ITV

Tag: Anurag Thakur

  • Exclusive interview on Chandrayan 3 landing with minister Anurag Thakur on News18 India’s “Aar Paar”

    Exclusive interview on Chandrayan 3 landing with minister Anurag Thakur on News18 India’s “Aar Paar”

    Mumbai: News18 India’s flagship show “Aar Paar,” hosted by renowned journalist Amish Devgan, recently secured an exclusive interview with Anurag Thakur, the esteemed minister of sports, youth affairs, and minister of information and broadcasting. The interview delved into the remarkable success of Chandrayan 3, the latest lunar mission, which has garnered global acclaim for its cost-effectiveness and achievements.

    Chandrayan 3, hailed as the world’s most cost-efficient and successful lunar mission, has once again positioned India as a pioneering force in space exploration. Under the BJP government’s visionary leadership, the nation’s space endeavours have witnessed exponential growth, with a remarkable increase in space missions from a mere 1.2 during the UPA government to an impressive 5.2 missions annually.

    The latest achievement in the form of Chandrayan 3 marks another significant milestone following the success of the Mangalyan mission. A noteworthy record was set with the simultaneous launch of 104 satellites, a testament to India’s capabilities and determination in the space sector. The government’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship has led to the emergence of numerous startups, contributing to the nation’s technological advancement.

    The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, has exhibited unwavering faith in the nation’s scientists and has been instrumental in ushering in a new era for the Indian space sector. Minister Anurag Thakur emphasized that this government’s policies have opened unprecedented opportunities, effectively transforming dreams into tangible realities.

    In response to questions about political credit-taking, minister Thakur highlighted the intelligence of the Indian citizenry, stating that they are discerning enough to differentiate between genuine efforts and opportunistic claims. He underscored the government’s commitment by revealing a budget allocation 2.5 times greater than that of the UPA government, a clear testament to the administration’s dedication to advancing space exploration.

    Minister Thakur acknowledged the significant role played by the country’s scientists in the Chandrayan 3 mission and emphasized that the success was a collective endeavour. He expressed his view that while the opposition may adopt a psychology of seeking credit, the BJP government focuses on delivering practical results that transform aspirations into accomplishments.

    The interview also touched upon the topic of National Awards, further illustrating the government’s dedication to honouring outstanding contributions across various fields.

    The “Aar Paar” exclusive interview provided a comprehensive insight into India’s remarkable journey in space exploration under the BJP government’s leadership. minister Anurag Thakur’s candid responses shed light on the dedication, vision, and collaborative spirit that drive India’s accomplishments in the space sector.

  • Times Now Summit 2022 speaker line-up is out

    Times Now Summit 2022 speaker line-up is out

    Mumbai: Times Network has announced the latest edition of the Times Now Summit 2022, which will take place on 24 and 25 November in New Delhi.

    Times Now Summit is led by the theme “India: Vibrant Democracy. Global Bright Spot’ in order to accelerate the action plan for India’s progress.

    Addressing the nation’s strategic, geopolitical, and economic potential, the two-day summit will feature union ministers, chief ministers, opposition leaders, influencers, and global leaders driving dialogue on national priorities such as India’s trade strategy, economic growth, international relations, political landscape, military strategy, healthcare, infrastructure, and decarbonizing India’s energy & power sectors.

    The power-packed line-up of speakers at the summit includes minister of home affairs Amit Shah, minister of external affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, minister of textiles and commerce & industry Piyush Goyal, minister of information & broadcasting, youth affairs & sports minister Anurag Thakur, minister of petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of education, skill development & entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, minister of railways and communications & electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of women & child development Smriti Irani, minister of law & justice Kiren Rijiju, minister of environment & climate change Bhupender Yadav, Mos road transport and highways Gen V K Singh, Global Governance Forum chair & Trends World Bank former head Augusto Lopez Claros, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant,  PMEAC member Sanjeev Sanyal and NITI Aayog  CEO  Parameswaran Iyer, amongst others.

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “Times Now Summit is emerging as India’s most impactful platform for driving pertinent national agenda points. Amidst global headwinds, India is fast becoming an influential force in the new world order. Leading with the theme, “India: Vibrant Democracy. Global Bright Spot,” Times Now Summit 2022 will engage with eminent leaders across the globe to discuss and deliberate a definitive action plan, advancing India’s position to drive global growth.”

