Movie Channels
Sony Max brings back comedy fillers
MUMBAI: Here’s some good news for Sony Max viewers. Short format comedy fillers namely ‘Bittu Bak Bak’ and ‘Max Fully Deewana’ are back by popular demand on the channel from August interspersed through the day. India’s premier Hindi Movies channel, Sony Max which believes in going beyond movies to entertain its viewers has brought back the comic relief fillers intending to leave viewers in splits. Formulated as spoofs on iconic scenes from Bollywood, the fillers will see known faces namely Krushna Abhishek and Bharti Singh share screen space with new additions comprising of comedians Vikalp Mehta and Sugandha Mishra guaranteed to double the comedy quotient.
This year audiences will be in for a treat with 60 rib tickling filmy gags which will see a few changes. For instance, ‘Bittu Bak Bak’ the quintessential classroom setup will now have comedian Krushna Abhishek don the role of a lady teacher – Rosy Ma’am. Mischievous and incorrigible student ‘Bittu’ played by Bharti Singh develops a crush on the new teacher. ‘Max Fully Deewana’, on the other hand, encapsulates the essence of the channel- ‘Deewana Bana De’ by showcasing hilarious spoofs on some of the most iconic scenes of Bollywood. The filmy gags will feature comedians Krushna Abhishek, Bharti Singh, Vikalp Mehta and Sugandha Mishra play out memorable scenes from Bollywood in a comic manner.
Commenting on the new series of ‘Bittu Bak Bak’ is different from last year, comedian Krushna Abhishek says, “The new series of ‘Bittu Bak Bak’ features a new character – a lady teacher. Earlier Bittu was taught by a male teacher with whom he shared a ‘tom and jerry’ kind of a relationship. However, Bittu has developed a crush on the female teacher and shares a better rapport with her. Similarly with ‘Fully Deewana’, we have done a lot of new spoofs on recent movies like ‘Kick’ and ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’.”
Talking about entertaining people through the two- minute comedy fillers, comedian Bharti Singh says, “We do not want viewers to go anywhere between movies and thus, this concept of the comedy fillers helps keep them glued to their TV sets. It just makes their television watching experience a lot more entertaining.”
Commenting on the challenges of filming for these comedy fillers, she added, “This is very different from the usual comedy that I do where I have more time but over here I have to explain everything in 2 minutes. It includes a lot of impromptu performance. It’s very challenging for me because we are stand-up comedians and at times even one hour is not enough for us. However, having said that performing on these two minute fillers is a lot of fun.”
Stressing on the importance of comedy fillers in between movies, Neeraj Vyas, Sr. EVP Business Head, MAX and MAX2, stated, “For a channel which provides its viewers with a wide assortment of movies, Sony MAX has always aimed at going beyond movies to entertain its viewers and give them that little extra to keep them coming back to the channel. Comedy fillers are a novel concept and outright funny which also acts as a stress buster for the viewers.”
Movie Channels
Laughs meet chills as ‘Jhamkudi’ hits TV screens
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
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
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!
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