ITV

Tag: Ajay Bhalwankar

  • The movers and shakers of 2014

    The movers and shakers of 2014

    To achieve something, one needs to let go of something, 2014 saw many stalwarts of the media and entertainment sector taking that leap.

    From being bitten by the entrepreneur bug to grabbing on to better opportunities, the industry saw a number of movements. Some of these created a stir while others went down as “regular” developments. Nonetheless, Indiantelevision.com lists down some of the major movers and shakers of the years…

     

    Ajay Bhalwankar: He is a man who can be credited to providing valuable programming inputs across content on various channels. The year 2014 was like a shuffling battle for Bhalwankar. After spending almost 19 years with Zee Entertainment Group, with his last stint as programming head at Zee TV for six years, he joined Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on 7 April, 2014 as chief creative officer. Now in SET, he provides creative leadership and direction for the channel, and leads the programming and OAP (on-air-promotions) teams. Spanning various roles of creating, writing, programming, producing and directing entertainment content, he is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience.

    Ajay Trigunayat: TTN English entertainment channels, Romedy Now and Movies Now CEO Ajay Trigunayat quit the network this year. With M K Anand taking over as TTN CEO and business functions being centralised, Trigunayat moved out. Before joining TTN, he was in the Middle East in an entrepreneurial capacity, and had been the business head of the Zee English Channels bouquet, and put in stints at Lintas, Contract and Rediffusion and at Pepsi in a sales role.

    Ajit Thakur: In a shocking development, the man credited for Life OK’s success story, Ajit Thakur decided to call it quits from the network. It was in July this year that he was given an additional charge of managing the network’s youth entertainment channel, Channel V. Currently he is serving his notice period and his last day in the organisation will be February, 2015.

    Abhijit Avasthi: An engineer by education, Abhijit Avasthi was the right-hand man of India’s ad guru Piyush Pandey. After spending more than 10 years at Ogilvy, he finally decided to hang his boots to pursue what he loves the most.

    However, according to reports, Avasthi is likely to set up his own creative agency, a move that he has been contemplating for a while.

    Alok Agarwal: Zee Media CEO Alok Agarwal ended his one and a half years stint at the network to take charge as Network18 group COO.

     

    Bharat Ranga: Since 1998, he had been an invaluable member of the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) family. After a 16-year stint with the network, he bid adieu in the month of October to explore new avenues. While at Zeel, he moved across functions and domains seamlessly, from sales to business head to being the international business head and then, the chief content and creative head for the organisation, he has been instrumental in making Zee’s content an unforgettable one for the audiences. His last project – Zindagi is getting critical acclaim from the masses.

    Dilip Venkatraman and Savvy Venkatraman: ITV Network, which owns and operates news channels NewsX and India News, appointed former CNN IBN and IBN7 CEO Dilip Venkatraman as group COO of strategy and business development. Meanwhile, Savvy joined the network as group chief marketing officer.

     

    KV Sridhar: After 17 long years Leo Burnett India chief creative officer, Pops, moved on to join SapientNitro, an interactive marketing, creative design and technology services agency. The movement did create a stir in the industry with many questions being raised on who can fill his shoes. Rajdeepak Das joined the agency as chief creative officer, soon afterwards.

    MK Anand: The former Disney UTV Media Networks MD MK Anand took over as the new MD and CEO of Times Television Network (TTN), stepping into Sunil Lulla’s shoes.  Anand had previously worked at The Times of India group for nearly 19 years, beginning first with the print business for 14 years and later on with the television business at Zoom from 2004 to 2009. He was the managing director for Disney UTV Media Networks till December 2013. The move saw functions like HR, finance, distribution being centralised and direct reportage to Anand.   

    N P Singh: The industry was treated with a good surprise at the beginning of 2014, when in a major development Multi Screen Media (MSM) promoted its COO N P Singh as the new CEO. He replaced Man Jit Singh who was designated as non-executive chairman and moved to Los Angeles (LA).

     

    Namit Sharma: From a creative background to a broadcast space, it was a challenge for former Wizcraft head for television business Namit Sharma. It was in early February when the news of former programming head Ajay Bhalwankar quitting and Sharma stepping into his shoes came to light. From directing fiction shows at Cinevistaas to film production and script writing at Yash Raj and handling events and non-fiction properties at Wizcraft International Entertainment, Sharma has done it all. As the programming head of the channel, he has brought some best creative ideas to the table.

    Nagesh Chhabria: IndusInd Media Communications Limited (IMCL) CEO Nagesh Chhabria too was seen hanging his boot this year. Chhabria later bought 50 per cent stake in Mumbai-based Bhawani Rajesh Cable & Digitech Services through his company Bhima Riddhi Digital Services (BRDS). He also signed an agreement with Atlas Consolidated LLC – a joint venture between Greenwich Equity Partners and Jagran Infra-Projects led by Sanjiv Mohan Gupta – to create a national MSO with about $200 million being pumped into it.

    Prem Kamath: The industry was shaken after former Channel V head and Star Pravah general manager decided to quit from Star for better opportunities at A+E Networks as deputy managing director, Asia Pacific. Associated with Star Network since 2007, Kamath had been heading Channel V for more than four years. Seeing his capability, he was given an additional responsibility at Star Network to head Star Pravah in 2013.

    Pradeep Hejmadi: With more than 18 years of well-rounded experience in the Indian media industry spanning media sales, media planning and buying, consumer research, business planning and product development, he is the man with multi-dimensional understanding of the media business. Former TAM Media Research senior vice-president Pradeep Hejmadi quit the organisation to join Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) as business head in the month of June. At TAM, he was responsible for revenue generation, client management, new business development and new product development and changed the working dynamics of the TV industry.

    Pratap Bose: Omnicom-owned DDB Mudra witnessed a sudden churn at the top, early this year when DDB Mudra Group COO Pratap Bose resigned from the agency after a six-year stint.

    The exit, who was looking to take over the top job, came after group chief executive officer and managing director Madhukar Kamath was given a four-year extension.