    Times Now Summit 2022 is presented by Herbalife Nutrition, co-powered by GE, and driven by Maruti Suzuki. State partners are the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand; e-mobility partner is Olectra Greentech; door-to-door express partner is Om Logistics; and associate partners are Indian Oil Corp. and Life Insurance Corp. of India.

  • India can be the post-production hub of the world: I&B minister Anurag Thakur

    India can be the post-production hub of the world: I&B minister Anurag Thakur

    Mumbai: “International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has become a platform for film directors from all over the world to showcase their work. I am sure that India will become a hub for co-production, post-production, film shooting, content, and also for the technology partners,” said the union minister for information & broadcasting and youth affairs & sports Anurag Thakur, during the inauguration ceremony of the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India at Panaji, Goa.

    Thakur added that his vision is to make India the most sought-after destination for film shoots and post-production, backed by the talent of our people and the innovation of our industry leaders.

    The minister went on to say that his vision for IFFI isn’t limited to a single event, but rather what IFFI should be when India celebrates its 100th year of independence, when we switch from Amrit Mahotsav to Amrit Kaal. “We aim to make India a powerhouse of content creation, especially regional cinema, by scaling up regional festivals. India can be the post-production hub of the world by leveraging the immense tech talent amongst our skilled youth,” he added.

    “For the first time, gala premieres of Indian, global, and OTT films will be held at IFFI, including the premiere of the fourth season of the globally acclaimed series Fauda, which features some of the biggest Israeli stars in the world today. I would also like to share that the next season of this show will also be launched at IFFI,” Thakur added.

    The minister further congratulated celebrated Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura for winning the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award this year. He also announced that the Indian Film Personality of the Year award will be conferred to South Indian actor Chiranjeevi.

    While sharing the achievements, Thakur pinpointed the importance of the Film Bazaar, which is being organised on the sidelines of IFFI. “For the first time, IFFI has augmented the scope of the ‘Film Bazaar’ by introducing ‘Country Pavilions,’” he added.

  • NFDC announces Satyajit Ray poster design contest winners

    NFDC announces Satyajit Ray poster design contest winners

    Mumbai: National Film Development Corporation Limited (NFDC) held an online film poster design contest in honour of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, who will be honoured at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa from 20 to 28 November. The contest’s theme was The One and Only Ray.

    Information & Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur expressed his appreciation and said, “I extend my congratulations to the three winners whose posters were selected out of hundreds of entries and the 75 top poster designers who meticulously created such imaginative film poster designs for the ‘One & Only Ray’ contest. I further extend my appreciation to the jury for their time and thoughtful selections. This 53rd IFFI is set to bring in a whole new experience for movie lovers from around the world, the excitement is catching on!”

    Artist Sayak Das was the winner of the contest while Varad Godbole was the first runner up and Aniruddha Chatterjee was the second runner up

    NFDC India managing director Ravinder Bhakar informed, “In honour of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the 100th anniversary of Ray and 39th birth anniversary, we held this contest for creative professionals with knowledge of art, visual communication, graphic design, and illustrative skills. Everything came together, and we now have our top 75 winners. We hope the general public will praise the film poster designs that will be on display at the 53rd IFFI.”

    The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) aims to provide a common platform for filmmakers from around the world to showcase their talent and the best of cinema from around the world. As the country commemorates the 75th anniversary of its hard-won independence with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav flags swaying in every state, 75 film poster designs from across the country have been chosen to be displayed for audiences in a unique exhibition of the legendary Satyajit Ray at the 53rd International Film Festival of India 2022.

    The jury, composed of renowned artists from the fields of art, cinema, and painting, selected the 75 best film posters from a total of 635 submissions. The entire process, including the jury and evaluation, was conducted online. The top three winners will receive cash prizes, as well as a souvenir created from the winning film poster designs, which will be presented to dignitaries during the 53rd IFFI.

    Filmmaker Shyam Benegal said, “The One and Only Ray film poster design contest at the 53rd IFFI honours Ray’s legacy both as a filmmaker as well as his considerable work as a typographer, and graphic designer-the last but not the least of the great masters of the Bengal Renaissance.”

