MUMBAI: Extremely sad news for the the Indian television industry. Our sister website Tellychakkar.com has learnt that television actress (Balika Vadhu fame) Pratyusha Banerjee attempted suicide earlier in the day today (1 April 2016) and was rushed to Kokilaben Hospital, where she was admitted and later pronounced dead.
To Read more: Click here
http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/pratyusha-banerjee-commits-suicide-160401
MUMBAI: Extremely sad news for the the Indian television industry. Our sister website Tellychakkar.com has learnt that television actress (Balika Vadhu fame) Pratyusha Banerjee attempted suicide earlier in the day today (1 April 2016) and was rushed to Kokilaben Hospital, where she was admitted and later pronounced dead.
To Read more: Click here
http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/pratyusha-banerjee-commits-suicide-160401
MUMBAI: Balika Vadhu has been one of the most successful and longest running shows of Indian Television and has crossed many milestones over the years. Anandi’s character has found a special place in everyone’s heart and has been one of the most loved characters till date. Drawing inspiration from Anandi’s appeal when she was a child, COLORS has associated with Sphereorigins to launch a home-grown animated series as a first-of-its-kind extension of a popular Hindi television character called ‘Chhoti Anandi’. Taking the first step towards building its Sunday morning programming, COLORS and Rishtey will simulcast ‘Chhoti Anandi’ starting January 17, 2016 every Sunday at 10am.
A first-of-its-kind, fun filled animated series will capture adventures of Anandi’s playful childhood. Chhoti Anandi is an 8 year old brave, righteous child and an apple of everyone’s eye. She is wise beyond her years and is known to find innovative and unique ways to solve problems of her village folks. The series will highlight her entertaining yet mischievous side as she explores innumerable escapades in the company of her friends in the by lanes of a village in Rajasthan.
Commenting on the launch, COLORS CEO Raj Nayak said, “Over the past 7 years, Anandi’s character has appealed to viewers across the globe. Taking note of her sustained popularity, we have decided to launch a homegrown animated series Chhoti Anandi. This is for the first time on Indian television that a popular fiction show character is being adapted into an animated series. Through ‘Chhoti Anandi’, we plan to engage and strengthen our bond with the tiny tot audience and present a show that is visually appealing and entertaining at the same time.”
Chhoti Anandi and her pack of friends aka Chhote Sipahi – Nattu, Champa, Phuli and Chiku will be seen going on an adventurous joyride from Amazon Jungle, to the era of Dinosaurs, and also to the period when kings and queens reigned. Additionally, audience will get to see a similar backdrop, color and music as that of Balika Vadhu with an inspiring message for the viewers at the end of every episode.
Speaking about the concept of ‘Chhoti Anandi’, producer Sujoy Waddhwa, CMD – Sphereorigins said, “It is a challenging prospect to translate a fictional character into an animated series like ‘Chhoti Anandi’ who is wise beyond her age and will question society’s regressive norms. The show will not be an animated representation of the story of Balika Vadhu, but Chhoti Anandi’s adventures. Chhoti Anandi’s tales will encourage young viewers to learn life lessons in the simplest manner and put them to practical use. This series will be a delight to watch for the kids’ audience and will cater to their entertainment need as this is the very first kind of animation show which will be shown on any GEC channel.”
Hop Motion CEO Anish Patel added, “Chhoti Anandi’, our first association with COLORS and Sphereorigins, is a very special project for us. It is the first time a popular television character has been adapted for an animated series. The brief was to maintain the inherent Indian-ness and the essence of Anandi’s character in a fun manner, and we combined superior graphics with vibrant colours in the hope of providing viewers with an engaging proposition.”
As ‘Chhoti Anandi’ prepares to launch simultaneously on COLORS and Rishtey, the channel has planned an extensive marketing and digital promotional strategy to create maximum recall among audiences across age-groups.