    Raghav Bahl: Network18 founder and chairman Raghav Bahl, sold his baby to RIL chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani for a whopping Rs 4000 crore. What followed this was an upheaval of sorts, as one by one, the main pillars of the company began to fall. As soon as the meeting concluded between Bahl and the management of Network18, departures began which included group CEO B Sai Kumar, COO Ajay Chacko, CNN-IBN deputy editor Sagarika Ghose, IBN Network editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Network18 Media CEO Sanjay Dua, Network18 digital CEO Durga Raghunath, Network 18 CFO RDS Binni Bawa and deputy foreign affairs editor Suhasini Haidar.

    Rajdeep Sardesai: It was in July this year that after nine long years, the face of IBN18 and editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai decided to move on from the network. He later on joined the India Today group as consulting editor. Further, penning his expertise of writing, in November he launched his book – ‘2014: The Election That Changed India’. The book tracks the story of the 16th Lok Sabha elections with a media insider’s view. It was in the same month when deputy editor at CNN-IBN Sagarika Ghose too bid adieu to the Network18 group and joined Times of India as consulting editor. 

    Rajesh Iyer: Associated with the channel since its inception, Colors marketing head Rajesh Iyer has been one of the many behind the success of popular shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi, India’s Got Talent, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Bigg Boss. Iyer quit Colors in March to join Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) as its business head, new initiatives, Hindi broadcast. With more than 13 years of experience in marketing and business segment, he aims to create some thrilling benchmarks in the industry.

    Ravi Mansukhani: The year 2014 saw the ending of the seven year innings from IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd. (IMCL) managing director Ravi Mansukhani, who decided to step down from his position. It was said that Mansukhani had expressed the desire to relinquish his services, which was accepted by the board of directors in the board meeting held on 31 January. His next move is yet unknown.

    Sameer Nair: He has donned numerous hats. From selling space in Yellow pages to being a member of a political party, Sameer Nair has had a volatile career. It was in July this year when the former Star India CEO joined Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms as Group CEO.

     

    S N Sharma: In what can be described as the biggest setback was the resignation of DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma, who was one of the founding members of the multi system operator. Sharma’s vision of growth through consolidation and digitisation had laid the foundation for the company. He has also spearheaded DEN’s rapid growth with his visionary leadership and unparalleled execution abilities. He has also been the driving force behind taking the company into the digital era.

    Suhasni Haider: In a major development, CNN-IBN deputy foreign affairs editor and prime time anchor Suhasini Haidar bid adieu to the organisation in May this year. To focus on long-format journalism, she joined The Hindu as its diplomatic editor. 

     

    Sunil Lulla: A 30-year media and communication veteran, Sunil Lulla made headlines in July when he decided to move on from Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. After almost 10 years with BCCL, Lulla, joined WPP-owned Grey Group as chairman and MD for Grey Group India.
    His joining the advertising industry was homecoming as he had started his career in one.
    However, his appointment led to Grey Group India president and CEO Jishnu Sen moving on from the network.

    Tony D’silva: With Ravi Mansukhani stepping down, IMCL saw a new MD and CEO in Tony D’silva, who was earlier the president of Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL) and was overlooking its upcoming Headend InThe Sky (HITS) project. D’silva was given additional responsibilities as Group CEO-Media of HVL, and MD and CEO of IMCL.  

    TS Panesar: Star India EVP for distribution TS Panesar, who was entrusted with the responsibility of handling distribution for national DTH and digital addressable systems (DAS) earlier in 2014 when the JV between Star and Zee- MediaPro was broken, quit.  He later joined MSO Hathway Cable & Datacom as head-video business.  

    Vikram Mehra: After spending close to 10 long years at one of the leading DTH companies in India, Vikram Mehra, the chief commercial officer of Tata Sky moved on to Saregama, this year. While at Tata Sky, he was responsible for subscription revenue management, churn management, brand marketing, new product development, consumer analytics, interactive service operations, consumer research and PR, he is handling the digital platform for Saregama.

    Vikram Sakhuja: It was in October that GroupM announced the appointment of Lindsay Pattison as global CEO of Maxus, the post held by Vikram Sakhuja. Till date his next move in the group hasn’t been decided, but he is expected to take up a global role at parent firm GroupM.

     

    Vivek Srivastava: It came as a surprise when the news of former Colors commercial and digital head Vivek Srivastava quitting, shot the mailers. His extensive background in research, awareness of new media and over a decade in the broadcast industry contributed to maintaining the robust presence of all Colors brands in the digital space and managing the overall costs for the brand.  He headed to Times Television Network (TTN) in the month of October as senior vice-president and head of the English Entertainment Cluster, which includes premium channels like Movies Now and Romedy Now.

    (The names are in alphabetical order)

     

  • SET explores human relationships with ‘Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar’

    SET explores human relationships with ‘Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar’

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is all set to present yet another modern and mature take on love and marriage with the launch of its new series – Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar.
    Exploring the intricacies of human relationships, it features Ronit Roy and Pallavi Kulkarni Nerurkar in lead roles. Produced by Balaji Telefilms, the show aims at reinstilling faith in the institution of marriage.

    Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar is the story of a couple, Nachiket Khanna (Neil) and Ragini Patel, who are driven apart, ironically because of the intense love they shared. Neil, a doctor and Ragini, a nurse have four kids together but their marriage breaks due to a misunderstanding. Post the divorce, Neil moves to America with two of their kids and Ragini stays back in India with two kids.

    Over a period of time, staying away from each other has made Neil an indifferent man, whereas Ragini is still trying to run away from the ghosts of her past relationship. They are constantly reminded of their broken marriage because of the children who are a sign of their past love for each other. However, fate has different plans sketched out for them and their children become the pivotal reason for them to start a new chapter in life. The story is now taken forward by the children, who attempt to bring together their separated parents and rediscover love after 15 years.

    Speaking about the show, SET chief creative director Ajay Bhalwankar said: “It is always a pleasure to work with Balaji Telefilms as its concepts are unique, innovative and extremely relatable. Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar is bound to appeal to all our viewers with its engaging storyline and creative content. We are sure the audience will appreciate this unique take on love. Sony has been a pioneer in presenting mature love stories like Bade Acche Lagte Hain which have been immensely appreciated by the audience and Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar is another such show.”

