggest launch of Bigg Boss show ever, 4 Crore tune ins in AP and Telangana in the latest week are just indications of love showered by viewers. In the past 12 weeks 83 per cent of the people in the twin states have sampled Bigg Boss season four. It’s a remarkable feat. And now we are entering into the most exciting phase Finale of the show building further momentum. My heartfelt gratitude to the audience of Bigg Boss season four.”

  • Bhojpuri Cinema brings world television premieres of ‘Aaj Ki Beti’ and ‘Dostana’

    Bhojpuri Cinema brings world television premieres of ‘Aaj Ki Beti’ and ‘Dostana’

    MUMBAI: Enterr10 Television’s Bhojpuri Cinema is all set to take you on a blockbuster roller-coaster ride with fun-filled double dose of humour, drama and non-stop entertainment with the world television premieres of two of the biggest Bhojpuri hits Aaj Ki Beti and Dostana on 12 and 19 December 2020 at 7pm followed by repeat telecast on 13 and 20 December at 10 am respectively. 

    Featuring the leading lady of Bhojpuri film industry, Monalisa, along with prominent actors such as Raj Sahani, Lavi Rohtagi and Shweta Yadav, Aaj Ki Beti highlights the trials and tribulation faced by women and how they fight against their destiny and society to stand up for what is right.  This movie is a perfect family entertainment which is bound to keep audience hooked on to their seats.  Aaj Ki Beti is directed by Dilip Gulati and produced by Doli Kumari. The music has been composed by Aman Shlok. 

    While Dostana focusses on the father-son relationship. Pradeep Pandey Chintu and Bhojpuri bombshell Kajal Raghwanj are the leads in this movie. Directed by Parag Singh, the film also features Avdhesh Mishra along with Raksha Gupta, Sanjay Pandey, Dev Singh and others. Making his singing debut with Dostana, Pradeep Pandey Chintu has set a course towards an unchartered territory and made his way to the hearts of the cinelovers.

    Bhojpuri Cinema has been entertaining the Bhojpuri audiences with an exciting line-up of high quality, drama filled entertainment. The 24-hour movie channel has constantly been winning hearts of its viewers by showcasing the best of movies in the market.

    Bhojpuri Cinema is available on leading cable networks and DTH platforms – DD Free

  • Star will continue to focus on existing regional channels: Kevin Vaz

    Star will continue to focus on existing regional channels: Kevin Vaz

    MUMBAI: The broadcast space is continuously evolving, with players today no longer solely focused on Hindi general entertainment channels (Hindi GECs); they’re taking to regional content in a big way. Leading broadcast networks are introducing regional channels to their network bouquet. Industry experts have also admitted that the language market is where the growth is coming from, and this will hold in the future. Indian audiences are more than willing to consume content in their respective vernacular languages.
     
    In recent developments in the regional horizon, Star and Disney India launched Vijay Music, targeting Tamil music lovers. Star Pravah, the Marathi GEC from Star Entertainment Media, has garnered the highest ratings in viewership week after week, outstripping competitors and old horses in the game like Zee Marathi. Along with this, Star has gained the leadership position in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengal markets.

    The company attributes its string of successes in the regional space to its strong content line up. In 2018, the network put Kevin Vaz in charge of its content slate in the regions of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. He has spent more than two decades serving Star India before heading the entertainment channels in the southern market. 

    In conversation with indiantelevision.com’s Shikha Singh, Star & Disney India infotainment kids and regional entertainment channels CEO Kevin Vaz shared his perspective on the evolution of regional content in the broadcast space, the formula for success, and the plans ahead for 2021.

    Edited Excerpts:

    How do you think regional content has evolved in the Indian broadcast space? Also, how important is the regional market for you?

    Regional content has evolved manifold in the past decade due to three main factors: content innovation across screens, growth of the M&E regional ecosystem, and expansion in hours of content which has led to higher consumption.

    We have seen tremendous innovation in the regional content space – whether it is in terms of the kind of stories told, experimentation with new formats, enhancement of look and feel using technology, etc. We have also witnessed multiple players enter the regional markets and this has led to higher investment in content overall. Programming hours in regional have grown over the last few years, today the top regional GECs each have about eight to nine hours of original content in a day.

    Star India is one of the oldest players in the regional space. From investing in Vijay in 2001 to launching Jalsha and Pravah in 2008, acquiring Asianet that same year and then Maa in 2015 – we have been consistent in our regional ambitions for 15+ years.
     
    How have you seen the content and marketing strategy translate in terms of revenues and viewership? 

    Great storytelling remains the bedrock of great entertainment. Audiences are fundamentally attracted to a good story that is well told. The unmatched strength of our regional brands combined with their unique style of storytelling gives us the opportunity to forge a connection with audiences of all ages. With the right content strategy in place, everything else falls in place for the success of a channel. To give you an example, in Kerala, Asianet has been a clear leader in the Malayalam GEC space. This is a result of rich content offering (fiction and non-fiction) that continues to emotionally engage with our viewers.
     
