ITV

Category: Thriller

  • Life is more imaginative than fiction in a story like POW, says writer-director Gideon Raff

    Life is more imaginative than fiction in a story like POW, says writer-director Gideon Raff

    MUMBAI: Sometimes, coming back home after 17 years is not always a happy ending. “Prisoners of War” is the story of three Israeli soldiers, who were held captive for that many years following their kidnapping while on a secret mission with their unit.

    The man behind penning down a beautiful story full of emotions, Israeli film and television director, screenwriter and producer Gideon Raff was in India to visit the sets of “POW- Bandi Yuddh Ke” which is the Indian adaptation of its Israeli version “Hatufim”. It was also made into ‘Homeland’,a runaway global hit, courtesy US cable network Showtime.

    “POW- Bandi Yuddh Ke” will be aired from 7 November at 10.30pm on Star Plus.

    “I love the set of POW, it is very much similar to the Israeli version, Nikkhil Advani has done a great job,” says Raff in an interview with indiantelevision.com.  Talking about the Indian adaptation, Raff informs that he met the entire cast of the show and loved the way Nikkhil has directed the story.

    Commenting on the production cost of the original “Hatufim” (US$ 200,000), Raff says, “ It doesn’t matter how expensive the show is. Nothing can be better if connects with the audience because something is real about it.” Raff has not seen any Indian series so far, but he is eagerly waiting for the Indian version and, with “POW- Bandi Yuddh Ke”, he looks forward to watch more Indian content.

    Excerpts:

    How did you come up with the idea of “Prisoners of War”?

    Israel is a very small country, and we all go to the army for the sake of training. The real stories of prisoners of war being brought back home always fascinated me. We learned that the government pays a high price to bring them back but we don’t hear about them once they are back. I started researching about the reasons.

    When they came back, they go through a very tough journey and many of them have symptoms of Post Commencement Stress Disorder (PCSD), many of them can’t get a job, and many of them get divorced. There is a high percentage of emotional and physical diseases among the PoWs. I found that it’s worth telling the story of people coming back, and that coming back is the first episode and not the last one.

    I researched and met many prisoners of war and spoke to their kids, sisters, wives, parents and doctors, and found that it’s a story that has to be told.  I realized that there is a world of drama there that hasn’t been tapped into. And, it is a fact when they come back, it’s not a happy ending.

    Israel is known for its air force and military. Everybody needs to serve in the forces for a fixed period. Has this created a general demand for stories that speak of the lives of soldiers?

    When I started my show, I thought it’s a story of soldiers, but it’s not. It’s a story of the people of Israel, and now it’s a story of Indians. It’s not a military show in that sense.

    public://POW.jpg

    You were also drafted into the Israeli army. Please share your experience while you were there. Do your experiences reflect in the story?

    Yes, it does. I can pinpoint what are my experiences. But, the fact is that I am an Israeli, the fact is that I was in army for three years all of that is a part of my story-telling. Also, the part that I am vegan is a part of storytelling and I am gay is a part too. But, there are significant lessons from the years in the army — definitely.

    How do you think the story will be received in India? Are you happy with the little changes that have been made in the storyline and setting?

    I think Star (Star Plus) is very brave to take a story like this and Nikhil (Nikhil Advani ) is very brave in the way he told the story. You can only do the best as an artiste, and then it’s in the hands of the audience. I think and hope that whatever happened in the Israeli version as they recognized the reality and truth about human conditions and really wanted to see more. I hope the same happens in India as well. I support the changes that have been made.

    How different was it to collaborate with the Indian broadcaster as compared to the US?

    I was more hands-on in the US version, and in the Indian version, I am more of a fan and spectator. They kept me in the loop and told me stuff, they loved to hear my ideas.

    How are shows such as Hatufim adapted for different territories? Which was an easier adaptation?

    The Indian version is an adaptation of “Prisoners of War”, and is very close to the Israeli version in terms of storyline, plot, emotions and the journey that characters go through. In the American version, we took the interrogation, the investigation part into the heart of the show because that was a bit easy for Americans to digest.

    Why is it important to have a real-life stories such as those of prisoners and then create fiction around it? Couldn’t there be pure work of fiction?

    Life is more imaginative than fiction in a story like POW and people have lived this. Hence, there is a responsibility to tell a story which is incredible. It is based on real life and real facts, and then fictionalised and pushed to make little bit dramatic.

