GECs

COLORS brings back television’s most popular, Naagin

Published

6 years ago

December 11, 2019

MUMBAI: The much awaited Naagin is back! She is back to seek vengeance, to deceive you with her beauty, to either love you or fight you for what she’s lost. Owing to its massive popularity and consecutive successful seasons, COLORS biggest fiction franchise ‘Naagin’ is here with another captivating season titled Naagin-Bhagya ka zehreela khel. This season’s story revolves around Brinda and Nayantara whose lives are intertwined due to their scarred past and that has a bearing on their future. This highly mythical offering will witness a new ensemble star cast of entertainment’s most popular faces like Nia Sharma, Jasmine Bhasin, Vijayendra Kumeria, Sayantani Ghosh among others. Produced by Balaji Telefilms, Presented by Odonil Zipper and powered by Boroplus Doodh kesar body lotion, Naagin Bhagya ka zehreela khel will premiere on Saturday, 14th December 2019 and will air every weekend at 8:00pm only on COLORS.

The fictional fantasy is based on Indian folklore which entails family drama, revenge, romance, and suspense with inconceivable twists. Love is the strongest emotion and it has a significant place in a Naagin’s life. An imperative part of our folklore has been the belief that if Naagin’s love is snatched away from her, she neither forgives nor forgets and surely returns with a vengeance. Synergising mythological ancient beliefs and the modern-day fantasy series, Naagin- Bhagya ka zehreela khel will enchant viewers with a mysterious story that revolves around two women Brinda and Nayantara, their past which deeply affects their future and fate that brings them on crossroads. While, Nayantara is filled with rage and waiting to seek revenge from everyone who hurt her parents, Brinda is a simple, genuine and kind girl who loves her family. As the story progresses, the audiences will ponder as to how a heartbroken Nayantara, daughter of a Naagin filled with rage, will seek her mother’s revenge. Will she spare anyone who comes her way? Will she be able to seek her revenge and how will Brinda become a part of her vendetta?

Speaking about the launch Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV network Viacom18, said, “At COLORS, we are extremely delighted to have a franchise that has been consistent in all forms be it the popularity, captivating storyline or endearing characters. We have a gamut of shows across genres especially on weekends that have had a series of successful seasons and have connected so strongly with the audience. As far as Naagin is concerned, it is undoubtedly the most successful fantasy fiction property on television. Slotted at 8:00 pm, the show will be back to enthrall viewers and strengthen our weekend prime time viewing. A success story, this season too promises to be edgy and action-packed. Further she added, “We are extremely happy to partner with Odonil Zipper and Boroplus Doodh kesar body lotion as our sponsors for this season.”

Commenting on the concept of the show, Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18 said, “It’s always a proud moment to bring back a refreshing season of one of the most watched supernatural shows in India. For the upcoming season of Naagin, we have worked on some key aspect likes tweaking its pace, storytelling, casting and the graphics, making it more engaging than ever. Indian viewers continue to enjoy folklore as a genre, and with Naagin we present an unsettling story fueled with thrill. It will be interesting to watch how Nayantara is filled with rage and waiting to spew venom on everyone who hurt her parents while Brinda who is innocent and unaware is tagged along Nayantara’s venomous journey.”

Elaborating further, Producer Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms said, “Over the years, COLORS and Balaji have successfully created a strong line-up of fiction shows, Naagin being the most popular one. The show has become a brand in itself and we hope to continue receiving the same kind of love and support from our viewers. The season presents a compelling journey of Brinda and Nayantara and how their paths cross. Adding to the experience, the storyline will be backed by never seen before visual effects and graphics to allure the audience. I am delighted to have Nia Sharma (Brinda), Jasmin Bhasin (Nayantara) and Vijayendra Kumeria playing a pivotal role in the show.”

Nia Sharma essaying the character of Brinda commented: “For the first time I am trying my hands in fantasy fiction that has become a very strong brand. Naagin demands commitment, versatility and I am so grateful to COLORS and Ekta Ma’am for trusting in me. I am playing the role of Brinda, simple and soft spoken in nature who avoids fights even when people are harsh towards her. She loves the family she works and is very submissive towards them.”

Jasmin Bhasin portraying the character of Nayantara said, “Ichachadari Naagin is a proven concept and the show has received a lot of love since its inception. I essay the role of Nayantara, who is bold yet broken and wants to avenge her father’s death. She is fearless and extremely ambitious when it comes to attaining her goal. With revenge on her mind she believes in her fight and can go to any extent for retribution.”

Vijayendra Kumeria essaying the character of Dev Prakash commented, “This genre is a completely new territory for me, and I am more than excited to be a part of the Naagin legacy. My character of Dev Prakash has an extravagant lifestyle but hates to show-off and respects people around him unlike his affluent cousins. An absolute gentleman, caring and loving he is absolutely against superstitions and doesn’t believe in its power either. Many twists will unfold as the story progresses and I’m thrilled to be part of a show that is already loved.”

With the pitch-perfect cast of Jasmin Bhasin, Nia Sharma, Vijayendra Kumeria and Sayantani Ghosh in the lead roles, the show also has Shaleen Bhanot, Supriya Shukla, Geetanjali Tikekar and Rakhi Vijan who will be seen playing key roles. Presented by Odonil Zipper and powered by Boroplus Doodh kesar body lotion, Naagin-Bhagya ka zehreela khel, promises to give viewers the best visual experience with a gripping storyline.

Inspired by the famous memory game, COLORS has introduced, ‘Bhagya ka khel’, where images of all actors across seasons will be used. Users are supposed to open one card and match the same with actors who have been a part of the same season. This should be done in a stipulated time frame. On matching the cards, either BTS videos or bytes of the cast will be played for the users. The game will be hosted on https://www.colorstv.com/in/ and can be played more than once.

