Movie Channels

Zee Cinema too has Big B up its sleeve

Published

21 years ago

August 31, 2005

MUMBAI: The Big B has turned out to be the golden goose of Indian television and how? No, we are not talking about his comeback with KBC2. The industry buzz is that, the market for Amitabh movies has improved tremendously in the last six months and one channel which has capitalised really well on the trend is the lead Hindi movie channel Zee Cinema.

The Shanivar Ki Raat – Amitabh Ke Saath series, which the channel launched last December, has proved a real winner. The Saturday 8:30 pm slot – which features blockbuster Amitabh movies – has been delivering consistently for Zee Cinema.

Buoyed by the response, Zee Cinema has now spruced up the property with more Amitabh movie acquisitions. So from tomorrow (6 August), we will have the Shanivar Ki Raat – Amitabh Ke Saath series being re-launched with a punchline: His Golden Years. The opening movie is going to be his 1985 hit Mard.

“By this we plan to cover the entire span of the legend’s body of work which in effect can be termed golden in the annals of the Hindi film industry. This golden years series would be a good mixture of recently acquired movies and movies that have been telecast and appreciated,” says Zee Cinema programming head Mohan Gopinath.

With the Big B now at the pinnacle of success, it has had its impact in television’s film acquisition market as well. “There has been an impact in the market. All the broadcasters have been retaining their Amitabh library. That way, there is a scarcity of Amitabh movies in the market which has affected the prices to an extent,” says an industry source.

Strategy-wise, the movie channel is fielding a much younger Amitabh Bachchan to counter KBC 2 anchored by the worldly wise and mellowed down icon that he is today. But Zee Cinema business head Bharat Ranga refuses to acknowledge the move as a calculated strategy, saying Shanivar Ki Raat… is part of an overall spruce up plan on the channel.

“See, you can’t really say we have launched a new property to counter KBC 2. Because, Shaniwar ki Raat… has already been there. What we are doing now is culminating this successful series with a fresh new set of movies. However it is a great pleasure to see a young and vibrant Amitabh taking on his gentler version and that is going to be a real feast for Indian television viewers,” he says.

“In a way, KBC 2 is plotting itself on that slot. As regards countering, we respect their programming strategy and are happy doing our job to the best of our ability. It is only incidental that an Amitabh hosted show is pitted against Amitabh’s movies,” points out Gopinath.

According to Gopinath, more than a ratings generation exercise with intentions of checking the competition and retaining the viewership, His Golden Years has conceptualised as an innovation to delight the channel’s loyal viewers. “Ratings can be garnered out of simple, intelligent back to back scheduling of films. However we believe that now is the time to pay back our viewers both active and passive,” he says.

For Friday and Sunday, Zee Cinema has its bi-weekly series Bollywood Blockbuster and the one-break movie band Rok Sako Toh Rok Lo respectively to counter KBC. But unlike Shaniwaar ki Raat.., the channel has no plans to enhance these two properties in the wake of competition. “These two properties are well-settled. So they can stand on their own,” says Ranga of the strategy.

Zee Cinema has attempted to create hype around His Golden Years by launching promotional initiatives: Superfan (a reality concept to gauge the extent of a fan’s passion and fanaticism towards his idol) and Bol Bacchan (a nugget of Big B’s best known dialogue and scenes). Other than these initiatives, an extensive outdoor campaign is currently on.

Movie Channels

Laughs meet chills as ‘Jhamkudi’ hits TV screens

Published

4 months ago

November 13, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Get ready for a hauntingly good time as Jhamkudi, the Gujarati blockbuster that cast a spell on cinema-goers, makes its world television premiere on Shemaroo Josh this 14 November at 7 PM.

Directed by Umang Vyas, the film takes viewers to the eerie village of Raniwada, where Navratri celebrations are overshadowed by the curse of a vengeful witch. Enter Bablo, a quirky real estate agent, and Kumud, a royal heir, whose fates collide in a hilarious and spooky chain of events that’s equal parts chaos and charm.

The film stars national award-winning actress Manasi Parekh, who shines once again with her trademark depth and grace, alongside Viraj Ghelani, the digital sensation whose comic timing is as sharp as ever. The stellar ensemble also includes Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia, Jayesh More, Krunal Pandit, Chetan Daiya, and Bhavini Jani.

