Tag: Ashish Golwalkar

  • Ashish Golwlkar announces exit from SPNI after a seven-year stint

    Ashish Golwlkar announces exit from SPNI after a seven-year stint

    Mumbai: Indian media and entertainment industry veteran Ashish Golwalkar has left Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) after a seven year stint. A company spokesperson confirmed the development.

    He joined in December 2015 as senior VP and creative director of content before heading programming at SPNI’s flagship channel, SET, in April 2018. In his latest role, he was heading content at both SET and the digital business, which is SonyLIV.

    Prior to this, he had stints in WWIL, Zee Entertainment, and Disney-Star. He was with  ZEEl for over 11 years. He has over 20 years of experience spanning sales and marketing, content syndication, brand management, and content creation. He wrote and co-wrote multiple award-winning non-scripted formats in various genres across Zeel, Disney-FoxStar, and Sony Pictures. He has built content teams at Zeel and Star Plus.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India’s content-head Ashish Golwalkar resigns

    Sony Pictures Networks India’s content-head Ashish Golwalkar resigns

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India head content for Sonyliv & Sony Entertainment Television Ashish Golwalkar has decided to move on. He completed his six-year association with the channel successfully.  

    At SPN, he was responsible for the content programming on its flagship general entertainment channel (GEC) Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and its OTT platforms Sonyliv. While he was at Sony, it rolled out hit web series such as Scam: 1992, Rocket Boys, Undekhi, Avrodh, Gullak, Tabbar, The Whistleblower, Cubicles among others. He also was behind Shark Tank India and the revival of Indian Idol on SET.

    Golwalkar has more than 24 years of experience in sales and marketing, content syndication, brand management and content creation. He wrote/co-wrote multiple award-winning non-scripted formats during his association with leading broadcasters Sony Pictures Networks, Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Star India (Disney Star).

     

  • SonyLIV to stream ‘Gullak 3’ starting 7 April

    SonyLIV to stream ‘Gullak 3’ starting 7 April

    Mumbai: SonyLIV and TVF have joined hands to bring the third season of  “Gullak” on 7 April. Since its premiere in 2019, the show has been a fan-favourite because of its relatable storytelling and outstanding casting, said the platform.

    “We anticipated a great response to ‘Gullak,’ but what we received was unprecedented,” said Sony Pictures Networks India head – content SonyLIV and Sony Entertainment Television Ashish Golwalkar. “The audience loved the characters, the story, and everything that came with the show. This was reason enough to renew the series for the third time. It has resonated well with audiences due its compelling narrative, stellar cast, and honest depiction of a simple, middle-class Indian household. We are excited to partner with TVF once again to tell this beautiful story and are hopeful for a bigger and better season three.”

    The show continues with Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Harsh Mayar, and Sunita Rajwar reprising their respective roles. 

    “’Gullak’ instantly connected with the audience because of its simplicity,” said director Palash Vaswani. “People instantly connected with the experiences of an Indian middle-class family and their way of living. With the third season, our aim was to hold on to that sentiment and strengthen it with relatable instances and humour that make the story beautiful. It is a huge responsibility to deliver on expectations, and we hope our viewers enjoy this season as much as the previous ones.”

  • We’ve renewed most shows for next seasons: SonyLIV’s Ashish Golwalkar

    We’ve renewed most shows for next seasons: SonyLIV’s Ashish Golwalkar

    Mumbai: SonyLIV is planning a strong content slate for 2022 with the returning seasons of its popular franchises such as “Undekhi,” “Scam,” “Maharani,” “Gullak,” “Rocket Boys,” “Avrodh” and more. The OTT streaming service is also planning to release new series helmed by filmmakers Vikas Bahl, Imtiaz Ali and Subhash Kapoor.

    “This financial year is looking very exciting for us and we’re planning a strong content slate from the beginning of March this year to the end of March next year,” said Sony Pictures Networks India head content – Sony Entertainment Television and digital business Ashish Golwalkar. “Most of our shows have, fortunately, done well for us so they’re coming back for a second season. Some of them are genre defining shows such as ‘Scam’ and ‘Rocket Boys’. We’ve also renewed all our shows with Applause Entertainment including ‘Scam’, ‘Your Honor’, ‘Undekhi’ and ‘Avrodh’. All the shows that TVF have done for us are also returning including ‘Gullak’, ‘College Romance’, ‘Cubicle’, ‘Shantit Kranti’, ‘Girls Hostel’. So, we’ve renewed most of our shows for subsequent seasons.” 