MUMBAI: What’s common between Star Plus’ Saath Nibhana Saathiya and Colors’ Sasural Simar Ka and Swaragini, which incidentally have also been among the top rated shows across the Hindi general entertainment channels (GEC) genre?
The answer is simple – Rashmi Sharma Telefilms. All three chart topping shows have been produced by this decade old production house.
Apart from the three mentioned above, the production house currently has another three shows running across channels including Bhagyalakshmi and Santoshi Maa on &TV as well as Sarojini on Zee TV. What’s more, come 4 January, 2016 and Rashmi Sharma Telefilms will be taking its total shows on air tally to seven with the launch of Silsila Pyaar Ka on Star Plus, which will be aired in the 8.30 pm time band.
What’s more, after trying its hand at different genres, Rashmi Sharma Telefilms is now planning to dabble into yet another genre. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Rashmi Sharma Telefilms producer Rashmi Sharma says, “We are working on a comedy concept but it’s too early to talk about it. But yes, in 2016 we might come up with a comedy show.”
Throwing light on the production house’s run on Indian television so far, she further adds, “It’s purely hard work and the consistency that we maintain in changing the thought process of the shows. Not only with Saath Nibhana Saathiya or Sasural Simar Ka but with other shows like Swaragini and Santoshi Maa as well; we keep innovating with content and introduce new twists and turns, which makes the shows interesting and lively.”
Saath Nibhana Saathiya and Sasural… are the banner’s two longest running shows and are also among the top five shows in Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India’s ratings. “One show is based on a Gujarati family, while the other is a Delhi based story and both stories are completely different from each other. We started with Simar’s story in Sasural Simar Ka but today the elements in the show are different. Not only that, they are also different from other shows that are on television. We try to maintain the DNA of our shows throughout their journey,” informs Sharma.
The production house’s newest offering, Silsila Pyaar Ka revolves around the story of a mother who has controlled her son’s life and wants to write every chapter of his life. The story creates a twist when a girl enters his life.
Silsila Pyaar Ka is replacing Balaji Telefilms’ Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan, which was launched on 29 September. Speaking on the same, Sharma says, “I can’t comment on the show as I have never seen it but I believe every show has its own destiny. When I started my shows Saathiya… and Sasural… I never thought that the shows would cross 1300 episodes. We believe in hard work and TRP is something, which is not in our hands. We look for quality and ratings are just the motivation to do better. But one can’t make shows on the basis of ratings. I still remember till about 80 episodes of Swaragini, we sustained at an average level but we never pulled down the show because of ratings. We never touched the foundation of the show. Even with Saathiya,till 100 episodes the show didn’t work well but we didn’t take off the show and today it’s one of the top shows on Star Plus.”
Talking about the early prime time slot that Saath Nibhana Saathiya created with its popularity, Sharma says, “For our show Saathiya, we waited for seven months for the time slot and at that time 7 pm was the slot that the channel agreed to give. As a production house we were excited to launch the show and it created its own prime time. It has worked well for us and for the channel as well. Even with Sasural Simar Ka, the channel was ready to give us the 7.30 pm time band as at 8 pm they had Balika Vadhu. Moreover, their others shows were also doing well and so we opted for 7.30 pm and it worked again. Initially Sasural Simar Ka didn’t work well and took time to establish. Today, it is one of the top rated shows on the channel.”
With seven shows on air and another in the pipeline, the production house sure seems upbeat about its journey ahead.
MUMBAI: If there is one thing that everyone wishes for, it is that their children do not go through the hardships that they have faced in their own life. The story will come a full circle on Colors flagship show, Balika Vadhu as an 11-year leap sets the stage for a new era led by Anandi’s daughter, Nimboli whose lost childhood is shrouded by the travails of being a child bride. Leading a chaste life with the only family she has truly known since birth, it is Nimboli’s endearing personality that pulls at the heartstrings of everyone around her.
As the show becomes the longest running daily drama series on Indian television with maximum number of episodes, Nimboli’s journey on Balika Vadhu kicks off starting 4 March, 2015 and will air every Monday to Saturday at 8:00 PM on the channel.