    Can you tell us more about how each channel is performing?

    In our regional bouquet of channels, we operate in six markets and we are delighted with the stupendous performance of the channels.

    ·   In Kerala, Asianet has a 47 per cent market share (Kerala Urban 15+).

    ·   Star Maa is ruling the roost with a 41.2 per cent prime time market share within Telugu GEC AP/Telangana urban 15+. The introduction of non-fiction shows like 'Bigg Boss' has helped bring in new audiences which have contributed significantly to the overall channel performance. Star India network is the clear leader in Telugu (GEC + movies + music) with a 38 per cent market share.

    ·    In the Bangla GEC space, Star Jalsha has had a strong performance and has maintained its leadership position in West Bengal (U+R 2+)

    ·    Star Pravah has continued its strong streak and has emerged as the preferred Marathi GEC in Maharashtra and Goa (U+R 2+)

    ·    Star Vijay has always been a strong brand in Tamil Nadu, known for its non-fiction shows. Over the last two or three years, with the introduction of strong fiction programming, the channel grew by close to 300 per cent

    ·   Star Suvarna has emerged as a strong #2 in Karnataka (Urban 15+)

    Which is the strongest regional market for you?

    For us, the entire regional offering is of great significance and we continue to push the boundaries to unlock its potential in every market we are present in and offer great stories and narratives to the local audiences.  
       
    Sun TV is clearly dominant across genres, what will it take to crack the Tamil market?

    Star Vijay is a very strong brand in Tamil Nadu today. It has had phenomenal growth of close to 300 percent over the last few years which is a significant achievement. The channel has attained the leadership position in prime time and we are happy that our viewers are enjoying high-quality entertaining shows like Bigg Boss, Super Singer, Start Music, Mr & Mrs Chinnathirai, Enkitta Modhadhe, Cook with Comali, and more. We will continue to innovate and present content that the viewers can relate to.

    Which other markets look like a white space to you?

    Currently, we have a strong and well-spread regional market presence. We will continue to focus on these and bring in rich and compelling programming for families to enjoy.

    Star Pravah has acquired a leadership position in Maharashtra, what led to the success?

    Star Pravah has always strived to provide an eclectic mix of entertaining content to Marathi-speaking viewers. Every show we have launched in the past year is based on deep-rooted consumer insights and every story has relatable characters that break a social stigma. We have introduced shows which offer entertainment to its viewers, which includes Comedy Bimedy, a laugh riot for the family, Jai Deva Shree Ganesha, an 11-part mythological show based on Lord Ganesha’s most popular stories, and Jyotiba, a mythological show revolving around one of the most revered gods in Maharashtra especially in the regions of Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara.

    You already have two channels in the West Bengal market. How is the audience response?

    In our Bangla offering, we have a Star Jalsha (GEC) and Jalsha Movies (movie channel). Both the channels enjoy great affinity and are the top two channels in the market. We continue to expand on content offering that resonates with the Bangla-speaking viewers.

    With Star Jalsha, how difficult it was to gain a leadership position in the West Bengal market?

    Star Jalsha has been an iconic brand in West Bengal from its early days. It shook up the Bangla GEC market in 2008 and steered to the top position within eight months of launch. In 2019, we felt it was time to reinvent the wheel and change the overall offering to stay relevant. We asked the Bangla viewers what kind of content were they looking for and the answer we received was they want to watch strong, yet rooted female protagonists and a milieu that had a greater local flavour. So we wanted our shows to focus on three things – relevant, relatable, and progressive. From these insights were born the iconic shows – Sreemoyee, Mohor, Debi Choudharani and Mahapith Tarapith. Of these, Sreemoyee has been remade across the network, including on Star Plus, and has become a hit.

    Star Vijay has recently launched a music channel, considering the pandemic, do you think it’s a viable option to launch a new channel?

    We believe there is always scope for us to grow in the markets we are present in. In Tamil Nadu, the young generation is very musically inclined and we felt there was a gap for a dedicated music channel suiting their needs. Vijay Music is targeted at the new generation of Tamil music lovers and the channel is also determined to be a platform for nurturing new talent with an exciting line-up of reality shows. Enga pulingo lam bayangaram, Kanna paatu paadam asaiya are a few of the shows in this genre, and expect many more soon.

    The Gujarati ad revenue market size is pegged at Rs 100 crore, it is a growing market. Do you have plans to expand to new markets?

    At present, our focus is to bring wholesome quality programming for families to enjoy in the markets we are present in.

    Regional languages are predicted to be the growth driver for all the brands. How well-placed are you across the regional languages to leverage the opportunity?

    We are happy with the performance across all the regional markets we are present in. We believe that there is a lot of scope for growth and we will continue to provide high-quality content and tap into the next tier of markets for further growth.

    What growth targets do you have from regional businesses?

    As per our company policy, I will not be able to share this information.