    Balaji Telefilms producer Ekta Kapoor said: “We at Balaji are really excited about our latest offering which explores the intricacies of human relationship. Through this show we are attempting to bring alive a unique love story between an estranged husband and wife. I am extremely delighted to extend our relationship with SET and I am sure the series will create magic on Indian television.”  

     The show not only marks Roy’s return to daily soap after three years but also Kulkarni’s comeback to television after seven years. The other cast members include Darshan Pandya, Avinash Mukherjee, Induben Mehta, Kirti Sualy, Jyoti Joshi, Falguni Desai, Aarav Patel, Rhea Sharma, Rohan Shah and Shilpa among others.

    According to SET SVP head – marketing Gaurav Seth it is the biggest fiction show for the channel, not only in terms of casting but also with the storyline.

    When asked the reason behind putting the show at 10.30 pm, Seth replied: “Our previous show Bade Ache Lagte Hai had done wonders for us at this slot. Moreover, as per the research, compared to other slots, a lot of audiences are available especially in the bigger towns.” Also, with 10 pm airing Maharana Veer Pratap which is doing decently well for Sony, it wants to create a strong 10 – 11 pm band with the new offering.

    On the marketing front, the channel is aggressively promoting the new offering on all the platforms. According to Seth, at every platform the treatment is very different but the main highlight is the chemistry between the lead couples. “It is not a traditional but a classical love story,” adds Seth.

    The promotions are designed and customised depending on the medium. On digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter, it has created a special motion video designed exclusively for the digital audiences. Moreover, there are emotion posters and apps running on the family.

    On radio, being the audio medium, the channel has tried to capture on the thoughts of the two individuals. On the advertisers front, the call to have brands on-board will be taken very soon.

    The series starts from 18 November and will air every Monday-Thursday at 10.30 pm.

     

  • Sony strengthens its fiction line-up

    Sony strengthens its fiction line-up

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television seems to be strengthening its fiction line-up. The channel that believes in content being the king, keeps exploring with different storylines.  With not-so-strong fiction line-up, the Sony is all set to launch a new show which showcases the story of a man’s struggle to strike the perfect balance.

     

    Come 1 September, the channel is will break the stereotype with Hum Hain Na. The Indian woman has always been the epitome of tradition and values in our society, but can the men be left far behind? Every mother has expectations from her son; every wife wants attention from her husband, every sister is possessive about her brother! But will the perfect man be able to live up to these expectations?

     

    The new series dabbles with the subject that gets many women thinking – ‘kya ek perfect beta, ek perfect pati bhi ban sakta hai’?

     

    Produced by DJ’s Creative Unit, Hum Hain Na is set in the beautiful town of Benaras and follows the life of a young and charming boy, Shivprasad Mishra aka Bunty (Kanwar Dhillon). An ideal brother, son and friend, he is the blue eyed boy of his family. His entire world revolves around the three women in his life – his amma, badi didi and chhoti.

     

    In any given situation, he has quick fixes to brighten up the mood of each of his family members. But in a bid to keep everyone happy, Bunty’s own personal life is always in trouble. His life takes a turn when his elder sister makes him promise not to get married until she is married off. Being a true Benarasi, Bunty vows to never go back on his words but is stuck at the crossroads when he bumps into his dream girl, Saagarika (Pratyusha Banerjee), at a family wedding. Saagarika, raised single-handedly by her father who is unaware of a woman’s needs after her mother’s  death, sees a complete contrast in Bunty who is full of affection and is sensitive towards women. When these two opposites meet, what follows is a series of interesting and heart-warming events.

     

    Sony chief creative director Ajay Bhalwankar believes that Indian television has always appreciated women’s contribution to a family, but this time it is celebrating a man’s role in bringing the family together.

     

    “Hum Hain Na is a refreshing yet modern take on how Bunty balances the different women in his life seamlessly. Our protagonist, Bunty transitions from being a doting brother and a caring son to a sensitive boyfriend so impeccably that it seems as if he is almost unreal. His sensitivity and emotional nature might make one feel he is metrosexual, but in reality his heart belongs to the values of the place he belongs to,” adds Bhalwankar.

     

    DJ’s Creative Unit producers Deeya and Tony Singh asserts: “Hum Hain Na is a story very close to reality. It’s about a boy who is a perfect son and a perfect brother, he wants a wife who will embrace his universe which consists of his family. And a girl who wants to be the universe of her man, she desires to have a perfect husband who is sensitive to her needs as a woman. And. Now the question is can a boy who is a perfect son and a perfect brother also be a perfect husband? Will this become a perfect love story?”

     

    The new emotional love story will air four days a week at 9.30pm. It is going to have a tough competition with other popular shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai on Star Plus, Qubool Hai on Zee TV, Rangrasiya on Colors, Tumhari Pakhi on Life OK and Badi Door Se Aaye Hai on Sab.

  • “Write down your goals and give deadlines. This is the roadmap to success”

    “Write down your goals and give deadlines. This is the roadmap to success”

    MUMBAI: The newest addition to his portfolio is Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, which premiered on Zee TV last month. Known to have a keen eye for talent, director-turned-producer Rajan Shahi’s latest venture too serves as a launch pad for debutants Mishkat Varma and Kaanchi Singh who play the show’s lead pair.

    Since making his directorial debut in 1999 with Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi through launching his own production house Director’s Kut Productions in 2007 and till date, Shahi has seen a meteoric rise in the television industry.

    Having directed clutter-breaking shows like Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, Hamare Tumhare, Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyaan and Maayaka and gone on to produce a couple more such as Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Shahi is a much sought after figure in the industry.

    Ask him his success mantra and he says: “In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, we often forget what it is we are working so hard for! Write down your goals and give yourself deadlines. This is the roadmap to your success.”

    Directorial dreams

    The influence of his maternal grandfather and veteran actor P Jairaj led to Shahi’s fascination with the entertainment industry from an early age.

    After graduating in English Literature from Hindu College, New Delhi, he moved to Mumbai, by which time, he was sure he wanted to become a director. Eventually, he landed up in the production department under Ravi Rai. Two years into production designing, Shahi got the opportunity to prove his mettle when asked to chip in for an absentee assistant director. Soon after, he graduated to assisting Rai in Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai and Teacher.