     

  • Life is more imaginative than fiction in a story like POW, says writer-director Gideon Raff

    Life is more imaginative than fiction in a story like POW, says writer-director Gideon Raff

    MUMBAI: Sometimes, coming back home after 17 years is not always a happy ending. “Prisoners of War” is the story of three Israeli soldiers, who were held captive for that many years following their kidnapping while on a secret mission with their unit.

    The man behind penning down a beautiful story full of emotions, Israeli film and television director, screenwriter and producer Gideon Raff was in India to visit the sets of “POW- Bandi Yuddh Ke” which is the Indian adaptation of its Israeli version “Hatufim”. It was also made into ‘Homeland’,a runaway global hit, courtesy US cable network Showtime.

    “POW- Bandi Yuddh Ke” will be aired from 7 November at 10.30pm on Star Plus.

    “I love the set of POW, it is very much similar to the Israeli version, Nikkhil Advani has done a great job,” says Raff in an interview with indiantelevision.com.  Talking about the Indian adaptation, Raff informs that he met the entire cast of the show and loved the way Nikkhil has directed the story.

    Commenting on the production cost of the original “Hatufim” (US$ 200,000), Raff says, “ It doesn’t matter how expensive the show is. Nothing can be better if connects with the audience because something is real about it.” Raff has not seen any Indian series so far, but he is eagerly waiting for the Indian version and, with “POW- Bandi Yuddh Ke”, he looks forward to watch more Indian content.

    Excerpts:

    How did you come up with the idea of “Prisoners of War”?

    Israel is a very small country, and we all go to the army for the sake of training. The real stories of prisoners of war being brought back home always fascinated me. We learned that the government pays a high price to bring them back but we don’t hear about them once they are back. I started researching about the reasons.

    When they came back, they go through a very tough journey and many of them have symptoms of Post Commencement Stress Disorder (PCSD), many of them can’t get a job, and many of them get divorced. There is a high percentage of emotional and physical diseases among the PoWs. I found that it’s worth telling the story of people coming back, and that coming back is the first episode and not the last one.

    I researched and met many prisoners of war and spoke to their kids, sisters, wives, parents and doctors, and found that it’s a story that has to be told.  I realized that there is a world of drama there that hasn’t been tapped into. And, it is a fact when they come back, it’s not a happy ending.

    Israel is known for its air force and military. Everybody needs to serve in the forces for a fixed period. Has this created a general demand for stories that speak of the lives of soldiers?

    When I started my show, I thought it’s a story of soldiers, but it’s not. It’s a story of the people of Israel, and now it’s a story of Indians. It’s not a military show in that sense.

    public://POW.jpg

    You were also drafted into the Israeli army. Please share your experience while you were there. Do your experiences reflect in the story?

    Yes, it does. I can pinpoint what are my experiences. But, the fact is that I am an Israeli, the fact is that I was in army for three years all of that is a part of my story-telling. Also, the part that I am vegan is a part of storytelling and I am gay is a part too. But, there are significant lessons from the years in the army — definitely.

    How do you think the story will be received in India? Are you happy with the little changes that have been made in the storyline and setting?

    I think Star (Star Plus) is very brave to take a story like this and Nikhil (Nikhil Advani ) is very brave in the way he told the story. You can only do the best as an artiste, and then it’s in the hands of the audience. I think and hope that whatever happened in the Israeli version as they recognized the reality and truth about human conditions and really wanted to see more. I hope the same happens in India as well. I support the changes that have been made.

    How different was it to collaborate with the Indian broadcaster as compared to the US?

    I was more hands-on in the US version, and in the Indian version, I am more of a fan and spectator. They kept me in the loop and told me stuff, they loved to hear my ideas.

    How are shows such as Hatufim adapted for different territories? Which was an easier adaptation?

    The Indian version is an adaptation of “Prisoners of War”, and is very close to the Israeli version in terms of storyline, plot, emotions and the journey that characters go through. In the American version, we took the interrogation, the investigation part into the heart of the show because that was a bit easy for Americans to digest.

    Why is it important to have a real-life stories such as those of prisoners and then create fiction around it? Couldn’t there be pure work of fiction?

    Life is more imaginative than fiction in a story like POW and people have lived this. Hence, there is a responsibility to tell a story which is incredible. It is based on real life and real facts, and then fictionalised and pushed to make little bit dramatic.

