ITV

Category: Regional

  • Zee Telugu unveils the title song of ‘Nagabhairavi’

    Zee Telugu unveils the title song of ‘Nagabhairavi’

    A new daily soap titled Nagabhairavi is all set to entertain Zee Telugu audience this festive season. The fantasy drama stars Muddha Mandaram fame Pawon and Yashmi Gowda as leads while Gundamma Katha fame Kalki Raja and Ashwini play pivotal roles. The promo has created a great deal of buzz since the launch and the serial is likely to the hit the television screens very soon.

    The title song of the show was shot in Ramanaidu studios last month i.e August 2020. Sung by Mangli Raave Bhairavi song features evergreen actress Ramya Krishnan along with Pawon, Yashmi Gowda, Kalki Raja and Ashwini. Ramya Krishnan looks stunning in a gold kanjeevaram saree. Zee Telugu has unveiled this title song which showcases the plotline of the serial. Notably, Ramajogaya Sastry, the melody of poetry has penned the lyrics that has been composed by ‘Geeta Govindam’ fame music director Gopi Sundar. 

  • Mathrubhumi Innovative Reporting on International day of Sign Language

    Mathrubhumi Innovative Reporting on International day of Sign Language

    On the occasion of International day of Sign Language, Kerala's formidable media group, Mathrubhumi, took two thoughtful and empathetic initiatives to turn the spotlight on the topic. The leading story on the front page of the newspaper was delivered in a very surprising manner, through sign language. The section also had a QR code for people to learn more about the topic. In addition to this, Mathrubhumi News channel were drawn open at 7 AM, with the presence of speech and hearing specialist Chithra Prasad who delivered the news in sign language alongside our channel presenter. Chithra also touched upon on various interesting aspects of sign language, its cultural context, structure, grammar etc. 

    Speaking about the innovations, M V Shreyams Kumar, Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Group Said “Being a responsible media house, Mathrubhumi believes in empowering people from every strata of the society with the additional impact creativity brings.  This is also always appreciated by our readers and advertisers alike”

  • Zee Telugu presents the life history of Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

    Zee Telugu presents the life history of Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

    There is a well-known saying that ‘Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference’. One such leader in the Indian history, who hailed a revolution and become a voice to reckon with is, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar – the founding father of the Indian Constitution. A leader par excellence who has etched a prominent place in millions of Indian hearts and whose legacy is unparalleled.

    Zee Telugu is proud to present a never told before life story in the Telugu GEC space of this extraordinary personality, his crusading spirit and how he became the precursor of united India, with its powerful socio-drama titled Mana Ambedkar. The show is an inspirational story of India’s first Minister of Law and Justice; and his journey from the tender age to be the messiah of the downtrodden and becoming the father of the Indian Constitution.

    The show will feature Sagar Deshmukh in the role of Ambedkar. Since the release of the title song and the promo, Telugu audiences welcomed the concept with open arms and are looking forward for the series. The show will premiere on September 21st, 2020 at 5:30 PM every Monday to Saturday only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    The show will take the viewers on an empowering journey of a young lad who comes of age an gives his all for the for the motherland. Premiering on 21st September 2020, the show will air every Monday to Saturday at 5:30 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    As we welcome the new normal and further our entertainment proposition, we urge the audience to stay safe and continue enjoying their favorite shows at the comfort of their homes.

    To enjoy the show, subscribe to Zee Telugu, available in the Zee Prime Pack at Rs. 20 per month

    To ensure you do not miss out on your favorite Zee Telugu shows, choose the Zee Prime Pack that includes Zee Telugu, and Zee Cinemalu alongside 7 other top channels of the Zee Network that cater to the daily entertainment needs of your entire family at Rs. 20 per month only. For further information, contact your DTH or Cable operator.