GECs

Sun TV posts steady revenue, profit dips amid rising costs

Published

2 weeks ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CHENNAI: It appears there is still plenty of Sun to go around in the Indian broadcasting landscape, even if a few clouds have drifted across the financial horizon. Sun TV Network Limited, the Chennai-based behemoth that dominates airwaves across seven languages, has tuned into a steady frequency for the quarter ending 31 December 2025. While the numbers show a resilient revenue stream, the company’s latest broadcast reveals a few static-filled spots in its profit margins.

For the quarter in question, Sun TV’s total income climbed by approximately 3.31 per cent, reaching Rs 958.39 crores compared to Rs 927.66 crores in the same period last year. Revenue from operations also saw a healthy bump, rising 4.32 per cent to Rs 827.87 crores.

The real star of the show, however, was domestic subscription revenue, which surged by 8.86 per cent to Rs 472.99 crores. This growth highlights the enduring appetite for Sun’s diverse content, which spans everything from daily soaps in Tamil and Telugu to its burgeoning OTT platform, Sun NXT.

Despite the revenue growth, the picture quality of the profits was slightly blurred by rising costs. Eitda for the quarter stood at Rs 409.79 crores, a dip from the Rs 432.14 crores recorded in the corresponding 2024 quarter.

The profit after tax followed a similar downward trend, settling at Rs 316.44 crores against the previous year’s Rs 347.17 crores. Advertisers also seemed to have switched channels slightly, with advertisement revenues sliding to Rs 291.94 crores from Rs 332.17 crores.

Sun TV isn’t just playing on home turf; its sporting ambitions are becoming increasingly global. The network now owns three major cricket franchises: SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL, SunRisers Eastern Cape in SA20, and SunRisers Leeds Limited in The Hundred (UK).

The foray into British cricket saw the company acquire a 100 per cent stake in Northern Superchargers Limited (now SunRisers Leeds) for approximately £100 million. While these franchises brought in Rs 14.61 crores this quarter, they also incurred corresponding costs of Rs 19.89 crores. Over the nine-month period, however, the cricket business is a major player, contributing Rs 487.64 crores in income.

The company’s bottom line took a minor hit from exceptional items, including a Rs 4.23 crore charge related to India’s new Labour Codes, which consolidated 29 existing labour laws. Additionally, the consolidated results reflect the amalgamation of Kal Radio Limited with Udaya FM, a move that became effective in May 2025 and required a restatement of previous figures.

To keep investors from reaching for the remote, the Board has declared an interim dividend of 50 per cent, that’s Rs 2.50 per equity share. This comes on top of earlier dividends of 100 per cent (Rs 5.00) and 75 per cent (Rs 3.75) declared in August and November 2025, respectively.

With a massive cash reserve and a dominant position in the South Indian market, Sun TV continues to shine, even if the current quarter required a bit of fine-tuning. For now, shareholders can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

GECs

SPNI hires Pradeep M with responsibility for standards and practices in the south

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has hired Pradeep M to handle standards and practices for its southern market, bolstering its compliance bench as content rules tighten across platforms.

Pradeep, who has nearly 13 years in the entertainment media industry, takes on responsibility for content standards in a region that is both linguistically diverse and regulatorily sensitive. His brief spans television, OTT, sports and digital platforms.

He specialises in content review and compliance across shows, commercials, on-air promotions and international feeds, ensuring alignment with broadcast, OTT and advertising codes. He has also handled brand approvals and sponsorship integrations for heavily regulated categories—including online gaming, cryptocurrency, NFTs and lottery brands—offering guidance shaped by fast-evolving rules.

Before Sony, Pradeep worked at Jiostar as assistant manager for content regulation from November 2024 to January 2026. Earlier, he spent nearly seven years at Viacom18 Media, rising from senior executive to assistant manager in content regulation between 2018 and 2024. There he served as a key compliance touchpoint for the network.

His career began on the creative side. Between 2013 and 2018, he worked as executive producer on feature films and television shows, gaining hands-on exposure to production. He also had a stint as a non-fiction show director at Star TV Network in 2017. That mix of creative and regulatory experience gives him a dual lens—how content is made and how it must be managed.

As regulators, platforms and advertisers all tighten the screws, broadcasters are investing more in gatekeepers who can keep creativity within the lines. Sony’s latest hire shows where the industry is heading: in the streaming age, compliance is content’s quiet co-star.

GECs

Colors Gujarati rolls out two new shows from 2nd February

Published

2 weeks ago

February 2, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Colors Gujarati has unveiled two new prime-time shows as part of its push to strengthen culturally rooted storytelling for regional audiences. The channel will premiere the devotional saga Gangasati–Paanbai at 7.30 pm, followed by the romantic family drama Manmelo at 9.30 pm from February 2.

Inspired by Gujarat’s spiritual and literary heritage, Gangasati–Paanbai: Shyam Dhun No Navo Adhyay draws from the timeless bhajans and poetry of saint-poetesses Gangasati and Paanbai, weaving devotion and human values into a contemporary narrative aimed at younger viewers.

In contrast, Manmelo explores love and responsibility across social divides, tracing the lives of three middle-class sisters whose relationships with three affluent brothers reshape their futures. The show delves into ambition, emotional conflict and the realities of married life, offering a layered family drama.

A Colors Gujarati spokesperson said the new launches reflect the channel’s commitment to authentic Gujarati entertainment that blends cultural values with modern storytelling.