    According to Golwalkar, the platform looks at 30-day viewership metrics, social media chatter and other indicators to take the call to renew a show for a new season. The video-on-demand platform’s latest show “Undekhi” was recommissioned almost immediately after the pandemic and will begin streaming on 4 March. Many of the shows that were launched in 2020 are looking at a delayed release due to the disruption of the pandemic.

    “’Undekhi’ was one our first shows that we dropped and the subscriber base then and the subscriber base today have a huge difference,” observed Golwalkar. “While I don’t think we are trend setters in any way, I can say that we’re very committed to our content lens and create shows that are engaging, slightly cerebral and very native in their appeal. We are also committed to our mission of telling stories of India.” By no means are we trend setters in any way. All I can say is that we are very committed to our content lens. We create shows that are engaging, slightly cerebral and very native. We are committed to our mission of telling stories of India.  

    On the regional piece, Golkwalkar said, “’Shantit Kranti’ season one did very well for us and you can expect a season 2. This year you’ll see at least five to six very good Marathi shows from us coming on SonyLIV.” 

    The platform is also strengthening its regional content library by acquiring popular South language films. “Increasingly the way people consume content is changing and they’re becoming language agnostic. And we believe that there is a lot of scope to explore content within the regional languages of India,” he added.  

    Its highly anticipated “Scam 2003: The Curious Case of Abdul Kareen Telgi” is also expected to release on the platform this year. “We’ve almost finished the writing and we’ll begin shooting by the end of March,” said Applause Entertainment head of content Deepak Segal. “The only detail we can share is that Scam 2003 is not a continuation of season one but is a completely new story,” revealed Golwalkar.

    “We look for longevity in our shows where we know that something like ‘Rocket Boys’ will be relevant even 50 years from now,” said Golwalkar.

  • SonyLIV’s ‘The Whistleblower’ to begin streaming on 16 Dec

    SonyLIV’s ‘The Whistleblower’ to begin streaming on 16 Dec

    Mumbai: SonyLIV has announced its latest fictional offering “The Whistleblower” that begins streaming on 16 December.

    Produced by StudioNEXT, the series features actors Ravi Kishan, Ritwik Bhowmik and Sonali Kulkarni in leading roles. Directed by Manoj Pillai, created and written by Ajay Monga, the series also features actors Ankita Sharma, Ashish Verma, Hemant Kher, Joy Sengupta, Riddhi Khakar, Sachin Khedekar and Zakir Hussain among others in prominent roles.

    The series is inspired by a series of true events across India. The show traces the journey of Dr Sanket played by Ritwik, a final year medical student who gets himself entangled in a chain of events that trigger chaos within a system. The repercussions of Sanket’s actions take a toll on his personal life and his world starts to crumble.

    Directed by Manoj Pillai, created and written by Ajay Monga, the series also features actors Ankita Sharma, Ashish Verma, Hemant Kher, Joy Sengupta, Riddhi Khakar, Sachin Khedekar and Zakir Hussain among others in prominent roles. “This is my first directorial-debut and I couldn’t have asked for a story better than this,” said Manoj Pillai. “The script is new-age, pathbreaking and bold. I am elated to be backed by SonyLIV and StudioNEXT who are known to push the bar and create authentic and gripping content.”

    “‘The Whistleblower’ is a fictional story but is absolutely relevant to India. We are happy to bring a power-packed narrative that has been put together by StudioNEXT, Manoj Pillai and Ajay Monga,” said Sony Pictures Networks India head – content SonyLIV and Sony Entertainment Television Ashish Golwalkar.

    “At StudioNEXT, it’s our endeavour to present to our viewers ‘entertainment shows with a purpose,” said StudioNEXT head Indranil Chakraborty. “In line with this thought, we are excited to present an impactful and compelling story with ‘The Whistleblower’. With a brilliant set of actors, the series has been spearheaded by a strong team led by the creative vision of Ritesh Modi. Ajay Monga’s writing and Manoj Pillai’s direction brilliantly work together bringing alive the story with utmost authenticity.”