    Indian painter & muralist Anjolie Ela Menon said, “I am obliged to be a member of the jury for the ‘One and Only Ray’ contest, the applicants and the innovative work reflected their sharp efforts. It is a proud moment for India; since we have a wealth of talent. I hope that applicants will hone their creative abilities and wish their earnest efforts will all be recognized in future. Adulation for the winners of the contest.”

    Veteran artist and animation film designer  Dhimant Vyas shared his views, “Overwhelmed by the calibre of the applicants, NFDC has done an outstanding job toward its objective of providing a platform for emerging film poster creative artists and designers and paying homage to the renowned Ray. I wish success to everyone who took part, the creatives were remarkable.”

    The jury, which included renowned artists from the fields of art, film, and painting, chose the 75 best film posters from 635 submissions. The entire process, including the jury and evaluation, was conducted online. The top three winners will receive monetary prizes, with the winner receiving Rs 1,000,000/-, the first and second runners up receiving Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively, as well as a souvenir created from these three winning film poster designs, which will be presented to dignitaries and eminent personalities attending the 53rd IFFI.

    Each jury panelist was given a unique login and password, and a scoring criteria was used to determine the winners: creativity and originality, theme relevance, visual contest, and visual impact.

    Imafoundation.com founder, artist and curator Radha Binod Sharma stated, “I am honoured and privileged to serve and conduct national duty for the NFDC organisation. This is a great initiative which has helped to bring prominence to the present and past cultural riches that exist in India. I come from a rich, and derp culture in the North-East of India, namely Manipur and Tripura and beyond my artistic work I am committed to identifying talented artists in India and worldwide. I appreciated and enjoyed viewing the exceptional works from the varied regions of our culturally diverse country and I was uplifted by how the applicants rose to the challenge of the contest and theme. As a result, I saw a lot of emerging talent with some impressive film poster designs which filled me with immense pride. Vande Mataram.”

    Artist Prakash Bal Joshi told, “Was joyous to be part of the esteemed jury & glad to adjudicate commendable artworks of the film poster designs inspired by Ray. Gratitude to all the efforts from the applicants as well as the team NFDC for this unique contest and ease of evaluation process.”

    Multi-media visual artist and academic Shukla Sawant said, “I had the opportunity to view the artists and creations while reviewing entries for this movie poster design contest, which was an absolutely wonderful experience. I am hoping that the audiences will find them equally appealing during the display. I congratulate the organizers of the 53rd IFFI for their unwavering support to the creative community.”

    The festival promotes understanding of various social and cultural ethos, as well as appreciation for world cinema, by bringing film cultures together. The NFDC received an overwhelming response to the contest, and the applicants’ level of creativity was exceptional, adhering to the contest’s theme. NFDC encourages everyone to be inspired by Ray’s work and legacy. During the 53rd IFFI 2022, the film poster designs will be on display at the Festival Mile.

  • The mainstream media channel poses the largest threat to the industry: I&B minister Anurag Thakur

    The mainstream media channel poses the largest threat to the industry: I&B minister Anurag Thakur

    Mumbai: The union minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur stated at the 47th annual gathering and 20th meeting of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) that the biggest threat to mainstream media is not new age digital platforms, but rather the mainstream media channel itself.

    He went on to say that true journalism was about confronting the facts, telling the truth, and giving all sides a platform to express themselves.

    The minister stated that inviting guests who are divisive, spread false narratives, and shout at the top of their lungs undermines a channel’s credibility.
    “Polarising debates pull down the credibility of the channel. Journalists are duty bound to report the news without fabrication,” he added.
    He further shared, “Your decisions regarding the guest, the tone, and visuals define your credibility in the eyes of the audience. The viewer may stop for a minute to watch your show, but will never trust your anchor, your channel, or brand as a trusted and transparent source of news.”

    Thakur urged the presenters not to let the narrative be defined by soundbites, but to redefine it themselves and set the terms for the guests and the channel.

    He prodded the audience, asking, “Are you going to watch as the younger audience switches and sweeps through the shrill on TV news, or are you going to bring back the neutrality in news and debates to stay ahead of the game?”