  • ZEE FURTHER STRENGTHENS ITS FOOTHOLD IN MAHARASHTRA WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS MARATHI MUSIC CHANNEL – ZEE VAJWA

    ZEE FURTHER STRENGTHENS ITS FOOTHOLD IN MAHARASHTRA WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS MARATHI MUSIC CHANNEL – ZEE VAJWA

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has announced its entry into the regional music space with the launch of its Marathi music channel – Zee Vajwa. The network boasts of an undisputed leadership in the Maharashtra market with Zee Marathi, Zee Yuva and Zee Talkies capturing 57%* viewership share.

    The brand believes in seizing every moment and living life to the fullest. Our purpose is to dial up each moment, thus providing a mono to dolby experience for the Marathi youth because ‘Kshaan Zingaat tar life Zingaat!’. This is aptly captured in our tagline – Zee Vajwa, Kshann Gaajwa.

    The channel promise will be brought alive through the content offering of 3000+ playlists and a music++ experience for the viewer with many category firsts that amplify moments & create various mahauls through the day.

    Speaking on the launch, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, ZEEL said, “As an organization, we have gained in both viewership & revenue due to our diverse portfolio across markets. And, believe in constantly strengthening our product portfolio keeping the customer at the centre thereby adding value to all our stakeholders. Our dominant position across markets echoes our customer-centricity. Our growing viewership and revenue share in Maharashtra is a reflection of our successful journey so far. Our objective has always been to provide holistic surround to our consumer/customer & in Maharashtra, with Zee Vajwa, we see an opportunity for us to not only strengthen our Music cluster but further gain viewership/revenue shares as well. We are excited to dial up the impact for advertisers this festive period.”

    Commenting on the much-awaited launch of its first regional music channel, Prathyusha Agarwal, Chief Consumer Officer, ZEEL said, “We win hearts across many Bharats by creating content brands that are deeply rooted in culture. All 4 regional channels that we launched last year broke into the top 3 in their respective categories within their launch month, with Zee Biskope rising to no. 1, and Zee Picchar & Zee Punjabi in the top 2*. We are the undisputed leader in Maharashtra with our GEC and movie channels and the launch of Zee Vajwa will be a celebration of our intrinsic bond with every Maharashtrian family, through music. Music on TV is perceived to play a passive background role in the consumer’s life. But in a country like India, a song becomes a chartbuster when it becomes an integral part of a celebration – such as Ganpati Visarjan, sangeet ceremony, etc. Music becomes an active way to enjoy, express and celebrate, creating an amplified mahaul (ambience). This externalized and shared culture of music is at the core of Zee’s music channel positioning. With Zee Vajwa we promise to dial up every moment for our viewers with a music++ experience, so that they live life to the fullest.”

    Vishnu Shankar, Business Cluster Head, &TV and Music cluster, ZEEL said, “We are extremely pleased to announce the launch of our first regional music channel, Zee Vajwa. Besides strengthening our regional portfolio, it is a great opportunity for us at ZEEL to offer content that connects so deeply with our consumers.

    Music has always been deeply ingrained in our Indian way of life and its traditions. To be able to offer a platform which allows our viewers to enjoy and connect over music that resonates with their specific culture and values, is deeply gratifying.”

    ZEE Vajwa will have an immersive visual experience never seen before in the regional music category with a design world inspired by the ‘volume dial’ that aptly brings alive our promise of ‘amplifying every moment’. Each element of the design – colors, characters, music symbols and our sonic identity have been created to ensure a deep seeded connect with the youth while being culturally relevant.

    The channel will have a stellar programming line-up which will include 3000+ music playlists created with a strong library of songs. One of the key differentiators would be experiential music slots with several category firsts which will truly amplify the moment for the audiences. The Marathi viewer is extremely proud of their culture and the channel will celebrate it by giving the youth a platform to voice their opinions and be heard. A category first, Zee Vajwa will also have a non-fiction show in the comedy genre.

    The logo of Zee Vajwa was unveiled with much fanfare by Marathi film industry stalwarts, Swwapnil Joshi & Siddharth Jadhav during the prestigious Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar 2020.

    Zee Vajwa is set to launch this October.