    Sometime in between, he met and fell in love with writer Pearl Grey, whom he later married. With her script of Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin finding a willing producer in Hemant Seth, Shahi too bagged his first project which propelled him into the big league. He then shot pilots of two other serials, Mera Ek Sapna and Ansh, following which, there was no looking back. Shahi proceeded to direct hit series including Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, Hamare Tumhare, Rishtey, Kareena Kareena, Reth, Mamtaa, Millee, Virasaat and Saathi Re and got to work as series director on Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyaan and Maayaka on Zee TV.

    Shahi believes that “a director is like the captain of the ship and more than anything else, needs to be extremely patient with all his crew members.”

    Turning producer

    Twelve years into direction and Shahi started his own production house which he christened Director’s Kut Productions (DKP).

    Ask him why he decided to turn producer and he has several reasons to give. Firstly, in television, one needs to reinvent oneself every five years. “In films, you can say you are a director for 15-20 years, a producer for 15-20 years or a writer for 30 years. But in television, you need to rejuvenate yourself,” says he.

    Secondly, production was the logical next step after directing for so many years. “While I learnt a lot under all the production houses and producers with whom I collaborated, personally, I wanted to have more control. Especially when there is creativity, I didn’t want to be restricted by the production part of it,” he explains.

    So when Bidaai came along on Star Plus, Shahi took the plunge as producer. “I owe my becoming producer largely to Uday Shankar who gave me the chance. Not that I did not express my desire to other big channel heads but he was the only one who had faith in me at a time when no other person would back me as a producer,” recalls Shahi, adding, “I was very happy that with Bidaai, a technician was given the opportunity to produce a show.” At the time, big production houses ruled the roost and creativity wasn’t exactly the first priority.

    Lastly, with so many layers in television i.e. scripting, concept, shooting, editing and post production, Shahi wanted to minimise the chaos by being that one person in every department who is answerable for everything. “I wanted to multi-task. So in that area I scored where even today, I am personally answerable for everything in my company. They know there is just one person to be called instead of talking to 50 other people. With serials such as Bidaai and Yeh Rishta, these things got consolidated,” he elaborates.

    Ask him about the name DKP and he says: “I have been in this industry for 21 years, but I have directed properly for 12 years. People used to identify me as a director and wanted to give a name which could identify with my character and the reason people know me for.”

    About DKP                                         

    Shahi believes DKP is what it is today because of his team which is hungry for work and strives to deliver the best product. “Since DKP’s inception, we have done some very good shows and there is a certain reputation it enjoys. You may be the face of a company but it cannot run properly if you don’t have a good team,” he says.

    The DKP office at Lakshmi Industrial Estate in Mumbai houses around 30 to 40 staff while the core team is about 100-strong constituted by creative and technical personnel at different levels. 

    “There is a definite core team in the company and DKP is synonymous with the excellent people working for it. Fortunately, the majority of them are the same since its inception; be it creative directors, creative people, editors and so on. Fact is in my 12 years as director, I have seen some of the best talent which I have retained while letting the rest go by,” he exults. 

    For Shahi, DKP is all about the goodwill and blessings and good wishes of all its actors, technicians and workers. He sincerely believes it is the workers’ support and hard work that has taken the production house to such dizzying heights.

    “The biggest award or achievement you can say is my workers. Again, I have seen a lot of people who project a high-flying image by travelling in luxury cars and chartering private planes but keep workers’ money inside their own pockets. While I cannot keep everyone happy, each one of my workers knows that if there is a problem, I will be there to solve it. I don’t want DKP to be big if I don’t stay connected to my workers. My work exudes quality and it is straight from the heart. I might not have eight or nine shows with me today, I might not have the biggest cars with me today, but I have the goodwill of all my actors, technicians and creative people, most importantly, my workers,” he explains.

    Having realised earlier on in his career that television is essentially about what happens on the sets, Shahi has set up office on the sets itself with most of his team concentrated there.

    A bumpy ride

    With dynamics changing from day to day, it is next to impossible to keep tab on the highs and lows of producing television shows but “it’s all part of the learning process,” says Shahi. Yet, when Bidaai and Yeh Rishta were number one or two across channels, it was a real high. “We were on a very big platform like Star Plus and it was a huge responsibility. For a technician who didn’t have crore in his bank, entering an arena where the big players were was a big thing,” he adds.

    Bidaai had a successful run for more than two years till Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai took over variously as number one and number two across channels. For two years, these two shows were ruling the roost and in one particular week, both were number one across all channels and garnered TRP of 7.1. That was a big moment for the entire team; informs Shahi, pointing out that his highs come from people placing their faith in him which is what inspires him to give his 100 per cent to any project. 

    Speaking of the lows, Shahi recalls the time when Bidaai went off air in 2010. “We thought we were back to ground zero and anything is possible in this industry. But it was a conscious decision to end the show on a high. At the time, the actors… the entire unit… had tears in their eyes and were wondering why we were pulling the plug on the show when it was in the top five across channels. The moment was such when I knew I didn’t have an answer…” he says.

    Lessons learnt

    Shahi considers himself lucky to have interacted with some of the best producers in the industry and learnt so much from them. Even today, he doesn’t shy away from calling them whenever in need of advice. He has always believed in the adage: “Learn from the leaders, learn from the people you admire and learn from the people around you!”

    Another key takeaway has been that audiences cannot be taken for granted any more, what with social media bringing producers and viewers closer to each other than ever before.

    “Today, we get instant feedback and don’t have to rely on the channel or probably the research team. Instantly, I get to know whether people have liked the track or not. Viewers are very vocal about what they like and what they don’t so you can’t take them for granted anymore,” he says. “This connect the media has brought about between me as a maker and my audience is the biggest thing that has happened.”

    Road ahead

    Shahi wants to be known as a producer who is creatively involved. “I have done a few shows, but each show is different from the other. I always look into scripts where I have a creative say. It’s not just about quantity but also quality in whatever we do,” he says.