Commenting on the new age dawning in Balika Vadhu, Raj Nayak, CEO – COLORS, said, “The success of Balika Vadhu is synonymous with our success as an entertainment channel because it become a key identifier for our offerings to viewers. Over the years, Balika Vadhu has become a global phenomenon through characters which resonate with viewers across the world. As we now enter a new phase on the show, with the promise to showcase newer entertainment avenues, we are proud to celebrate the milestone of being the longest running fiction drama on Indian television. This landmark achievement could not have been possible without our viewers’ unending love and relentless support and the hardwork of our creative team and our producers”.
As the story moves forward by 11 years, Balika Vadhu will now highlight the life of Anandi’s daughter Nandini who, unknown to her mother, has been subjected to a thali wedding when kidnapped as an infant. A single mother and widow, Anandi’s heart cries out for her missing daughter. But, she eventually finds solace in becoming a social activist after establishing a gurukul for women who have been wronged in life. Even as Anandi’s yearning for her daughter continues to grow over the years as she prays for her daughter’s welfare, Nandini is rechristened as Nimboli by her tough-to-please in-laws who consider her to be as bitter as the fruit of a neem tree. Nimboli has one dream…to be free and enjoy her life, but her dreams are quashed by her insensitive in-laws and husband.
Growing up in a household where gender bias and inequality are the way of life, Nimboli finds an ally in Mangala Devi who is her guiding light and supporter through every hardship that comes her way.
Commenting on the new era, Manisha Sharma, Programming Head – COLORS, said, “After entertaining viewers through a record-breaking no of episodes, Balika Vadhu is now ready for a brand new chapter to unfurl in the lives of Anandi and her children. The unpredictable journey peppered by sharp twists in Anandi’s journey has enabled us to deliver meaningful content to our viewers every single day. Over the past 7 years, we have not only showcased the story of a child bride, but also touched upon various issues such as adult education, widow remarriage, adoption and many more which have established Anandi as the face of change. And now, as Nimboli’s life as the new Balika Vadhu is about to begin, the story comes a full circle with child marriage being at the helm of a new journey on the show.”
Speaking about the new phase in the show, Toral Rasputra aka Anandi, said, “Balika Vadhu has been all about Anandi for the past 7 years. And now, as Anandi’s daughter finds herself caught in the same situation and history is repeating itself, a new journey is set to begin…from the eyes from Nimboli. Over the years, Anandi’s stature has grown by leaps and bounds, and she has, today, become the voice of reason which the entire country looks up to. Portraying the character of a mother whose child has been snatched from her arms has many emotional nuances which have helped me grow as an actor. I hope that the viewers are supportive of this new undertaking in Balika Vadhu and give as much love to Nimboli as they have to Anandi.”
As the story Balika Vadhu readies to move forward, COLORS has roped in 11-year-old Baroda resident, Gracy Goswami to portray the character of young Nimboli whose life and dreams have been compromised since she was an infant.
Stepping into the shoes of Anandi’s daughter, Gracy Goswami aka Nimboli said, “For more than a year now, I have watched Balika Vadhu with my mother and wondered it is like for young girls who find themselves trapped in this situation. Nimboli is much like me – a mischievous young girl with a whole lot of questions in her mind. Balika Vadhu is an educative show highlighting the wrongs that happen in our society, and I feel extremely lucky to be playing the daughter of an inspirational character like Anandi. I hope that fans of the show enjoy watching me on screen and support my character.”
Speaking about the leap, producer Sunjoy Waddhwa from Sphere Origins said, “When we launched Balika Vadhu, little did we know that the show will become the phenomenon that changed the face of Indian television to what it is today. It is extremely satisfying for us to see the show’s popularity continue soar as Balika Vadhu becomes the longest running drama on television. Balika Vadhu has been a beacon of change in the society and we hope that the fresh perspective through the eyes of Nimboli will continue to find mass appeal amongst viewers across the country.”