  • This festive season, BIGG BOSS Tamil Season 4 Returns on Star Vijay

    This festive season, BIGG BOSS Tamil Season 4 Returns on Star Vijay

    Bigg Boss Tamil on Star Vijay today has become one of the most loved shows amongst Tamil audiences, and millions of fans, eagerly awaiting the new season, are delighted with the unveiling of its official promo featuring superstar host Kamal Haasan yet again. The promo raced to cross 4 million views within just 48 hours of launch – the highest ever amongst the seasons so far — and has had social media abuzz with conversations. Advertisers too have come on board, recognizing the opportunity to have their brands associated with the biggest reality phenomenon on Tamil television.

    The Promo for the upcoming season features a stylishly, sartorially dressed Kamal Haasan swaying to a peppy number choreographed by Sandy Master of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3 fame, and music by popular music director Ghibran. It showcases how the Bigg Boss voice has become an integral part of every household, especially in the current times, and has resonated with millions of fans – seen from all the conversations that sparked off as soon as the logo was revealed.

    The official Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 promo has followed the teaser which was released on 27th August, revealing this season’s first look. It featured host Kamal Haasan speaking about the trying times and the need to get safely back to work. The teaser too touched a chord with fans across, taking social media by storm and garnering more than 4.7 million views. The signs are clear – millions of fans eagerly await Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 in the upcoming festive season on Star Vijay. 

    Speaking about Bigg Boss Tamil, Kevin Vaz, CEO – Regional Entertainment, Star India said “Bigg Boss Tamil has been the biggest non-fiction television phenomenon in Tamil Nadu, and the upcoming Season 4, hosted by superstar Kamal Haasan again, promises to be bigger. Fans are ecstatic with the return of Bigg Boss post the teaser and promo and the same level of excitement extends across advertisers well. We are seeing huge demand across both – national and local players – as they see this show as an opportunity to connect effectively with their audiences and create an impact in the market. We already have a significant number of partners on board and conversations are ongoing with other players across key sectors like FMCG, Handsets, Auto, and Ed-tech, with several brands expected to close within the next two weeks.” 

    Sponsors who have been part of Bigg Boss Tamil across the past 3 seasons and have experienced the power of this platform first-hand are already on-board. Adani Wilmar and Nippon Paint with their past Bigg Boss campaigns continue to associate with the show. Bigg Boss Tamil season 4 continues to attract brands — within a week of the show’s announcement, Dabur signed on as the title sponsor and other brands include Preeti Appliances Udhaiyam Dal, Aswini Homeo, and RKG Ghee.

    Speaking of the association with Bigg Boss Tamil 4, Dabur India Ltd Marketing Head-Home & Personal Care Mr. Rajeev John said “Tamil Nadu is a strategic market for Dabur, especially in Oral Care. We have launched Dabur Herb’l Clove Toothpaste part of our Herbal range to further strengthen our stronghold in the category. We are excited about our association with Bigg Boss Tamil, which will help us reach out to every household in Tamil Nadu to not only create awareness for the brand but also engage with a large set of audiences through some innovative associations.”

    “Nippon Paint has been associated with Bigg Boss Tamil right from the inception of the show when it was still a new concept in the Tamil market. We truly believe that this powerful association over the last 3 seasons has helped us develop a stronger connection with our consumers. BB Tamil Season 4 is highly anticipated and is sure to generate high viewership. It provides a great platform for brands to leverage to drive brand salience.” says Mark Titus – Director Marketing, Nippon Paint India Pvt. Ltd.

    Swetha Sagar, Head of Marketing, Preethi Appliances said “Despite, having a familiar format, audiences have great expectation from the show and Kamal Hassan adds immense value. Promo is already trending and generating buzz. We are extremely thrilled to be associated with Bigg Boss Tamil and we believe it will take us closer to our audiences.”