    With a handful of scripts lined up this year; some are in the scripting stage, others in the casting stage, and still others evolving.

    The company plans to foray into other genres as well, comedy being one. Getting into films is also on the cards though TV is a priority. “Right now, my whole attention is towards consolidating Aur Pyaar Ho gaya which is our latest launch. And even consolidating Yeh Rishta, which now is showing six days a week,” he says.

    Don’t daily soaps make for a very erratic shooting schedule? “Daily soaps are always hectic. In the past when Bidaai was on, shows were aired for one hour every day, five days a week. There have also been occasions when they have extended to six or seven days for one or two weeks. I look at it as a challenge to not only make them but also maintain the quality. We are used to such volume of work,” he signs off.

    MediaSpeak

    Former programming head at Zee TV Ajay Bhalwankar who is now chief creative officer at Sony Entertainment Television believes that it is always a great experience working with Shahi. “He is a very dedicated, passionate and gifted producer. It is somebody who is very sincere also and somebody who is extremely open to listen to your ideas and incorporate them. It has been wonderful working with him and is extremely talented.”

    Shahi who has worked with cross section of producers and from each producer, he believes has learnt a lot. Whether it’s Deeya and Tony Singh from DJ’s Creative Unit or Sunjoy Waddhwa from Sphere Origins, all have been there for him always. They say:

    DJ’s Creative Unit producer Deeya Singh opines: “My association with him has been extremely good. It is so nice to see when good talented people grow, it feels good. He understands the medium very well. The industry needs more such people and feels really nice when one sees so much success that comes to him. I have known him as a director and watched him as a producer and he is good at both. I think that is the special talent, because not everybody can do both. He has managed to do the impossible and be both.”

    “With him, it’s been a very good association. I know him from the time we did Saath Phere and I know him more now as a Producer. He is a very easy-going and good guy. I feel very good for him because he has also come up from an independent director to a very good producer who has given some excellent shows to the industry. He is one of the very good producer’s who has a good thinking head,” expresses Sphere Origins producer Sunjoy Waddhwa.

  • Sony’s ‘Encounter’ with Manoj Bajpayee

    Sony’s ‘Encounter’ with Manoj Bajpayee

    MUMBAI: For Endemol India that has established itself as a leader in the reality TV space and has expanded into other strands of content, it has been a roller coaster ride.

    Although crime shows on TV are common with almost every channel, but the way Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has accepted this genre, nobody has, believe the experts of the industry.

    Crime always sells and it is this genre that has worked for the channel which is currently languishing among the bottom three GECs, according to the weekly TAM TV ratings.

    CID and Crime Patrol has been airing for years and it won’t be wrong to say that the shows belong to the crime space.  To get back its long lost position in the ratings chart, SET is set to launch Encounter on 11 April. Produced by Endemol India, the show will be hosted by Manoj Bajpayee.

    Encounter, as the name suggests, is an account of the dangerous encounters between cops and gangsters. It will bring alive the stories behind the famous encounters of the police and the underworld in India starting from the early nineties. Inspired by real-life incidents, the show aims at redefining the proverbial action series on television.

    The promos of the show that is to air 36 episodes have already hit the television screens and will be telecast every Friday to Sunday at 9 pm. It will replace the channel’s dance reality property Boogie Woogie that is shown on Saturday and Sunday while it will also take away a day’s telecast of Nandini (aired at 9 pm) and Jee Le Zara (aired at 9.30 pm) that airs on Fridays. Sources indicate that the latter will be shutting its shop very soon due to poor ratings.

    Gaurav Seth

    SET senior vice president, head-marketing Gaurav Seth believes that crime shows are the channel’s strength. “There are a lot of crime shows on television but we believe that such shows are our strength. People talk to us in big numbers, watch the crime genre and believe that we do it well. Whether its CID or Crime Patrol, these are the shows which have cult following over a period of time because people think that this is something Sony does best. We want to continue that trend.”

    Spelling out the reason of getting Bajpayee on board Seth avers, “He is going to play a very interesting role of narrating the stories from the inside. He has got most implacable credentials when it comes to this genre and has also played humorous characters that have actually stood out in Indian cinema.”

    SET has rolled out an aggressive marketing campaign for this show. There will be more than 20-25 channels telecasting the promos of Encounter. For the channel that has already bought 8,000 spots, television is going to play a lead medium for communication. The promotional TVC featuring Bajpayee will also be promoted on other mediums like radio, print, digital media, games and apps.

    Ajay Bhalwankar, who has recently joined SET as its chief creative director, believes that the show is going to be a blockbuster. He reveals: “It is going to be very different show and not on the lines of Crime Patrol as people are comparing it with. These are all different cop stories and are not wholly focused on the criminals. You will find a lot of difference from other crime properties which are airing on television today.”

    Ajay Bhalwankar

    A source closely connected with Endemol revealed that the planning for the show started three months ago. “When we started off, we wanted to do a real encounter series, real cases with real people. But it was just not possible. It also needed to have a fictional twist because getting the police on-board was a difficult task. So we decided to make it a fiction series because the channel believes in crime-related shows and that is its audience.”

    The same source further goes on to add: “We shot a small pilot with an actual encounter specialist A Khan and the channel liked the concept so much that they immediately picked it up. The pilot would be of one episode.”

    Moreover, compared to Sony’s other crime properties like CID and Crime Patrol, the production cost of Encounter is much higher per episode. As of now three episodes have been canned and are ready to go on-air.

    Media professionals feel that the channel should concentrate more on its line-up of fiction rather than giving viewers weekend dose of entertainment. “The show is going to compete with one of the best shows other channels have in that time slot. Since Sony already has strong crime properties that are doing well for them, there was no need to create another one. They should come up with innovative content for its daily soaps which are struggling to find its place in the ratings chart,” reasons a prominent media planner who did not wish to be named.

    Encounter is going to compete with Pavitra Rishta (Fri) and DID Lil Masters (Sat-Sun) on Zee TV, Beintehaa (Fri) and Khatron Ke Khiladi five (Sat-Sun) on Colors, Diya Aur Baati Hum on Star Plus (Fri-Sat) and Mad In India (Sun) and Chidiya Ghar on Sab.