MUMBAI: Focusing on providing content to subscribers and expanding its network in markets around the world, YuppTV today announced the launch of Colors, MTV, and News 18 channels in Singapore and Malaysia region. With this move, YuppTV’s offerings have become stronger in Singapore and Malaysia regions, delivering 200 plus Indian TV channels worldwide in 12 Indian languages, as live TV, 10 days of catch-up TV, along with unlimited movies.
IndiaCast group chief operating officer Gaurav Gandhi said, “With the launch of Colors, MTV India and News 18 on YuppTV in Singapore and Malaysia we have further strengthened our partnership with the platform. We are committed to deliver quality entertainment and news services to South Asian audiences across the globe and are confident that our content will be enjoyed by audiences in Singapore and Malaysia.”
While Colors features a number of shows such as Comedy Nights with Kapil, Balika Vadhu, Shastri Sisters, Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi, and Bigg Boss 8, MTV aims to entertain young people through its innovative content.
“Meeting the high demand for Indian television in Singapore and Malaysia, we are pleased to take popular channels, Colors, MTV and News 18 to TV viewers in these regions. We are confident that TV viewers from Singapore and Malaysia will be delighted to watch their favourite shows in the comfort of their home,” commented YuppTV CEO Uday Reddy.
MUMBAI: Storytelling is an art and many have mastered it. Television, which is the biggest platform after films, gives thousands of writers the perfect setting to tell a story. Some stories manage to touch a chord with the viewers and go on for hundreds of episodes while some are shelved within a few months itself.
At a glance, television in India seems to have progressed in their storytelling efforts but unfortunately, there are still many tales that are lost in the industry.
“Almost 15 years ago, I wrote a show called ‘Ab Ke Baras’. We had put in a lot of effort and almost all the paper work was done, but after three months of hard work, it got shelved,” says Balika Vadhu screenplay writer Gajra Kottary. She adds,
“Another show of mine that got dropped was ‘Ek Admee’. It was directed by Ajai Sinha and was supposed to be aired on NDTV Imagine. We had already shot a year worth of episodes before it was put on hold.”
Kottary is not alone. Balaji Telefilms creative director Nivedita Basu, who was involved in the remake of Sherlock Holmes which was slated to air on Life OK, tells us that despite having a great cast comprising film actors Arjun Rampal, Vivek Oberoi, Vir Das and Sharman Joshi, the show did not eventually take off. She explains, “We had a stellar cast and the series was going to be directed by Rohan Sippy. It was an expensive project and the show had a lot of potential. However, after doing a lot of back and forth with the channel, the show got shelved.”
In 2001, film director Imtiaz Ali had directed a light-hearted series named ‘Yeh Jeevan Hain’. The show was produced by the existing creative head of Epic, Ravina Kohli, who recalls that the programme, which was expected to air on one of the leading GECs, was unfortunately shelved due to it being “too progressive”.
She states, “We had spent almost six months shooting, editing and canned 13 episodes. At that time, however, the saas-bahu trend was on the rise so the channel shelved it.”
There are many reasons for projects not making to television screens. Broadcasters need to be sure if the proposed show will generate the desired ratings. According to Basu, another reason for series being put on hold could be a channel’s incapacity to justify the expenses involved.
Writer and producer, Ila Bedi Dutta agrees that a lot of money is involved and broadcasters need to analyse the content before giving the green signal. She asserts, “There is a lot of competition in the television industry. Channels today place a lot of emphasis on research. Sometimes they have an annual programming plan where the pitched programmes do not fit.”
Presenting another perspective to the story, Kottary reveals that more often than not television shows get held back due to a change in programming heads of a channel. When there is a midstream change in the programming heads, producers are almost sure that stories, which are in process, will never see the light of the day and are left in a lurch.