    Mr. K V Kathiravan- Managing Director of Vinisha Vision shares his views on behalf of his client Shri Lakshmi Agro Foods ( Udhaiyam Dhall ) said “Our client's association with Bigg Boss 2 was a game-changer for their brand. This association enabled them to reach the households as a strong brand and resulted in exponential growth in sales as well as strengthening their supply chain. We are excited to partner with Bigg Boss Tamil 4 this year.”

    Sanjay Adesara, Head – Media and Digital, Adani Wilmar Ltd said: “We entered the association over 3 years ago with the objective of making Fortune relevant across target households in Tamil Nadu. This association was strengthened year on year which has resulted in a spike in off takes as well. We look forward to our partnership this year too and are equally delighted to see how it will help our brands to achieve higher benchmarks.”

    Bigg Boss Tamil season 4 is all set to launch in the first week of October which is peak festive season to bring viewers maximum entertainment, and for brands, an unparalleled platform. The work on the show is in full swing currently with the house being constructed on the outskirts of Chennai. 

  • Zee Tamil to launch a bouquet of shows starting this September

    Zee Tamil to launch a bouquet of shows starting this September

    MUMBAI: Zee Tamil, has lined up an exciting array of new shows that are set to be launched this month. These include shows from both fiction and non-fiction genre. As the channel is able to create fresh content post easing down of restrictions on shooting and productions, Zee Tamil has emerged stronger and received an overwhelming response from its viewers, strengthening its resolve to serve the best in-class entertainment in Tamil Nadu.

    Zee Tamil’s string of new shows will be launched beginning in September. The Gautam Vasudev Menon directorial web series Queen will be aired on Television for the first time on Zee Tamil every Sunday starting 13 September. The channel also has new offerings for their fiction and non-fiction segment – Suryavamsam and Zee Super Family, respectively. After the phenomenal audience reception for shows Dr. Ambedkar and Kundali Bhagya in other Zee network channels, Zee Tamil has decided to bring these two shows to the eager Tamil audiences as well.

    Queen, inspired from true-life events, highlights the journey of an ambitious and fierce woman, through her journey from being a bright student to becoming an acting sensation in Tamil Cinema, to finally becoming a great political leader in Tamil Nadu. Directed by Gautam Menon, this web series stars Ramya Krishnan, Anjana Jayaprakash, and Anikha as Shakthi Seshadri. Starting 13 September, Queen will air every Sunday from 6:30 pm to 7.30 pm

    Suryavamsam is a contemporary family drama, which has a refreshing take on the conflict between a tradition and love between different cultures. It brings back nostalgia for the days when joint families were still predominant in society. It is the story of Samantha (played by Niktha Rajesh) who is on a mission to reunite her mother Kalyani (played by Sandhana) with her estranged family. The other lead actors in this show are Poornima Bhagyaraj, playing the grandmother Annammal, and Aashish Chakravarthy, playing Surya, the love interest of Samantha. Starting  21 September Suryavamsam will air from Monday – Saturday, at 7:00 pm.

    Coming soon to the Zee Tamil audience is Puratchiyalar Dr.Ambedkar,  a serial based on the real-life story of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Due to the prevalence of regressive practices of untouchability and the caste system, Ambedkar and his family are treated poorly by the people belonging to the upper castes. Bhim, however, studies diligently and works hard to educate himself, ultimately becoming the bastion, flag bearer, and almost synonymous with ‘social justice’ in India. The promo of this show running currently on TV and social media has already created waves and a very high interest amongst Tamil viewers

    Among its non-fiction offerings, Zee Tamil will soon be launching a show called Zee Super Family– a reality game show hosted by Archana and RJ Vijay wherein artists of Zee Tamil shows will come together for this one of a kind game show to offer 120 minutes of non-stop entertainment through a series of fun filled tasks.

    Kundali Bhagya, a famous show which topped the viewer ratings for Zee TV is soon to be dubbed and launched for Zee Tamil. This fiction show tells the story of two sisters Preeta (Shraddha Arya) and Srishti (Anjum Fakih) in their attempt to reunite with their mother Sarla (Supriya Shukla). It shows their journey and how they ultimately find themselves entangled with the rich and famous Luthra family. This is a story of love, of friendship, of revenge – the ultimate emotional potpourri!