    Seth is not worried about the competition. “We are extremely hyper and aggressive about everything that we are doing. Since it’s a very competitive slot, we have to believe in our content. And to ensure that people latch on to this content, we have a very interesting promotional campaign going on and we are very excited about it,” he signs off.

  • Ajay Bhalwankar to join MSM’s Sony Entertainment Television from 7 April

    Ajay Bhalwankar to join MSM’s Sony Entertainment Television from 7 April

    MUMBAI: Almost a month-and-a-half ago, Indiatelevision.com reported that one of Zee Entertainment’s most cherished employs, Ajay Bhalwankar, has put in his papers as the content head-Hindi GECs. Now, it is learnt that he is joining Sony Entertainment Television as the chief creative director, effective from 7 April, 2014.

     

    Bhalwankar will report to Sony Entertainment Television (SET) Sr. Executive Vice President and Business Head, Nachiket Pantvaidya. He will provide creative leadership and direction for the channel and will lead the Programming and OAP teams.

     

    He said, “I’m delighted to join SET again and hope to provide valuable programming inputs across content on the channel. It is an extremely challenging role and I am looking forward to this exciting journey.”

     

    Bhalwankar is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience and has worked with MSM in the past as the programming head for SET from November 2009 to June 2011.

     

    Interestingly, earlier we even reported that Sony is trying to strengthen its team by bringing in the best people from the industry. This seems to be a step ahead towards that.

     

    Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Ajay is an extremely experienced individual with a rich experience of over 20 years in Journalism and Television, spanning various roles of creating, writing, programming, producing and directing entertainment content. Under Ajay’s leadership I am confident that we will make the right strides towards our vision of best in class content for SET.”

     

    According to inside sources, Bhalwankar’s last date at Zee entertainment is 21 March, 2014.

     

    Bhalwankar joined Zee Entertainment in 1994 as the assistant director of Dream Merchants – the company’s advertising and marketing magazine. As one of the oldest employees of Zee, Bhalwankar has been instrumental in creating path-breaking content for the network. He also spearheaded the launch of Zee Anmol. He was also instrumental in launching Music Asia that later became Zee Muzic and is now called Zing. He even worked on the launch of Zee Marathi in 1999. He later became Zee Marathi’s business head and then vice president of Zee Marathi and Zee Talkies. He took charge as the programming head of Zee in 2008. Bhalwankar had then quit from Zee in October 2009 to join Sony Entertainment at the same position. However, after a brief stint, he left Sony to join back Zee.

     

    Now, Bhalwankar is again moving back to Sony. We hope he will be instrumental in bringing back the channel that has been struggling in the ratings chart to the top position.

     

     

     

     

  • Zee to bring bachchagiri with DID L’il Masters

    Zee to bring bachchagiri with DID L’il Masters

    MUMBAI: Dancing isn’t just about mean moves; it’s also about attitude. This is the reason why Zee TV is all set to bring back DID (Dance India Dance) L’il Masters, now in its third season, to replace the ongoing DID season four.

     

    Starting 1 March, children aged five to 12 years will mesmerise audiences with their awe-inspiring performances every weekend at 9 pm. This time round, the show positioning is: ‘from dadagiri to bachchagiri’.

     

    Zeel content head (Hindi GECs) Ajay Bhalwankar, who recently resigned from his post, explains: “Though the world is heavily borrowed from dadagiri, bachchagiri in no way gives any leeway to over-smartness or cockiness. Kids aren’t show-offs but they do have a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude when it comes to dance. They aren’t afraid of a little competition and stage fear means nothing to them.”

     

    Says Nitin Keni of Essel Vision Productions, producer of the show: “These are genuinely gifted children and little powerhouses of talent who astonished us with their unimaginable talent. Along with entertainment, Zee and Essel Vision have always endeavored to become the most coveted platform for aspiring youth and women in the country and with the third season of DID L’il masters, we only hope to strengthen that conviction of ours.”

     

    Season three will follow a similar format with 16 contestants divided into four teams led by skippers including Sanam Johar, Raghav (Crockroaz) and Swarali Karulkar (DID 4 contender) with the fourth name still under consideration. Masters Geeta Kapoor, Ahmad Khan and Mudassar Khan will judge the performances while veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty (Mithun Da) will once again lend his characteristic wit to the platform. Hosting the show would be popular television actor Jay Bhanushali.

     

    So what’s the talking point of this season? “We, as a channel, don’t have to do anything new. Of course, we have plans to think about new dance forms, acts and visuals but what is really new is a fresher mind, fresher and more original talent. Kids are typically very informal; they have a mind of their own and when they perform, they completely rock the stage,” says Bhalwankar before adding, “I couldn’t have imagined some of the steps they ended up doing during the auditions.”

     

    He lavishes praise on the talent possessed by these kids. “They can change the format and mould it; they can mould their performance… We have to give them a format which allows them freedom. Bachchagiri is a format for us, and the entire control has been given to the kids,” he says.

     

    According to Zeel new programming head Namit Sharma, who assumed responsibility only yesterday, season three is a lot about evolution. “Lil masters is a very unique show. It is fun, engaging, heartwarming and at the same time, inspirational, because you are watching these kids doing all the fantastic moves. This year, we are keen on seeing the kids grow and evolve rather than just contestants in a reality show,” he says.

     

    Already, dancing fever has gripped the nation with auditions being held in 15 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Vadodara, Jaipur, Raipur, Indore, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Patna, Jammu and Lucknow. The number of participants has risen 25 per cent from last year’s one lakh contestants. After more than four months of auditioning, 100 children have been selected, of which, 16 finalists will be selected in mega auditions being held this week.

     

    Speaking of her experience, Kapoor said: “Judging kids was a tough call. We had to be easy with them. However, each and every child is a winner for us. We don’t treat them as contestants but as normal kids.”

     

    While Khan felt their main job was to console the kids who’d been rejected in the auditions phase.  “Somewhere down the line, they are conditioned to the fact that they are here to get popularity. They don’t come with a positive mind that they will get selected,” he said.  