    Speaking on the theme of the event, “Building a stronger future for broadcasting in the post-pandemic era,” the minister remarked that, “though broadcast media is and has always been in the mainstream of journalism, the Covid 19 era has shaped its structure in a more strategic way. The Covid pandemic has taught us how the right and timely information can save millions of lives. It is the media which brought the world on one platform during this difficult phase and reinforced the spirit of one global family.”

    Presenting the role of the Indian media during the pandemic as a success story, he said that the media ensured that Covid-19 awareness messages, important government guidelines, and free online consultations with doctors reached everyone in the nook and corner of the country.

    Thakur also prodded the member countries to set up cooperation in the area of good quality content exchange. Program exchanges through such cooperation bring world cultures together. Such media partnerships between the countries help in building strong people-to-people bonds, he commented.

    In conclusion, the minister underlined that the media, in all its forms, has an immense ability to shape public perceptions and perspectives as an effective tool of empowerment. “It is imperative to create an enabling environment for our journalists and broadcasters to make the space of the media more vibrant and rewarding,” he added.

    At the event, the union minister of state for information and broadcasting (I&B) Dr. L Murugan, secretary of MIB Apurva Chandra, Prasar Bharati chief executive officer & AIBD president Mayank Agarwal, and AIBD director Philomena Gnanapragasam were present at the event.

    Agarwal highlighted that with an increase in the use of the internet in broadcasting, the training of journalists in cyber security journalism has become imperative. He added that AIBD is the first set up to take this up as part of its training programs.

    Philomena Gnanapragasam said that content is going to determine the future of media and how the content is shared and monetised will determine the future of broadcasting. She also thanked all the delegates and representatives of various organisations for their presence.

  • Sachin Tendulkar to lead India Legends Road Safety World Series season 2

    Sachin Tendulkar to lead India Legends Road Safety World Series season 2

    Mumbai: Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar will lead defending champions India Legends in the second edition of the Road Safety World Series (RSWS), scheduled to be played from 10 September to 1 October 2022 in Kanpur, Raipur, Indore and Dehradun.

    Kanpur will host the opener, and Raipur will host the two semi-finals and final.

    New Zealand Legends are the new team in this edition and they will join the Legends of India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, and England during the 22-day event played primarily to create awareness towards road safety in the country and around the globe.

    The Road Safety World Series (RSWS) is supported by the ministry of road transport and highways, the ministry of information and broadcasting, and the ministry of youth affairs & sports. 27th Sports, backed by US-based 27th Investments, is the exclusive marketing rights holder of the league, while Professional Management Group (PMG) is the event management partner.

    Speaking about the Road Safety World Series Season 2, Road Transport & Highways union minister Nitin Gadkari said, “The Road Safety World Series is a very good initiative to create awareness towards road safety through cricket. We want every individual in this country to be aware of and obey every rule and regulation while on the road, and for that to happen, we have to create awareness among the people. I strongly believe that this series will be able to do and achieve the goal of saving lives on Indian roads.”

    Wishing all success to the event, I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports union minister Anurag Thakur said, “I am sure the Road Safety World Series will drive social change and work as an ideal platform to influence people’s mindset towards their behaviour on the road and road safety.”

    Viacom18 Hindi movies cluster business head Rohan Lavsi said, “Cricketing legends, a burning social cause and media platforms with unparalleled reach across India… The Road Safety World Series Season 2 has all the hallmarks of being a blockbuster! The league just got bigger with the inclusion of the New Zealand Legends and multiple cricketing legends across eight teams. This season we will be broadcasting the league on Colors Cineplex, Colors Cineplex Superhits and the newly launched Sports18 Khel while it will be digitally streamed on Voot and Jio. We want to ensure that cricket lovers throughout the country can watch the league across multiple platforms like cable TV, DTH, Free Dish and digital.”

    27th Sports CEO and co-founder Sangeet Shirodkar said, “The good thing about the Road Safety World Series is that it has support from all quarters. It is also not just about the legends, but a great platform for the automobile industry and road safety campaigners to show their commitment towards road safety using India’s most popular medium — cricket. We expect the RSWS to be a massive success with the audience on the ground and on television.”