  • Rajesh Kalra joins Asianet News Media and Entertainment as Executive Chairman

    Rajesh Kalra joins Asianet News Media and Entertainment as Executive Chairman

    Asianet News Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (AMEL) – has announced that Mr. Rajesh Kalra, Veteran Journalist, Pioneering internet entrepreneur and one of the earliest leaders of India’s Digital Media charge, will be joining it’s Board and be its Executive Chairman.

    AMEL has multiple digital brands in its portfolio including asianetnews.com, indigomusic.com etc and serves consumers in multiple languages.

    About Rajesh Kalra

    Kalra was the Chief Editor of Times Internet, the repository of everything digital of The Times of India Group, India’s largest media house, from June 2006 to August 2020. He was also an entrepreneur from 2000-2006 when his company managed the dynamic portions of websites such as Yahoo India, MSN India, Mantra Online and started India’s first 24*7 news website, NaradOnline.

    During his stint at Times Internet, where he became the youngest Chief Editor at the age of 40, he was instrumental in the launch of almost all the news and entertainment properties of the group – TOI, ET, Mumbai Mirror, Bangalore Mirror, Ahmedabad Mirror, Pune Mirror, NBT, MT, Indiatimes, Ei Samay, I am Gujarat, Vijay Karnataka and the three Samayam properties (Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam).

    Kalra started his career with the computer publication, Dataquest and thereafter had stints with the print editions of the Times of India, Business Standard and The Economic Times.

    His move to digital happened after ET, when he became the first Editor of Times Interactive in 1999, before he moved on as an entrepreneur.

    Kalra is an avid sportsperson, a trained high-altitude mountaineer, a marathoner and a mountain biker who has ridden twice from Manali to Leh. He has been the member of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Olympic Task Force and the All India Council of Sports. He is also a non-motorised transport evangelist and is a founder Trustee of the ‘Raahgiri’ Foundation.

    Abhinav Khare, Chief Executive Officer said, “I am very happy that Mr Kalra is joining this team. He will add significant leadership capability to our company and the entire team, and I am excited to be working with him and growing our company even faster.”

    About Asianet Media and Entertainment

    AMEL is a Bengaluru headquartered media technology company that has high growth innovative Digital and Broadcast platforms and brands that deliver content to millions of users nationwide and in multiple languages.

  • Zee Telugu to launch a Health and Wellness show ‘Andaraki Aarogyam’

    Zee Telugu to launch a Health and Wellness show ‘Andaraki Aarogyam’

    MUMBAI: The current global situation has highlighted the importance of building immunity and having a fitness routine to be healthy. One thing that the lockdown restrictions have brought to light is that you don’t necessarily need to go to a gym to stay fit. A little motivation and creativity are all you need to stay fit during these times. Keeping this in mind, Zee Telugu is bringing Andaraki Aarogyam to encourage people of the Telugu states to be proactive about their well-being. The new show will air from 7 September at 8:30 am only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    This one of a kind show will let viewers get an exclusive peek into fitness routines, Yoga, beauty secrets, healthy habits and organic food recipes.  Manthena Satyanarayana Raju, a renowned naturopathy specialist is back on television to host the show and reveal all the details about healthy food and lifestyle. The show will give viewers an insider’s view on how and why a special diet is important and what they will need to do to keep their mind and body balanced and fit. Dr. Raju will be busting out some popular myths and clarifying several doubts of those who seek ways to stay healthy. The cherry on the cake is former mss India Earth and yoga practitioner Tejaswini Manogna will be featuring every Sunday and the audience will get a chance to learn how yoga is helpful amidst this pandemic.

    Tune in to Andaraki Aarogyam from Monday – Sunday, at 8:30 am only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD to know all the secrets to lead a healthy life.