Blending goosebumps with giggles, Jhamkudi proves that even horror can have heart. With its sharp writing, witty dialogues, and a dash of desi masala, the film promises an evening of family fun that’s both thrilling and thoroughly entertaining.

So mark your calendars, grab some popcorn, and tune in to Shemaroo Josh on 14 November at 7 PM for the perfect mix of fright and delight, because this witch tale is all about wicked fun!

Movie Channels

Zee reels in record highs with a blockbuster show of movie magic

Published

4 months ago

November 5, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: In a cinematic twist worthy of its own premiere, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has pulled off a blockbuster of its own recording a three-year high share of 28.7 per cent in the Hindi movie cluster in Q2FY26. Proving that great storytelling never goes out of style, the content and technology powerhouse has reaffirmed its dominance in India’s ever-competitive movie broadcast landscape.

Leading the charge is Zee Cinema, which reclaimed its position as the No. 1 Hindi movie channel (15 plus HSM Urban) this quarter. Its line-up of premieres from the rural rumbler Jaat to the slick actioner Game Changer pulled in massive audiences. But it was Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 that truly stole the show, delivering the highest-rated movie premiere of FY26 so far. The last film to achieve a similar feat? Gadar 2, also a Zee Cinema triumph from November 2023.

Meanwhile, Zee’s Free-to-Air dynamos Anmol Cinema and Zee Action flexed their reach muscle, becoming the most-watched channels across all languages and genres. Each channel drew in more than 116 million viewers, proving that free TV still holds unbeatable sway in Indian households.

The story doesn’t end in Hindi. Zee’s regional clusters continue to script their own success stories. In Marathi, Zee Talkies, Zee Yuva, and Zee Chitramandir maintained their near-50 per cent market share, with the world television premiere of Phullwanti delivering the highest ratings of the quarter. Down south, Zee Thirai (Tamil) and Zee Cinemalu (Telugu) kept their leadership intact, while Zee Biskope in the Bhojpuri belt ranked among the top three in its market, a cinematic sweep across regions.

“The growth of our movies cluster across languages is a strong reflection of our content strategy focusing on new super-hit premieres, classic titles from our library and data-driven curation,” said a company spokesperson. “The genre’s unmatched reach and strong resonance amongst male viewers and the youth also enable it to deliver scale and strategic value to advertisers across markets.”

And those advertisers are clearly tuning in. The genre’s steady viewership and distinct audience base make Hindi movie channels a mainstay in media mixes for India’s top ten advertisers. In September 2025 alone, Zee’s 22 movie channels across six languages reached over 550 million viewers, a testament to the scale and staying power of its cinematic empire.

From Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Karan Arjun to RRR and Bobby, Zee’s vast film library continues to bridge nostalgia and novelty. Some titles have reached iconic status Hum Aapke Hain Koun, for instance, has been watched by a staggering 250 million people over the past five years, roughly equal to the population of the world’s fifth most populous country.

As Zee continues to blend data with drama and strategy with storytelling, it’s clear the brand isn’t just broadcasting films, it’s curating a cultural phenomenon. For millions of viewers across India, the show must go on and with Zee, it most certainly will

Movie Channels

Lights, camera, boo! &pictures turns full on spooky

Published

4 months ago

October 31, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Trick or treat, but make it filmi! This Halloween, &pictures is turning up the spook-o-meter with ‘Full On Halloween’, a fun-horror movie marathon airing all day on 31 October 2025. Promising goosebumps, giggles and ghostly surprises, the channel is set to deliver a perfect mix of fright and fun.

From eerie small-town tales to supernatural showdowns, the line-up packs in something for everyone. The chills kick off at 8:45 am with Kakuda, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh, followed by the mischievous The Bhootni at 3:15 pm, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Palak Tiwari and Mouni Roy. At 5:30 pm, Phone Bhoot dials up laughs and scares with Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi, before the visually rich folklore fantasy Tumbbad closes the night at 10:40 pm.

Adding to the fun are K3 Kaali Ka Karishma, Om Bheem Bush, and Bhaagmathi, keeping the thrills fresh and spooky spirits high. With a blend of humour, horror, and high-energy storytelling, Full On Halloween promises a day where jump scares meet joyrides.

So this 31 October, grab your popcorn and your courage, because Halloween on &pictures isn’t just on… it’s Full On!