  • I&B minister Anurag Thakur launches Bharat24

    I&B minister Anurag Thakur launches Bharat24

    Mumbai: The union minister for information & broadcasting and sports & youth affairs Anurag Thakur, launched the new national Hindi news channel, The tagline of the channel is “Vision of new India!”

    Speaking at the launch event on Sunday, Thakur wished all the best to the team. “I congratulate Dr Jagdeesh Chandra and the entire team of Bharat24 on this new venture. The media is the fourth pillar of democracy and should work as a bridge between the government and the public and I am sure Bharat24 will execute this responsibility with utmost seriousness,” he said.

    Bharat24 CEO and editor-in-chief Dr Jagdeesh Chandra commented, “We assure the minister that Bharat24 will reflect the aspirations of the youth, the multi-polarity of emerging India and will work as a bridge between our audience and the government.”

    Bharat24 managing editor Ajay Kumar, Bharat24 chief business officer & strategic partner to the board Manoj Jagyasi, Bharat24 senior editor Syed Umar, Bharat24 senior anchors Mimansa Malik, Sachin Arora, Naina Yadav and Poornima Mishra, editorial consultant Shashikant Sharma, political editor Aditi Nagar, and others were present during the launch.

    Kumar said, “The union government of India, various state governments, multilateral agencies, and international partners of India, all together, have come a long way in building the New India. We, Bharat 24, believe that a positive connection between the governments, state policies & the people at large is the need of the hour.”

    Adding to this, Jagyasi commented, “With bureaus in all states, Bharat 24, will set a benchmark for news reporting and branding. It is a matter of pride that on the first day of launch, the channel has opened with many credible advertisers and we shall only grow bigger and better as time goes on,” he added.

    Bharat24 will be available on all major DTH & cable platforms, including Tata Play – 531, Dish TV – 667, D2H – 750, Airtel DTH – 373, DEN – 318, Radiant – 308, RM Network – 109, Siti Network – 312, Hathway – 217, ICNCL WB – 175, Digiana Cable – 308, Haldwani Digital Services – 110.

  • Amit Shah launches Doordarshan’s new serial ‘Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram ki Samagra Gatha’

    Amit Shah launches Doordarshan’s new serial ‘Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram ki Samagra Gatha’

    New Delhi: The mega historical new Doordarshan’s Hindi serial ‘Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram ki Samagra Gatha’ was launched by Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday.

    Launching the serial, he said the objective of “Swaraj” would be achieved in a true sense only if the country’s languages, dharma, culture and arts are preserved and its history passed on to future generations.

    Sharing his thoughts on this new show, Shah recalled the time stalwarts like Pandit Jasraj and Ustal Bismillah Khan had said that if it had not been for Akashwani, they would not have existed. “It is not possible to spread the expression of the essence of India without Doordarshan & All India Radio,” he said.

    The minister deliberated on the meaning of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and said it is not just a celebration of our freedom struggle but also of the achievements of the past 75 years since independence, of the sacrifices of the sung and unsung heroes of our freedom struggle.

    “This is also a time when we are visualizing the contours of the future of India and India is only going to attain greater heights of excellence from here,” he added.

    Swaraj is a 75 episode serial produced in 4K/HD quality and will air every Sunday from 9-10 pm on Doordarshan National from 14 August.

    It is being dubbed in nine regional languages along with English. The serial in regional languages Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Oriya, Bengali and Assamese will be broadcast on Doordarshan’s regional channels from 20 August. Starting from the landing of Vasco-da-gama in 1498 the serial presents a rich saga of the heroes of this land.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Anurag Thakur remarked that Doordarshan and All India Radio had done a commendable job of reviving the valiant stories of over 550 freedom fighters and enabling the acquaintance of the younger generations with these unsung heroes.

    Speaking about the serial, the minister said, “It is aimed at reimagining the vision behind the idea of swaraj and tell the stories of the leaders that moulded that idea into a reality. The serial is a manifestation of our pride in these heroes from the past. With satisfaction in his expressions, the minister stated that intense research had gone into making the serial and information and documents have been collected from all the corners of the country to bring to life these stories from our freedom struggle.”