    “‘The Whistleblower’ is a fictional story with shades of real incidents that have frequently occurred around us,” said StudioNEXT creative director Ritesh Modi. “Hence it was our priority to keep the story authentic and engaging in its narration. I am very delighted that the show stands high on parameters that makes it a compelling watch.”

    “‘The Whistleblower’ is a story of a privileged medical student who takes his lifestyle and opportunities for granted,” said writer and creator Ajay Monga. “His casual approach and reckless actions result in his own moral compass of right and wrong being compromised. Later, his conscience ultimately leaves him with no option but to turn into a Whistle-blower.

    “Playing a character like Sanket in ‘The Whistleblower’ has been challenging yet fulfilling,” said actor Ritwik Bhowmik. “The script and director’s vision helped me shape the character of Sanket and bring depth to it. I am grateful to SonyLIV and StudioNEXT for this career-defining opportunity.”

    “Jayraj’s character has been one of the most interesting one in my career,” said actor Ravi Kishan. “The character has many layers and needed to be played with utmost conviction. I hope the viewers find it interesting and enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed playing it.”

  • upGrad, Flipkart & Kia Motors come onboard as sponsors for ‘Shark Tank India’

    upGrad, Flipkart & Kia Motors come onboard as sponsors for ‘Shark Tank India’

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television is set to telecast “Shark Tank India” starting 20 December every Monday to Friday at 9 p.m. Produced by Studio Next, the show will see upGrad as ‘presenting’ sponsor, Flipkart as ‘co-powered by’ sponsor and Kia Motors as ‘associate’ sponsor, announced the channel in a statement.

    The first edition of “Shark Tank India” will feature seven ‘Sharks’ including Ashneer Grover (BharatPe founder and managing director), Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics CEO and co-founder), Peyush Bansal (Lenskart founder and CEO), Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals executive director), Anupam Mittal (Shaadi.com – People Group founder and CEO), Ghazal Alagh ( Mamaearth co-founder and chief mama) and Aman Gupta (boAt co-founder and chief marketing officer). The show will be hosted by Rannvijay Singha who will act as a guide for the pitchers on the show and the audience alike.

    The selected applicants or the ‘Pitchers’ will find themselves face-to-face with the ‘Sharks’ or the investors who will understand, assess and make an offer based on the applicant’s final ‘pitch.’

    “This revolutionary show that celebrates entrepreneurship perfectly aligns with the current sentiments across the country and we feel that there couldn’t have been a better time to launch this show,” said head content – Sony Entertainment Television and digital business Ashish Golwalkar. “Shark Tank India is an extremely relevant show for us and I believe that it has the potential to connect with the Indian audience as well.”

    “At Studio Next, it’s our endeavour to present to our viewers ‘entertainment with a purpose’ and shows like KBC, Scam 1992, Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii or soon to be released Whistleblower are a testament to our efforts,” said head – Studio Next Indranil Chakraborty. “In line with this thought, we are excited to bring a show like Shark Tank India that offers a unique viewing experience to the audience not only educating them but entertaining them at the same time.”

    Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the rights for the Indian adaptation of the globally successful business reality format – “Shark Tank,” which will be aired on Sony Entertainment Television. The format has reinvigorated businesses in over 40 countries since its first launch in 2001. With over 180 seasons; winning over 30 awards globally, “Shark Tank” is the world’s top business reality show. Since its first launch in 2001, as “Tigers of Money” in Japan, created by Nippon TV the format was later adapted as “Dragon’s Den” in 2005 in the UK and the show premiered in the US as “Shark Tank” in the year 2009. The format is distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television.

  • Sony Entertainment Television announces new show ‘Kaamnaa’

    Sony Entertainment Television announces new show ‘Kaamnaa’

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has announced its new show titled “Kaamnaa – Hoga Khwaahishon Aur Usoolon Ka Aamna Saamna.” Starting 15 November, the show will air every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm only on SET.  