     

    On their part, the skippers said they enjoyed choreographing the ‘patakas’

     

    Johar, a contestant of DID season three, said: “It’s very interesting to choreograph kids. After becoming a skipper, you can’t show or teach them moves which are repetitive; we have to do something new. Instead of getting scared, we have to be prepared to do something innovative.” Raghav, who is famous for his slo-mo style said: “It is all in nature. You get to learn a lot from your surroundings. We don’t have to teach anything to the kids creatively. Get them on stage, and they will burn the dance floor. They are very smart. Plus, they come prepared.”

     

    Industry sources say the channel is looking at anything between Rs 180 and Rs 190 crore from DID L’il Masters season three with anything between Rs 1,20,000 and Rs 1,80,000 for every 10 seconds.

     

    Marketing and promotion

     

    A 360-degree marketing plan is on the anvil comprising outdoor, print, television and radio to sustain audience interest in the property. As part of on-ground, children will form special ‘Dhating Naach Tolis’ and visit various housing societies in Mumbai and Delhi to play Holi with the residents as a mark of the festival.

     

    Vignettes have been created for television where kids will sometimes be seen talking about a show before it starts and encouraging the audience to see it. On the digital side, there are plans to create a hashtag #DIDLM for greater engagement with the viewers.

     

    No doubt the show will face tough competition from the ongoing India’s Got Talent on Colors and the upcoming Mad in India on Star Plus. While Mad in India is a 75,000 per 10 sec slot, IGT is 1.25 lakh. But with the last season having opened at 5.8 TVR, Bhalwankar remains unfazed. “When kids come to the show, they have a ball. I don’t think we will need masala to get ratings or eyeballs. Other people can worry,” he laughs.

  • Ajay Bhalwankar quits ZEEL as Content Head

    Ajay Bhalwankar quits ZEEL as Content Head

    MUMABI: Almost three years ago in June 2011, Zee Entertainment Enterprises had brought back one of its most cherished employees – Ajay Bhalwankar as the programming head after his short eight-month stint with Multi Screen Media. The news now is that Bhalwankar, who was working as ZEEL’s Content Head (Hindi GECs), has decided to explore opportunities outside the group on his own accord. 

     

    Namit Sharma will be coming on board to join the Zee TV programming function as Programming Head.

     

    In the official announcement made by the channel, it is mentioned that Bhalwankar was instrumental in creating path breaking content on Zee TV and also spearheaded the launch of new free-to-air (FTA) channel, Zee Anmol. He has been with the organisation since 1994. Barring a stint with Multi Screen Media, he has been at ZEEL for over 17 years. 

     

    “Ajay’s support for ideas, creativity and innovation has been the real strength of his time as content head of Zee TV,” said ZEEL Chief Creative and Content Officer Bharat Ranga. “He gave the team strong creative leadership with the freedom to experiment and he’ll be hard to replace. With regret, we accept his decision and thank Ajay for his valued contribution to the organization. During his stint with the group, Ajay has achieved various milestones and strengthened the position of channel and built a great and dedicated team for the channel. Given his credentials, we are also sure that he will continue to achieve his aspirations and further strengthen his credential in his domain.”

     

    Confirming the news, Bhalwankar said, “It’s been a memorable journey.  There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. It’s a tough decision. The trust reposed in me by ZEEL MD & CEO, Punit Goenka will never be forgotten.  I leave ZEEL with renewed respect for television broadcasting and the talented producers of our programs, and with great pride to have worked with an exceptional team who will continue to see success.” 

     

    Bhalwankar will handhold Namit during the transition process – in settling down in the organisation and continue to take all programming related decisions as is currently being done. Sharma, with almost 15 years industry experience, was earlier with Wizcraft International as Business Head and Chief Creative Director – Wizcraft Television & Films. Prior to that he has worked as an executive producer with Yash Raj Films; as a creative director with Cinevistaas Ltd; and as a senior executive producer with Sony Entertainment Television.

  • Zee’s new show celebrates love

    Zee’s new show celebrates love

    MUMBAI: Love means different things to different people; some find it magical, others plain volatile. But most agree it is one exhilarating ride that brings two people together.

     

    Celebrating this beautiful but complicated emotion is Zee TV’s new show Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya which comes to your drawing rooms starting 6 January – five days a week at 10pm.

    It centers on the thought that – you don_t find love, love finds you, says Ajay Bhalwankar

    The channel’s first new show of 2014, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, produced by Rajan Shahi of Director’s Kut Productions, will replace the ongoing Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi.

     

    Says Hindi GECs content head Ajay Bhalwankar: “It is not about kitchen politics, it is not about any other melodramatic narratives. The story is absolutely simple and clean. It talks about the various aspects of exploring love. It centers on the thought that – you don’t find love, love finds you!”

     

    Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya traces the emotional journey of two young people with different notions about love, against the picture-perfect backdrop of the Pink City aka Jaipur.
    Bhalwankar believes the series will bust quite a few myths associated with love and marriage. “The first myth the show should break is that love stories don’t work on television. Second myth, love means running away, love means dying at the end of the film. This is a happy love story and a non-controversial love story. It is about discovering and falling in love,” he says.

     

    It is a simple and a clean love story, says Rajan Shahi

    With Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, Shahi, who has directed shows like Saat Phere and Maayka on Zee TV, turns first-time producer for the channel. Like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai which served as a platform for debutants Hina Khan and Karan Mehra, Shahi will introduce newcomers Kaanchi Singh (Avni) and Mishkat Varma (Raj) as the lead pair in the new series.

     

    While Avni’s parents will be played by Reena Kapoor and Rajeev Singh, Waseem Mushtaqh, Ashita Dhawan, Rajeev Verma and newbie Nikita Agarwal form the rest of the cast.

     

    Isn’t getting fresh talent on board a risk? “Yes, definitely, there is some risk involved. But I enjoy it. After Ekta Kapoor, I can proudly say that DKP is the one which has given maximum newcomers a platform like this. I like to invest in newcomers and have worked with the maximum number of newcomers. You want to get fresh talent on board for fresh stories,” says Shahi.

     

    So far, eight episodes have been canned with four episodes shot fully and ready to go on air.