     

  • Star India’s Gaurav Banerjee’s take on ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’

    Star India’s Gaurav Banerjee’s take on ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’

    MUMBAI: It has been labeled as the pioneer of saas bahu sagas. But, the leadership trio — Uday Shankar-Sanjay Gupta-Gaurav Banerjee — at the Twenty First Century Corp-owned Hindi GEC Star Plus — has over the past few years been working at breaking down this myth. The mantra has been create differentiated content with the help of real, relevant Indian stories and series. And, Star Plus’ latest effort, the Nikhil Advani-directed Israeli-show Hatufim Khatufim adaptation, P.O.W.- Yudh Ke Bandhi, is once again a reflection of that philosophy.

    ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’ is very Indian though it is adapted from leading Israeli format licensing house Keshet International’s successful 2010 series; it was also made into the runaway global hit ‘Homeland’, courtesy US cable network Showtime.

    The Indian version works as a large-scale high-octane family drama with a thriller backdrop. The story takes us through the journey of the lives of the two couples Harleen–Sartaj, Nazneen-Imaan and the aftermath of the return of the war heroes after 17 years, over 126 episodes.

    Two Indian PoWs Sartaj and Imaan — declared missing in action (MIA) after the Kargil war ends in 1999 — are rescued from the Indo-Pakistan border after escaping from captivity. They work to overcome the trauma of torture and captivity while settling back into their interrupted family lives.

    An ensemble cast of discerning actors like Purab Kohli, Sandhya Mridul, Amrita Puri, Satyadeep Mishra and Manish Chaudhari have teamed up for the project with Nikkhil Advani. While Purab plays a naib subedar in the Indian army, Mishra will be seen as an air force officer. And, the editor from the channel’s side is Saugata Mukherjee.

    Banerjee and his team chose the Israeli version created by Gideon Raff, which focuses on the emotional upheaval that the two soldiers and families face on their being locked away for 17 years and on their return to their homeland. The US adaptation worked more in the space of a thriller, and questioned whether the protagonist is a terrorist or not.

    Nikkhil Advani, whose company Emmay Entertainment is producing ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’, has been quoted in the media as saying: “I realised the real prisoners of war are the soldiers’ wives and families. The wives haven’t been able to move on with their lives…they have this sense of guilt that’s holding them back. They think, ‘What if he comes back?’…The story has a lot of emotions. Homeland is a little cold for Indians. Indians inherently love emotion.”

    Indiantelevision.com had an interaction with Star India deputy chief creative officer Gaurav Banerjee yesterday and he had his own take on the show. Said he: “P.O.W is a deeply emotional story. But, we have thriller dimensions as well. I think for us the difference is that this an Asian story but it was set up in Israel. We found a very strong Indian context in it and also the story in itself is very different. It’s s an art — a challenging art — writing a fresh story and adapting a great story in the current context and in an Indian milieu. We have worked hard on the story over two years.”

    Banerjee admitted that a decision on the time slot and exact launch date for the show has yet to be taken. But, sources expect the airdate to be late October, late prime and that it will run from Monday to Saturday.

    ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’ has been under development for two years. And, both Advani and the channel consulted army experts to help maintain accuracy in the writing and while shooting. Filming started earlier this year in locales in Punjab and Mumbai. In all, 36 episodes of the show have been canned. “We have used a proper balance of real-life locations, special effects and VFX,” said Banerjee.

    The channel has roped in two brands Tiago and Patanjali Kesh Kanti as co- powered by sponsors. One can expect some amount of brand integration of the two in the show as is the practice on television these days.

    Highlighted Banerjee: “It’s a big Diwali launch for us and you can expect us to be little ambitious about this. Since, it’s a finite series, we started with the trailer. It will be followed by more glimpses of the characters as we go along. The music has played a very good role in grafting the story and that is important as we set up the marketing of the show. Also we want all kinds of media to be a part of it but moreover we believe in the story.”

    Banerjee is hopeful that Indian viewers will celebrate P.O.W with Star Plus. He stated: “Star Plus is known for great stories. One of the big things for us is to be the platform where viewers gets the best stories, concepts and content. Sixteen years ago, we started with ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, which was the first format we adapted from the US and, last year, we did the show ‘Sumit Sambhal Lega’ which was also an adaptation of the big Hollywood iconic show Everybody Loves Raymond. We always want to be the platform for India’s best stories. Therefore, our goal is to bring original stories and also some great stories from the world to the larger Indian audience.”