Apart from these, the absence of creative elements also plays a role in shows getting shelved. Producer of Diya Aur Baati Hum, Sumeet H Mittal believes that sometimes what looks good on paper might not turn out to be that great when it is finally developed. He adds, “Although, normally it does not happen, but at times a show can even get shelved when the shoot is on, post approval. Nobody can predict TRPs, so generally channels go with their understanding and gut feeling.”
There are also unpredictable instances that can cause a hindrance. Basu recalls, “My team and I worked on Kyunki Returns for almost four to five months. The whole idea was to get the old cast back together including Smriti Irani herself. We did not want to go with a new cast as the essence of the show lied in all the characters. They had a history. Smriti had even given her dates but then she became a cabinet minister. As a result, the show did not happen.”
The amount of time that a channel takes to approve a show is in itself extensive. While Kottary explains that the entire approval process can take up to two to three months, Dutta informs that it took her nearly six to seven months to get the approval for Hitler Didi. “The approval process is long. Some channels have an audio pilot, where the entire concept is narrated and played to a sample audience while other channels have a visual pilot. The pilot episode plays a crucial role in deciding the fate of the pitched show,” adds Dutta.
However, there is a silver lining as well. Mittal points out that the makers, who have a good rapport with a channel, get their shows approved very fast. Emphasizing on the same point, Basu highlights that the approval process and time differs from producer to producer. She claims, “If you are an Ekta Kapoor pitching for a show, the programme is likely to get approved within a week as channels are aware that Ekta gives her heart and soul to the story. However for a new producer, it could take anywhere between three to six months.”
So, what happens to all these untold stories? Are they chucked aside and never revived?
Dutta, who remains hopeful that one day her shelved shows will see the daylight, frankly confesses that she is clueless as to what happens to all these lost stories. Kottary, on the other hand, admits that if she passionately feels about a story, she would look at other mediums. “Sometimes, I could take the subject of the shelved serial and put it as track in an existing serial,” she states.
Mittal points out that if the channel is paying for the pilot episode, there is no way a producer can look at pitching to other mediums or channels. This is because the content becomes the rightful property of the channel and stays with them only till they decide to revive the show. He, however, adds that if he shoots a pilot at his own cost and pitches it to a channel which then gets rejected; he can consider taking it other mediums such as online or making a short film out of it.
Dutta discloses that she had recently shot a pilot for Zee and is currently waiting for the feedback. She shares, “Hitler Didi was something different and Zee supported me a lot. Zee, as a channel is very forward thinking. I feel they encourage fresh stories more than other channels do.”
Well, much could be said about the television industry’s storytelling efforts. Although there are several untold stories, a show being shelved is just a part and parcel of the industry.
“While there is a tremendous sense of wasted effort, one does get used to it over a period of time,” Kottary signs off.
MUMBAI: Many have been vocal about women and their rights, but only a few have been able to bring in the change.
One man through his writing is doing just the same. He can even be categorised as someone who has been instrumental in shaping how daily soaps show a woman’s role in and outside her house. Telling the stories of women in shows like Astitva- Ek Prem Kahani and Saath Phere on Zee TV and Balika Vadhu on Colors is none other than Purnendu Shekhar.
For ‘The Content Hub’, indiantelevision.com spoke to Shekhar, who comes with a belief that to be a good storyteller, one needs to first understand his/her family especially the women who run the house and their lives.
When he joined the TV industry, it was dominated by highly dramatised melodramatic series like Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. He tried to cut out of that tradition by bringing in realism through Astitva – Ek Prem Kahani.
According to him, if cinema is predominantly male dominated, it is the TV, which represents the female. “In most cases, television serials are known for the women characters in it,” says Shekhar. As he always makes the central character emotionally strong and vibrant, he has chosen only female protagonists, so far. He puts them in difficult situations, and sees how they cope up.
Six and half years and still running strong, Balika Vadhu today is considered as one of the longest running show on television. Was it a tough nut to crack? Agreeing to it, Shekhar says that in today’s scenario where new channels are mushrooming every now and then; there are tons of stories being told on television. “With every channel narrating stories on a daily basis, sometimes the idea doesn’t remain new anymore,” says Shekhar.