    The slice of life drama tells the story of Akanksha and Manav, a middle-class couple with different ideologies. The lead roles are played by Chandni Sharma and Abhishek Rawat. Manav is a sincere government official and a loving family man who believes in living an honest life based on his principles. On the other hand, Akanksha is a devoted housewife and caring mother, but she has big dreams and desires to break away from the stereotypical middle-class environment and live a luxurious life. The conflict plays out as the story unfolds.

    “At Sony Entertainment Television, we always strive to engage the audience with stories that are not just relatable and entertaining but also thought-provoking. ‘Kaamnaa’ is one such show that mirrors the reality of every Indian household especially when it comes to making a choice between one’s middle-class values and aspirations,” said SET and digital business head of content Ashish Golwalkar.

    The show is produced by Cockcrow and Shaika Entertainment. “Sony Entertainment Television has been a pioneer in bringing forth simple, yet heartfelt concepts depicting the life and struggles of the common man. We are extremely delighted to present our passion project ‘Kaamnaa’ – that puts the spotlight on the middle-class society where one is constantly faced with conflicting ideologies,” stated Cockcrow and Shaika Entertainment head Rajesh Ram Singh.

    “Our characters Manav and Akanksha are two faces of the same coin, while one is a man of principles and believes in doing the right thing, the other has high aspirations of living a luxurious lifestyle. Through their journey viewers will get to witness how far one can go to fulfil their dreams,” added Singh.

  • SonyLIV announces new web series ‘Pulwama Key No 1026’

    SonyLIV announces new web series ‘Pulwama Key No 1026’

    Mumbai: SonyLIV has announced that it will create a series on the Pulwama terror attack called “Pulwama Key No 1026,” helmed by National award-winning director Onir. 

    The eight-episode show will be based on the book “The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur” by award-winning author and journalist Rahul Pandita. “As a journalist reporting from conflict areas, my endeavour always has been to lend a face to people who otherwise get buried in history as statistics. The soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack had names, lives, dreams, hopes of the future. So do those who investigated the case painstakingly, often putting themselves in danger. I am glad that with my friend Onir we will be able to tell these individual stories all woven in one epic drama,” said Pandita, about the upcoming project.

    On 14 February 2019, a gruesome terror attack claimed the lives of 40 Indian soldiers and evoked the nation’s anger. “The series is a tribute to all those martyrs whose dreams were blown to smithereens the minute the suicide bomber’s car hit the bus,” the streaming platform said in a statement. 

    “The Pulwama terror attack did not just claim the lives of 40 CRPF Jawans, it broke India and its people,” said director and showrunner Onir. “It’s a story every Indian should know, and I feel honored to helm this project along with writer Rahul Pandita.”

    “Since its revamp last year, SonyLIV’s constant endeavor has been to highlight stories of India that have a global relevance,” said Sony Pictures Networks India head of content for SonyLIV and Sony Entertainment Television Ashish Golwalkar. “Rahul Pandita’s book The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur is a noteworthy read and brings out the unknown facts about the incident and what ensued thereon. We are pleased to announce this project that’s backed by Onir, an amazing director.”

  • SonyLiv’s new comedy show ‘Chalo Koi Baat Nahi’ to take off  20 Aug

    SonyLiv’s new comedy show ‘Chalo Koi Baat Nahi’ to take off 20 Aug

    Mumbai: SonyLIV is set to launch a satirical comedy show titled “Chalo Koi Baat Nahi” on 20 August. The six-episode show is co-created by comedians Amit Tandon and Gursimran Khamba and it focuses on issues of a common man centered around media, trains, sports, hospitals, schools, and the environment.

    The show will be hosted by Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey, who will be coming together on-screen after almost a decade. It also features Kavita Kaushik, Karan Wahi, Suresh Menon and Atul Khatri alongside talent from the digital world such as Ankush Bahuguna and Kriti Vij amongst others. The show, originally in Hindi, will be dubbed in two languages – Tamil and Telugu.