    Says a media observer: “What could work in Star Plus’ favour is the timing of ‘P.O.W –Yudh Ke Bandhe.’ Indo-Pak relations are at near boiling point following the massacre of Indian soldiers in Uri by Pakistan-backed terrorists, and the incidents and debate thereafter has captured the minds and hearts of Indians. Emotions are running high as most in India want a resolution of the decades-long conflict between the two nations. The story could well strike an emotional cord with Indians who want to see some action from India’s side.”

    Banerjee laughed off the insinuation that show was fortuitous in its timing. “You would like us to believe that,” he said.

    But, in his heart of hearts, he probably knows that the airdate for ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’ could not have been timed better, and Star Plus may well have cottoned on to a winner.

  • Star India’s Gaurav Banerjee’s take on ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’

    Star India’s Gaurav Banerjee’s take on ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’

    MUMBAI: It has been labeled as the pioneer of saas bahu sagas. But, the leadership trio — Uday Shankar-Sanjay Gupta-Gaurav Banerjee — at the Twenty First Century Corp-owned Hindi GEC Star Plus — has over the past few years been working at breaking down this myth. The mantra has been create differentiated content with the help of real, relevant Indian stories and series. And, Star Plus’ latest effort, the Nikhil Advani-directed Israeli-show Hatufim Khatufim adaptation, P.O.W.- Yudh Ke Bandhi, is once again a reflection of that philosophy.

    ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’ is very Indian though it is adapted from leading Israeli format licensing house Keshet International’s successful 2010 series; it was also made into the runaway global hit ‘Homeland’, courtesy US cable network Showtime.

    The Indian version works as a large-scale high-octane family drama with a thriller backdrop. The story takes us through the journey of the lives of the two couples Harleen–Sartaj, Nazneen-Imaan and the aftermath of the return of the war heroes after 17 years, over 126 episodes.

    Two Indian PoWs Sartaj and Imaan — declared missing in action (MIA) after the Kargil war ends in 1999 — are rescued from the Indo-Pakistan border after escaping from captivity. They work to overcome the trauma of torture and captivity while settling back into their interrupted family lives.

    An ensemble cast of discerning actors like Purab Kohli, Sandhya Mridul, Amrita Puri, Satyadeep Mishra and Manish Chaudhari have teamed up for the project with Nikkhil Advani. While Purab plays a naib subedar in the Indian army, Mishra will be seen as an air force officer. And, the editor from the channel’s side is Saugata Mukherjee.

    Banerjee and his team chose the Israeli version created by Gideon Raff, which focuses on the emotional upheaval that the two soldiers and families face on their being locked away for 17 years and on their return to their homeland. The US adaptation worked more in the space of a thriller, and questioned whether the protagonist is a terrorist or not.

    Nikkhil Advani, whose company Emmay Entertainment is producing ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’, has been quoted in the media as saying: “I realised the real prisoners of war are the soldiers’ wives and families. The wives haven’t been able to move on with their lives…they have this sense of guilt that’s holding them back. They think, ‘What if he comes back?’…The story has a lot of emotions. Homeland is a little cold for Indians. Indians inherently love emotion.”

    Indiantelevision.com had an interaction with Star India deputy chief creative officer Gaurav Banerjee yesterday and he had his own take on the show. Said he: “P.O.W is a deeply emotional story. But, we have thriller dimensions as well. I think for us the difference is that this an Asian story but it was set up in Israel. We found a very strong Indian context in it and also the story in itself is very different. It’s s an art — a challenging art — writing a fresh story and adapting a great story in the current context and in an Indian milieu. We have worked hard on the story over two years.”

    Banerjee admitted that a decision on the time slot and exact launch date for the show has yet to be taken. But, sources expect the airdate to be late October, late prime and that it will run from Monday to Saturday.

    ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’ has been under development for two years. And, both Advani and the channel consulted army experts to help maintain accuracy in the writing and while shooting. Filming started earlier this year in locales in Punjab and Mumbai. In all, 36 episodes of the show have been canned. “We have used a proper balance of real-life locations, special effects and VFX,” said Banerjee.

    The channel has roped in two brands Tiago and Patanjali Kesh Kanti as co- powered by sponsors. One can expect some amount of brand integration of the two in the show as is the practice on television these days.

    Highlighted Banerjee: “It’s a big Diwali launch for us and you can expect us to be little ambitious about this. Since, it’s a finite series, we started with the trailer. It will be followed by more glimpses of the characters as we go along. The music has played a very good role in grafting the story and that is important as we set up the marketing of the show. Also we want all kinds of media to be a part of it but moreover we believe in the story.”