A writer’s biggest task is how he moulds different storylines and characters together without losing the essence of the plot. “That’s the challenging job. It’s not easy to narrate or churn out new/ fresh ideas on a daily basis. More than the idea, how you approach a story is the biggest challenge.”
He cites the example Astitva where he had used certain elements that viewers had already seen in Balaji’s shows, but what was different, was the approach. He goes on to say that writers don’t create anything new, but repeat what has already been told on television by good old writers and present it to the viewers with twists and modifications. “In today’s time, if any writer says I create original, then I am sorry I disagree with them. Writer’s job is to observe what the good old television writers have done and follow their footsteps, but with twists and turns keeping in mind today’s culture, values and traditions. We all borrow thoughts.”
He adds, “We have the same plot but it changes with time and characters bring in the freshness. For my shows, nobody felt that I had used the same storyline because the presentation and the way it was approached was quiet different.”
With daily soaps, a writer has to work under tremendous pressure to keep the story and characters interesting. Shekhar highlights that dialogues are very important in any TV series as they take the maximum share of a character’s social existence.
When asked how he keeps the freshness alive and comes up with ideas for a story, he credits his observation power and memory. It was his own childhood experiences that motivated him to write a script on child marriage; giving birth to Balika Vadhu. According to him, for a writer, anything can trigger an idea; sometimes what he observes in the surroundings makes a story and sometimes memories can germ it.
He sits with his team of writers, guides them, and even solves problems if a series stops working. He further states that the toughest job at times is to change or modify a certain plot or a track and still makes sense of it. “There can be many reasons to it, at times a track fails to click with the audiences or the similar track starts running on some other show, so here comes a writer’s skills and expertise to deal with the situation and go strong with the storyline without losing its essence.”
He agrees that it is a difficult task to get good story tellers on-board. “I get to see very less talent or pool of writers who have read literature and have done some great work in the past. They lack knowledge skills and are not well-equipped with what the audience requires.”
Shekhar further highlights that because of this shift, the life of a television show is also going down. “If we see today, the new shows don’t run for long like the older ones. Today, shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai on Star Plus, Uttaran and Balika Vadhu on Colors have seen the life span of more than six years. What about the rest?” Shekhar asks.
MUMBAI: After enthralling viewers for over three years, Colors’ most-loved family drama Sasural Simar Ka has now achieved the 1000-episode milestone. The completion of this landmark marks a hattrick for Colors whose shows like Balika Vadhu and Uttaran have also reached the million mark.
Celebrating this achievement, the team of Sasural Simar Ka has joined hands with Hong Kong Tourism Board to present a special shoot and audience engagement initiative which brings about an incredible twist in the lives of the lead protagonist Simar and her estranged husband Prem. The 1000-episode festivities commence on the channel starting 13 October0 at 7.30pm.
The series has received constant ratings since the show first launched in April, 2011. The show has raked in an average of 4.6 TVTs with 86 weeks as the leader in the 7.30pm time slot. The success of the show has ensured that the show has been syndicated across domestic and international markets in over 10 languages.
To thank the audience for their endless support, the channel has introduced a contest that promises to enhance viewer engagement. The contest questions will be put forth before viewers during the 1000 episode celebratory week. The winner will win an all-expense paid trip to Hong Kong courtesy Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Speaking about reaching the millennium mark, Colors weekday programming head Prashant Bhatt said: “The response that Sasural Simar Ka has received consistently over the past three years from viewers across the globe has been gratifying. We have focused our efforts on identifying the pulse of the audience who have showcased their support through the spectacular ratings that Sasural Simar Ka has garnered. The show started off as the journey of two endearing sisters and has today become an iconic property that forms the learning ground for family values. The show’s success reiterates our belief in our partners, for not only Sasural Simar Ka but also Balika Vadhu and Uttaran, whose faith in us has paved the way for some blockbuster television offerings.”