    The Union Minister of State for I&B Dr L. Murugan, Secretary of I&B Apurva Chandra and Prasar Bharati CEO Mayank Agarwal were also present during the launch. Various members of parliament, senior officials of the ministry, Doordarshan and All India Radio news were present on the occasion.

    Speaking on the occasion, Prasar Bharti chief executive officer Mayank Agarwal said, “The serial will be broadcast on Akashwani along with Doordarshan.”

    Agarwal expressed his gratitude to the team behind the production of this serial for their extensive research and diligence.

  • Govt. creates a conducive environment to attract foreign investments in M&E sector including visual effects & animation

    Govt. creates a conducive environment to attract foreign investments in M&E sector including visual effects & animation

    Mumbai: The government is continuously making efforts to portray India as an ‘incredible destination’ globally for filming. To make it a reality, the centre is focusing on various ways to ease out doing business in India, especially in the film and visual effects & animation sector. The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has offered foreign filmmakers incentives, which will provide an impetus to the Indian media & entertainment sector in future. “Media & entertainment, including visual effects and animation, is one of the fastest growing industries in the country,” the I&B minister Anurag Thakur told the Lok Sabha recently.

    To boost the growth of the sector, Thakur further added that the government has set up the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) under the aegis of the National Film Development Corp.(NFDC), for providing a single window facilitation & clearance mechanism to accord online permissions for film shooting in India for both international & domestic filmmakers. In addition to this, NFDC organises “Film Bazaar” at the International Film Festival of India in Goa every year, which is the largest South Asian film market and attracts investors from around the world. The event encourages creative minds to come under one platform and collaborate with South Asian & international film communities.

    The minister also emphasized attracting investment from foreign filmmakers and promoting India as a preferred filming destination. The government announced in May two schemes i.e., an incentive scheme for audio-visual co-production and an incentive scheme for the shooting of foreign films in India to increase investment and boost the growth of the M&E industry.

    Currently, India has audio-visual co-production treaties with 15 countries, he mentioned and added, “This further enables international producers to invest in Indian projects.” Such collaboration helps in the effective contribution of technical, creative, and artistic personnel of the participant countries. Thakur mentioned that local IP creation and outsourcing work for foreign studios are key drivers of growth in the animation and visual effects industry.

    “The contribution of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute and the Film & Television Institute of India via courses on animation and visual effects is providing skilled manpower in the industry,” he told Lok Sabha while answering a query.

    He mentioned that the government has also set up a task force earlier to unleash the potential scope of the animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC) industry. The task force will monitor the development of progressive policies, promote growth and recommend incentives for increasing foreign direct investment in the AVGC sector. It will also help in developing world-class creative talent to meet domestic and global demand.

    The M&E ecosystem is a sunrise sector and is expected to generate revenue of Rs 4 lakh crore annually by 2025 and reach Rs 7.5 lakh crore (100 billion dollars) by 2030.

  • Prasar Bharati looks for exclusive OTT partner to bring ‘Swaraj’ to global audience

    Prasar Bharati looks for exclusive OTT partner to bring ‘Swaraj’ to global audience

    Mumbai: Prasar Bharati has invited applications from OTT platforms for the exclusive global licence for its programme Swaraj for three-years. The bidding process will be done via e-auction.

    The public broadcaster set the reserve price for 75-episode Hindi programme at Rs 26.25 crore plus GST. Any incremental bid beyond the reserve price must be Rs 5 lakh and multiples thereof. The last date for submission for the applications is 4 August.

    Produced by Contiloe Pictures, the series was announced by minister of information and broadcasting (MIB) Anurag Thakur on 25 July and is scheduled to telecast on Doordarshan network on 14 August on the eve of India’s 75th year of independence.

    The programme commissioned by Prasar Bharati is focused on the unsung heroes and battles of India’s independence all across the country. Originally produced in Hindi, the series will also be dubbed in English and nine other languages including Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati.

    On winning the bid for the programme, the OTT platform shall be authorised to upload and store the series on its server for the purpose of transmitting the programme to audiences via the OTT platform, either free of cost or behind the paywall, as per the terms and conditions of the licence agreement.

    Each episode of the programme will be available on the OTT platform after 48 hours of its first telecast on Doordarshan network.