    Banerjee is hopeful that Indian viewers will celebrate P.O.W with Star Plus. He stated: “Star Plus is known for great stories. One of the big things for us is to be the platform where viewers gets the best stories, concepts and content. Sixteen years ago, we started with ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, which was the first format we adapted from the US and, last year, we did the show ‘Sumit Sambhal Lega’ which was also an adaptation of the big Hollywood iconic show Everybody Loves Raymond. We always want to be the platform for India’s best stories. Therefore, our goal is to bring original stories and also some great stories from the world to the larger Indian audience.”

    Says a media observer: “What could work in Star Plus’ favour is the timing of ‘P.O.W –Yudh Ke Bandhe.’ Indo-Pak relations are at near boiling point following the massacre of Indian soldiers in Uri by Pakistan-backed terrorists, and the incidents and debate thereafter has captured the minds and hearts of Indians. Emotions are running high as most in India want a resolution of the decades-long conflict between the two nations. The story could well strike an emotional cord with Indians who want to see some action from India’s side.”

    Banerjee laughed off the insinuation that show was fortuitous in its timing. “You would like us to believe that,” he said.

    But, in his heart of hearts, he probably knows that the airdate for ‘P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke’ could not have been timed better, and Star Plus may well have cottoned on to a winner.

  • Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    MUMBAI: Featuring an intense and rugged looking Anil Kapoor as Jai Singh Rathod, Colors unveiled the first look of its much- anticipated espionage thriller 24 season 2 or 24s2. The first trailer revealed much about the upcoming season, leaving the audience awestruck.

    The trailer makes it evident that Jai Singh Rathod has isolated himself from the world to become a recluse in self-imposed exile. It shows that his dark past has made him a fugitive; while his daughter Kiran supports him, his son Veer, who has become a part of the intelligence bureau, does not. Season two will also show how drug-lord Haroon Sherchan threatens to release a contagious airborne virus which could eradicate humanity unless his brother Roshan is released from prison. Setting in motion a series of events, the one man- army Rathod returns to thwart every sabotage attempt and face political blackmail, while battling an unseen enemy with a personal vendetta at the same time.

    The Indian adaptation of the US series 24 has been co-produced by Anil Kapoor Film Co and Ramesh Deo Productions and directed by Abhinay Deo & Rensil D’Silva.

    Season 2 of 24 is to be a weekend show. Though the channel didn’t officially announce the date, it is believed that the show would launch on 16 July at 9pm on Saturday- Sunday.

    Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “24 Season 2 is a weekend show, while the time and date has not been decided as yet, it is most likely to be in July. Also deciding the time slot is more of challenge for us because we have so many shows on the channel and it’s difficult to decide which show 24s2 will replace. It is likely to be a 9pm show.”

    Nayak expressed, “The first edition of 24 was an unprecedented game- changer, it conquered the Indian television industry with its freshness and gripping narrative. The show pushed the traditional boundaries with the device of presenting the plot within a real time format. Anil Kapoor and the team have an incredible job as the second season looks even more riveting in terms of storytelling and very international in terms of look and feel. Every time when we make show on Colors our expectations are very high. We worked hard towards making the show and try making it big.”

    The show will see a robust multi-media promotional plan across key markets, including a 360 degree marketing campaign. “We are looking at this show as a film. We won’t leave out any medium be it radio, digital, outdoor, cinema, television or print. The weightage will differ, but visibility will be there across the channels,” informed Nayak.

    The show has also earned the support of the advertising community with Maruti Suzuki coming on-board as the presenting sponsor and Oppo Mobiles as the ‘powered by’ sponsor for the second season of the show. According to industry guestimates, Maruti Suzuki had agreed to invest close to Rs 23 crore for the title sponsorship.

    A source close to the development informed Indiantelevision.com, “The show’s ad rate is Rs 2.5 lakh per 10 second slot and the production cost of per episode is between Rs 1.5
    crore- to Rs 1.7 crore.” Tthe production cost per episode of the first season has been estimated around Rs 1.4 crore.

    Divulging details about season 2 of the show, actor and producer Anil Kapoor said, “The real star of 24 is the concept which will compel viewers to think about national sensibility and sentiment. We have devised a complex plot which when combined with Jai Singh Rathod’s volatile relationships, strong instincts and adrenaline- fuelled action, will be the perfect setting to foil a devastating terrorist plot. We are exploring different plotlines to enhance content relatability, shooting at multiple real locations outside Mumbai, and anteing up the production scale to enhance to overall television viewing experience.”