    As we welcome the new normal and further our entertainment proposition, we urge the audience to stay safe and continue enjoying their favorite shows at the comfort of their homes.To enjoy the show, subscribe to Zee Telugu, available in the Zee Prime Pack at Rs 20 per month

  • Zee Telugu presents world television premiere of Donga on 30 August

    Zee Telugu presents world television premiere of Donga on 30 August

    MUMBAI: Zee Telugu is all set to deliver a suspenseful experience with the world television premiere of Donga. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, this blockbuster family entertainer revolves around the journey of a family that finds itself in an unusual situation because of an identity theft. This thriller has a delightful mix of comedy, drama, emotions and chaos in the spectacular star cast featuring Jyothika, Karthi, Satyaraj, Sowkar Janaki and Amala Paul among others. Get ready to witness the exciting affair Sunday 30  August at 5 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    It’s been 15 years, Parvathy (Jyothika) hopes her run-away younger brother Saravanan would return home. Her family (Satyaraj, Seetha, Sowkar Janaki) too hope this miracle comes true someday. But fate has other plans. Vicky (Karthi), a trickster and tourist guide in Goa, is brought back home, claimed to be the long-lost son. The others soon begin accepting him without knowing his real identity. Saravanan’s lover Sanjana (Nikhila Vimal) gets excited about his return, but someone hatches a plan to assassinate Vicky.

    Who tries to finish Vicky off? What if the real Saravanan comes home? The film poses a lot of questions and the mystery unfolds one by one through engaging sequences.

    Witness this enigma being unfolded in the World Television Premiere of Donga on 30  August at 5 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD!

    As we welcome the new normal and further our entertainment proposition, we urge the audience to stay safe and continue enjoying their favorite shows at the comfort of their homes.

    To enjoy the show, subscribe to Zee Telugu, available in the Zee Prime Pack at Rs 20 per month

  • Move away Bollywood, regional cinema is now raking in the moolah

    Move away Bollywood, regional cinema is now raking in the moolah

    MUMBAI: For years, regional cinema has been given secondary treatment as compared to the show and pomp of the burgeoning world of Hindi cinema , be it in the sheer number of movies produced every year or just the level of exposure. But there seems to have been a tectonic shift in the paradigm – given the number of regional films hitting the market over the last few years and creating box office waves. Sairat and Bahubali were movies that paved the way and proved the mighty power of the local language.

    Yoodlee Films, one of the youngest production houses in the country, had sensed this shift a while ago and decided to leverage on this continuing trend from the very onset. Having produced some 15 movies in only two and a half years, the move to assign importance to local language movies was inevitable. According to Siddharth Anand Kumar, Vice President – Films & Events at Saregama India Ltd, for the production house,  regional cinema is going to be a focus area. “We are strongly looking at regional cinema as we are convinced that making cinema in local languages will help us reach a wider and different cross-section of the audience. While some of our regional language movies – namely Tamil and Marathi are already in the works, we are looking at many other local languages to tell stories in.

    Yoodlee Films’ released two films previously in the South market :  the critically acclaimed Tamil film KD and the Tamil-Malayalam bilingual Abhiyuum Anuvum. Three more, namely Habbadi and Zombivali in Marathi and Super Senior Heroes in Tamil are in the making. Zombivali has already garnered much interest when it releases its first look a few weeks back,  given that it will be the first Marathi horror comedy featuring zombies. The movie is directed by  Aditya Sarpotdar, and has a power-packed cast of Amey Wagh, Lalit Prabhakar, and Vaidehi Parshurami.

    Siddharth adds that regional cinema has might have stories rooted in a particular milieu but they are powerful narratives which cut across language divide. “Regional cinema is also seeing big names investing in it and there is  sense of innate pride in putting forth a project of one’s language and culture in the mainstream. Viewers are no longer seen through a sieve of language anymore. All they want is an unique story – one which works at a human level and that they can relate to” he added.

    The shooting for Zombivali is currently continuing in Latur, Maharashtra and Super Senior Heroes and Habaddi is in various stages of post production.