     

    Asked whether the 10pm slot will work, Shahi says: “I have never asked channels for particular slots. For me, it’s my work, whether you put me in the 2 pm or 6 pm slot, I have to work. Over the years, I am not so blinded by it, but TVTs do play an important role. I know that we are judged by TVTs, but I don’t let this affect my day-to-day living.”

    Speaking of promoting the new series, Zee TV has a well-rounded strategy on the cards which includes endorsements in print, TV, DTH and cable. An interesting audience engagement program targeting couples is also underway.

     

    Not only is Shahi confident of the new show, after being in the industry for so long and experimenting with different mediums, Shahi feels television has truly arrived. “TV is now evolving and changing at a much faster speed than ever before. The change is now happening every two to three months. In terms of revenue and employment, it is growing bigger than Bollywood.”

     

    “The kind of revenue television is generating is three times more than films. The kind of employment television is generating is again three times more than films. So, TV as a canvas has grown bigger. Very thankfully, people don’t look down on TV any more. They don’t consider it a step down. It is becoming exciting with lots of new content also coming in. Indian television quality is also brilliant given the conditions and budgets we’ve worked with earlier,” Shahi signs off.

  • Dance India Dance season 4: Goes beyond a television show

    Dance India Dance season 4: Goes beyond a television show

    MUMBAI: From jaw dropping performances to locking and popping, from dashing hip hop moves to “slo-mo” style, the biggest dance reality show – Dance India Dance season 4 is back with a bang. Come 26 October, it will celebrate the passion of dancing every Saturday-Sunday at 9 pm only at Zee TV. The channel has signed a deal with wechat and Maruti continues to be its title sponsors and eight associate sponsors have been roped in.

    This season what is refreshing and new it’s the slogan, its time to “dance it out”! Sends out a strong message to its viewers that nothing is impossible to learn.. and dancing definitely not!
    Speaking on the launch, Zeel content head Ajay Bhalwankar states: “DID brings in raw talent from each nook and corner of the country. You dont need to be a star but your talent and passion for dance will say it all.”

    Produced by Essel Vision, the show will follow a format similar to the original season where 18 contestants are divided into three teams led by the masters. Episode after episode, the masters will groom and mentor their respective teams to face the dance ka Tashan. The show will be hosted by talented Jay Bhanushali and Grandmaster Mithun Da will continue to grace the platform with his characteristics wit, love and affection.

    So what new the season has in store for the viewers? While the original judge trio Geeta Kapoor, Remo D’souza and Terence Lewis will remain an insuperable part of the DID family, the channel welcomes some young blood onto the panel of judges this season.

    The new judges who has been roped in are Mudassar Khan, man who has choreographed in films like Bodyguard, Dabangg 2 and Ready. Second to the list, belonging to a family of choreographers, Shruti Merchant began her career assisting the choreography of films like All seasons of Dhoom, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and many more to her credits. Lastly, the third mentor started his career as an assistant to ace choreographer Farah Khan. Feroz khan is credited with smash hits like Maa da ladle and Johnny gaddaar.

    The judges feel that they are going to face tough challenges going forward. They believe that competition is not only for contestants but for them as well.

    So why the sudden change? Answers Zeel chief sales officer Ashish Sehgal: “Change is the sign of growth. We are proud of our choices for the fresh panel of mentors this season. At Zee, we always believe in making celebrities out of deserving talent. In my perspective freshness always brings newness. New judges will bring in new fans of dancing and that will also help to make the show better and also act as a differentiator. And they are very much capable of taking it to the the next level.”

    Agreeing on the fact, Essel Vision Productions Ltd producer Nitin Keni says: “Each of them comes with an impressive body of work in the field of dance. Moreover, is is their passion for dance that has landed the, these coveted positions on our panel of judges. “

    The channel is confident that the new judge trio will drive millions of enthusiasts across the country to Dance it Out.

    The dancing fever has stepped in with auditions being conducted on a large scale in major 16 cities receiving an overwhelming response from the dance lovers. To top it all, it is just not going to be a television show. Reveals Akashi Chawla: “We are taking up parallel dance india dance online. Just to say Dance it Out does not make sense till the time you actually bring it out in a complete manner.”

    Walking on the different lines, throughout the series, every week the masters will give out a theme and people all over can make a move of that particular theme and submit their videos. The best ones will be decided by the masters to go on-air. Adds Chawla: “the main objective is how do you give a platform to as many people possible in the most convenient manner. Everybody cannot be qualified in the auditions, so what else can you do for people who have passion to dance and great talent. So this was the strategy behind this.”

    More to its marketing side, the channel is also concentrating on on-ground activations also. The channel is expanding its foot forward in ten cities, giving them a particular theme which is relevant for that city at that particular time. It will tell people to come and dance to get momentum for that theme. “The entire marketing strategy behind this is dance it out should not just be a slogan but a movement. Because it is no longer only a television show, so how do we exemplify in a brand that people actually connect it with. At Zee, we always try to give some message out of the other.”

    So has it attracted the advertisers? Sehgal shoots confidently: “DID has been the darling of all advertisers. They were very excited when we told them about our plans on marketing and other activities. Because that gives them an opportunity to reach out to people at their homes. So through this way and platform, advertisers have another way. At the end of the day advertisers are looking to reach out to every consumers doors.”

    We all are aware that there are barrage of shows happening across all the channels. DID occupying a 9 pm slot, will it affect the ratings of other famous shows on other GECs? Answers Chawla: “it is not for the first time that we have come against any biggest show. GEC is all about different channels launching different shows. After all you are fighting your battle in a competitive world. People who don’t like competition and people who don’t want to do things against competition should retire very soon. “

    He further goes on to say that: “We love taking competition, we respect our competition and if the show is good and if the communication is clear, viewers will find time to watch different shows together. And they chose to watch the show which at that time they love the most. So all the best to all of us.”

    With ad cap rule coming in, are reality shows affected for Zee? “In most of the reality shows you always kind of Adhere to ad cap, we have never over run inventory because they are high priced shows. Moreover, there are high stake sponsors involved, you cannot dilute inventory on these shows. So ad cap is not going to affect us in any manner as far as reality shows are concerned,” signs off Sehgal.