    Commenting on its association, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd executive director (Marketing and Sales) RS Kalsi said, “We always like to associate ourselves with the brands which are equally powerful, synergistic and reinforce our relevance. Talking about these three factors, 24 is a premium content based on international format following a global standard. S-Cross is a premium offering, which offers a unique combination of power and performance of a SUV and the comfort and refinement of a sedan. The target audience that 24 caters to and its genre allows us to draw synergies between the brands of S-Cross and 24.”

    Oppo MD of International Mobile Business and president of Oppo India Sky Li also added, “We are thrilled with this partnership with the popular show 24-the most awaited show this season on Colors. Oppo Mobiles has been a game-changer in the mobile devices industry through its innovation and leadership in selfie technology and camera performance and so is show 24 with its action packed drama amid twists and turns. Our alliance with the show enables us to draw synergies with the its target audience and cater to their needs while increasing market penetration and brand recall.”

  • Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    MUMBAI: Featuring an intense and rugged looking Anil Kapoor as Jai Singh Rathod, Colors unveiled the first look of its much- anticipated espionage thriller 24 season 2 or 24s2. The first trailer revealed much about the upcoming season, leaving the audience awestruck.

    The trailer makes it evident that Jai Singh Rathod has isolated himself from the world to become a recluse in self-imposed exile. It shows that his dark past has made him a fugitive; while his daughter Kiran supports him, his son Veer, who has become a part of the intelligence bureau, does not. Season two will also show how drug-lord Haroon Sherchan threatens to release a contagious airborne virus which could eradicate humanity unless his brother Roshan is released from prison. Setting in motion a series of events, the one man- army Rathod returns to thwart every sabotage attempt and face political blackmail, while battling an unseen enemy with a personal vendetta at the same time.

    The Indian adaptation of the US series 24 has been co-produced by Anil Kapoor Film Co and Ramesh Deo Productions and directed by Abhinay Deo & Rensil D’Silva.

    Season 2 of 24 is to be a weekend show. Though the channel didn’t officially announce the date, it is believed that the show would launch on 16 July at 9pm on Saturday- Sunday.

    Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “24 Season 2 is a weekend show, while the time and date has not been decided as yet, it is most likely to be in July. Also deciding the time slot is more of challenge for us because we have so many shows on the channel and it’s difficult to decide which show 24s2 will replace. It is likely to be a 9pm show.”

    Nayak expressed, “The first edition of 24 was an unprecedented game- changer, it conquered the Indian television industry with its freshness and gripping narrative. The show pushed the traditional boundaries with the device of presenting the plot within a real time format. Anil Kapoor and the team have an incredible job as the second season looks even more riveting in terms of storytelling and very international in terms of look and feel. Every time when we make show on Colors our expectations are very high. We worked hard towards making the show and try making it big.”

    The show will see a robust multi-media promotional plan across key markets, including a 360 degree marketing campaign. “We are looking at this show as a film. We won’t leave out any medium be it radio, digital, outdoor, cinema, television or print. The weightage will differ, but visibility will be there across the channels,” informed Nayak.

    The show has also earned the support of the advertising community with Maruti Suzuki coming on-board as the presenting sponsor and Oppo Mobiles as the ‘powered by’ sponsor for the second season of the show. According to industry guestimates, Maruti Suzuki had agreed to invest close to Rs 23 crore for the title sponsorship.

    A source close to the development informed Indiantelevision.com, “The show’s ad rate is Rs 2.5 lakh per 10 second slot and the production cost of per episode is between Rs 1.5
    crore- to Rs 1.7 crore.” Tthe production cost per episode of the first season has been estimated around Rs 1.4 crore.

    Divulging details about season 2 of the show, actor and producer Anil Kapoor said, “The real star of 24 is the concept which will compel viewers to think about national sensibility and sentiment. We have devised a complex plot which when combined with Jai Singh Rathod’s volatile relationships, strong instincts and adrenaline- fuelled action, will be the perfect setting to foil a devastating terrorist plot. We are exploring different plotlines to enhance content relatability, shooting at multiple real locations outside Mumbai, and anteing up the production scale to enhance to overall television viewing experience.”