    “Bringing diverse content to the digital space, SonyLIV aims to widen its reach and cater to the viewing interest of the audience,” said Sony Pictures Networks India, head – content, Sony Entertainment Television and digital business, Ashish Golwalkar. “We also strongly believe that relatable comedy shows in the entertainment space is the need of the hour. And Chalo Koi Baat Nahi, a satirical sketch comedy with great performances put up by the artists. The show interestingly captures the challenges of the common man while bringing in loads of laughter. As showrunners, Gursimran Khamba and Amit Tandon have been successful in creating an out and out family entertainer.”

    “It’s been truly fun and rewarding an experience working on Chalo Koi Baat Nahi. It’s unlike any other comedy-drama; it’s old school and the kind of show you can watch with your whole family,” said the showrunner Gursimran Khamba. “Besides, it’s a very classical format – In this show, we look at subjects like education, environment, etc. in India. The show brings to light important challenges that we face on a daily basis in an entertaining and light manner. Viewers can expect laughs, a lot of fun cameos from familiar people will help one unwind at the end of a hard day.”

    “It has been such a tremendous experience creating this show, working with Gursimran and a very talented crew that has given their best,” said the showrunner Amit Tandon. “There are about four sketches in each episode making it a total of 24 sketches and that increased the complexity of casting and production processes and involved a lot of switching between locations. It’s been a journey that we won’t forget, and we hope the audience enjoys watching it as much as we did making it.”

  • Sony TV ropes in 12 sponsors for KBC 13

    Sony TV ropes in 12 sponsors for KBC 13

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India has announced the 13th season of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), starting 23 August. Produced by StudioNEXT and hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, the show will air on Sony Entertainment Television, every weekday at 9 p.m. 

    The show has roped in BYJU’s and Cadbury Dairy Milk as ‘co-presenting’ sponsor, Hyundai Motor India, Asian Paints Royale Glitz, Ultratech Cement, and Zydus Wellness (Complan) as ‘co-powered by’ sponsor and CERA, Pharmeasy, IDFC First Bank, LIC of India, Bharat Matrimony as associate sponsors. The Reserve Bank of India has come on board as a ‘special’ partner.

    “For a show like KBC that has followed a certain creative pattern, it was time for us to break the mold and approach it differently. While digital auditions replaced the regular audition process, it didn’t deter the volume of entries. In fact, the ease of digital audition encouraged a lot more aspirants, based in the remotest areas possible to participate. We are happy with the spiritedness of each contestant, and we are hopeful that they fulfil their KBC journey,” said Sony Entertainment Television, head of content and digital business, Ashish Golwalkar. “While we did introduce AR (Augmented Reality) in the previous seasons, this year, the use of AR is far more superior and immersive. From refurbishing the entire set with the play of lights to the graphical elements and LED panels, India is the only country to host the format with the inclusion of such refined technological detailing. With distinct modifications to the game this season, we look forward to rewarding gameplay and promise an enhanced viewing experience to the audience.”

    “It’s the 21st year of my association with Kaun Banega Crorepati and I can never get enough of this show,” said Amitabh Bachchan. “It was probably for the first time, last season, that the studio audience wasn’t a part of the show and we saw a major change in the lifelines as well. I, for one, truly missed them and their energy… it’s infectious! I am happy that the studio audience is back this season with a newfound vigour and so is the lifeline – Audience Poll. It’s an enriching experience for me, each year, to be surrounded by contestants from all walks of life and I look forward to engaging and fulfilling gameplay. These contestants inspire me in every way,” Bachchan said.

    “It’s the 21st year of India’s longest-running show, and it’s heartening to know that KBC remains such a strong family favourite, that it still resonates with viewers across the social spectrum, and from all age groups,” said Siddhartha Basu, consultant for KBC season 13. “Each season, we’ve seen participants coming on to the hot seat from across the country, with varied levels of education and occupations, each with a distinct dream and story. Among a host of reasons that drive them, a key one is the search for ‘sammaan’ or respect. And they win that respect along with what can be life-changing amounts of winnings through a knowledge game. Gyan or knowledge is what provides a level playing field in our society, and viewers can now look forward to an exciting and entertaining new season of the show with a signature offering of gyan, dhan, and sammaan.”

    Fans of KBC may also log on to SonyLIV to participate in the gameshow via KBC Play Along, starting from 23 August, said the channel.