    Commenting on its association, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd executive director (Marketing and Sales) RS Kalsi said, “We always like to associate ourselves with the brands which are equally powerful, synergistic and reinforce our relevance. Talking about these three factors, 24 is a premium content based on international format following a global standard. S-Cross is a premium offering, which offers a unique combination of power and performance of a SUV and the comfort and refinement of a sedan. The target audience that 24 caters to and its genre allows us to draw synergies between the brands of S-Cross and 24.”

    Oppo MD of International Mobile Business and president of Oppo India Sky Li also added, “We are thrilled with this partnership with the popular show 24-the most awaited show this season on Colors. Oppo Mobiles has been a game-changer in the mobile devices industry through its innovation and leadership in selfie technology and camera performance and so is show 24 with its action packed drama amid twists and turns. Our alliance with the show enables us to draw synergies with the its target audience and cater to their needs while increasing market penetration and brand recall.”

  • Experience horror like never before with Penny Dreadful

    Experience horror like never before with Penny Dreadful

    Mumbai: From the makers of Skyfall, Gladiator and American Beauty comes a television series that is all set to enthral audiences like never before. Real and mythic, victorian and gothic; the series draws upon classic characters from 19th-century British and Irish fiction along with monsters and other supernatural phenomena ‘Set in Victorian London, Penny Dreadful is surreal, genuinely uneasy and full of horror revolving around literature’s legendary characters from Frankenstein to the Dracula

    Bond Girl Eva Green, essays the central character of Vanessa Ives,- whose childhood best friend Mina Murray Harker, from the erstwhile classic – Dracula, goes missing Vanessa and Mina’s father, Sir Malcom Murray (played by, ex James Bond – Timothy Daltonteam up to rescue a kidnapped Mina in season one of this horror drama

    The narrative proceeds through the origins of various classic horror stories while ther characters make attempts to cope with their monstrous alienation. The series packed with dark mystery and suspense promises a mind rush to viewers. The edge-of-the-seat-entertainment also explores personal fears of the characters from their past, which prove to be stronger than vampires, evil spirits and immortal beasts.

    The show created and produced by Oscar nominee John Logan and Oscar winner Sam Mendes invites viewers to wintness some spine chilling horror across weeknights exclusively on AXN I LIVE R.E.D.

    Witness the hypnotic and mesmerizing series – Penny Dreadful started from 30th May, onwards Monday to Friday at 11P.M. only on AXN.
    LIVE DREADFUL, LIVE R.E.D.

  • Experience horror like never before with Penny Dreadful

    Experience horror like never before with Penny Dreadful

    Mumbai: From the makers of Skyfall, Gladiator and American Beauty comes a television series that is all set to enthral audiences like never before. Real and mythic, victorian and gothic; the series draws upon classic characters from 19th-century British and Irish fiction along with monsters and other supernatural phenomena ‘Set in Victorian London, Penny Dreadful is surreal, genuinely uneasy and full of horror revolving around literature’s legendary characters from Frankenstein to the Dracula

    Bond Girl Eva Green, essays the central character of Vanessa Ives,- whose childhood best friend Mina Murray Harker, from the erstwhile classic – Dracula, goes missing Vanessa and Mina’s father, Sir Malcom Murray (played by, ex James Bond – Timothy Daltonteam up to rescue a kidnapped Mina in season one of this horror drama

    The narrative proceeds through the origins of various classic horror stories while ther characters make attempts to cope with their monstrous alienation. The series packed with dark mystery and suspense promises a mind rush to viewers. The edge-of-the-seat-entertainment also explores personal fears of the characters from their past, which prove to be stronger than vampires, evil spirits and immortal beasts.

    The show created and produced by Oscar nominee John Logan and Oscar winner Sam Mendes invites viewers to wintness some spine chilling horror across weeknights exclusively on AXN I LIVE R.E.D.

    Witness the hypnotic and mesmerizing series – Penny Dreadful started from 30th May, onwards Monday to Friday at 11P.M. only on AXN.
    LIVE DREADFUL, LIVE R.E.D.

  • 24: Live Another Day debuts on AXN starting 9 May

    24: Live Another Day debuts on AXN starting 9 May

    MUMBAI: It was first reported in May last year that American broadcast network, Fox, was considering a 24 limited event television series based on a concept by EMMY Award winning writer, Howard Gordon. Not long after, Gordon had issued a statement saying, “Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, who has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can be rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back.” 

     

     Indeed, the much-loved lead protagonist of 24 will be back with 24: Live Another Day, scheduled to premiere on AXN on 9 May, within the same week as its US telecast.

     

     AXN India programming head Arpit Mankar, confirmed the development. Having aired all eight seasons of 24 as well as the television film, 24: Redemption in India, the channel had acquired the rights to broadcast 24: Live Another Day and anymore 24 series if produced early on this year.

     

    Coming to the limited series, it is set and shot in London and follows the exploits of agent Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), four years after the events of season 8, as he once again risks life and limb to thwart a global disaster.  

     

     Tracking the federal fugitive on the run are CIA head Steve Harris played by Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order); resourceful but ruthless CIA agent Kate Morgan played by Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, Dexter); smart and sophisticated CIA computer techie Jordan Reed played by Giles Matthey (Jobs); and sharp but arrogant field operative Erik Ritter played by Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Wire).

     

    Calling the shots is James Heller played by William Devane (The Dark Knight Rises), now president of the United States. Heller is flanked by his chief of staff, Mark Boudreau, played by Tate Donovan (Damages, Hostages), who is married to Heller’s daughter and Bauer’s former flame, Audrey, played by Kim Raver (Revolution).

     

     Meanwhile, Bauer’s confidante, Chloe O’Brian, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub (Firewall), is now working underground with high-profile hacker Adrian Cross played by Michael Wincott (The Crow). 

     

     The guest stars on 24: Live Another Day include Golden Globe Award winner Judy Davis (Life with Judy Garland), Golden Globe Award nominee Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland, Bones) and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones). Bauer has just a day to prevent an unthinkable terrorist attack that could change the world forever…

     

    What are AXN India’s expectations from the limited series? “We expect the show to get new viewers. There are two reasons for this: a) 24 now is a more recognised brand in India, thanks to the local version. b) We expect the younger generation of today to tune-in to the show since the 24 franchise launched way back in 2001 when they were too young to consume TV. We are targeting both the 24 loyalists who we believe are in the 25-44 yrs TG as well as the 15-24 yrs TG who would possibly be watching it for the first time. We expect both males and females to tune in. They will surely want to watch this cult show,” said Mankar.

     

    What about advertising? A 30-second advertisement spot for 24: Live Another Day sells for half a million US dollars in the US. So, “This credibility definitely helps from a sponsorship point of view as brands are assured of loyal viewership, in terms of both reach and time spent. Our sales team has had a very encouraging response from key categories and brands. AXN’s marketing campaign will be 360 degree covering TV, online, OOH and print,” shoots Mankar.

     

    Starting 31 March, Monday to Thursday at 9:00 pm, AXN India will air all episodes of season eight of 24 as a catch-up marathon before 24: Live Another Day makes its adrenaline-packed debut on 9 May.

  • AXN set to reign Saturdays with ‘Hannibal’ and ‘The Voice’

    AXN set to reign Saturdays with ‘Hannibal’ and ‘The Voice’

    MUMBAI: Its double trouble this March as AXN is back with its two most popular shows – The Voice and Hannibal. The much awaited fresh seasons of the series will be on-air making weekends more exciting and thrilling for AXN viewers.

    The highly anticipated second season of Hannibal will commence 1 March at 9:00 pm.  Based on characters and elements appearing in the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, Hannibal focuses on the budding relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a forensic psychiatrist destined to become Graham’s most cunning enemy.

    The episodes of the second season will all be named after a Japanese delicacy, with the season opener titled Kaiseki, which in Japanese refers to the art or skill in preparing a multi-course meal. In the season premiere, Will (Hugh Dancy) is determined to fight for his innocence as Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) and Jack (Laurence Fishburne) try to wrap their heads around the fact he’s behind bars. Meanwhile, Alana (Caroline Dhavernas) faces a strained relationship with Will while Kade Purnell (Cynthia Nixon) with the FBI pays him a visit.

    “The new season of Hannibal is for the evolved audiences. While in the first season, people compared it with the various movies like Silence of the Lambs, this season is more established since there is a lot more awareness about the show. Season two will grab a different set of audiences-a lot more intellectual and with a culinary bent. There are multiple twists, a lot more intensity and international cuisine to look out for,” says AXN Networks India business head Sunil Punjabi.

    AXN’s most watched singing reality show, The Voice, returns with Season 6 and promises to be more exciting and exhilarating for the fans as the multi-talented rapper Usher and Latina queen Shakira are back in the ‘oh so famous’ red swivel chairs. Alongside are two-time winning and reigning champ Adam Levine, and three-time winning coach Blake Shelton.