As the Sasural Simar Ka team heads to Hong Kong along with the lead cast members Simar (Deepika Samson), Prem (Dheeraj Dhoopar), Surbhi (Neha Iyer) and Vikrant (Aadesh Choudhary), they have shot in the most scenic and exotic locales which promise to create magic on the small screen.
Some of the locations that the team has filmed at include Hong Kong Airport, Park Hotel, Harbour Grand, Times Square, Virgo Cruise, Big Bus, Victoria Peak and Lantau Link Viewing Platform among others. What transpires during their sojourn in Hong Kong promises to increase audience anticipation while raising the quintessential ‘Will They? – Won’t They?’ question amongst viewers.
Speaking about their experience while hosting the team of Sasural Simar Ka, Hong Kong Tourism Board spokesperson said, “We are absolutely thrilled to host the team of Colors’ leading show, Sasural Simar Ka in Hong Kong as they celebrate the advent of a new journey while completing 1000-episodes. We would like to congratulate the team and thank them for allowing us to partake in the special milestone. Hong Kong is the ideal family destination for tourism and business and through our association with Sasural Simar Ka, we would like to showcase the best of both worlds to Indian travellers.”
Adding to this Rashmi Sharma Telefilms producer Rashmi Sharma said: “Since the time Sasural Simar Ka first launched, the show and its characters have become household names. We are grateful to see the support that the audience has showered us with that continues to keep us among the top-rated shows on television even today. As the story shifts focus to Hong Kong, we hope to continue bringing quality entertainment to viewers as the lives of Simar and Prem, and Roli and Siddhant experience more twists and turns.”
The show’s rise to the top has led to the growth in popularity of integral characters such as Simar (Deepika Samson), Roli (Avika Gor), Prem (Dheeraj Dhoopar), Siddhant (Manish Raisinghani), Mataji (Jayati Bhatia), Sujata (Nishigandha Wad), Manoranjan (Nimisha Vakharia) and Vikrant (Aadesh Choudhary) among others.
MUMBAI: With a long weekend stretching ahead, Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) don’t want to miss the opportunity to keep people inside their homes. Come 15 August, along with the whole of India, GECs will also celebrate the 68th Independence Day.
Commemorating the upcoming Independence Day, Colors has planned a special two-hour recorded event titled Jashn-E-Azaadi that will display India’s rich culture from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
A dose of humour will be given by popular comedian Kapil Sharma with gags and parody by the entire cast of Comedy Nights with Kapil (CNWK). Along with the CNWK cast, other artists who will be seen performing on the latkas and jhatkas are Eijaz Khan, Sophie Chowdhry, Karan Wahi, Dadi as dadi, Vishal Singh (representing Punjab), Rashmi Desai, Shakti Mohan (representing UP), Karishma Tanna (representing Gujarat) and Akshat (representing South). It will air twice on Independence day- 1pm to 3pm and from 5pm to 7pm.
Apart from the special event, the theme of I-Day will be reflected in Balika Vadhu also, where Shiv will save the CM who’s going to be assassinated through a ticker bomb at an Inauguration ceremony held on 15 August.
Talking about Sony Entertainment Television, it will celebrate Independence Day on 15 August and 16 August at 10pm. A special episode of its oldest and highest rated properties – CID will show a terrorist attack.
Talking about Star Plus’s sister channel Life OK, it will celebrate the flavor of Independence with Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Khan on the very famous Life OK Now Awards. With Independence as the central theme, viewers will see some spectacular performances by some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television. The anchors for the evening Chintu aka Sunil Grover and Varun Sharma, will keep everyone in splits with their gags and comic timing.
The audience will get to witness some power packed performances that wont only kept them entertained, but also brought out the spirit of patriotism. Actors who will perform include Sushant Singh Rajput, Shraddha Arya, Esha Gupta, Prateek and Sneha.
While media planners says that channels witness a 10-15 per cent hike in their revenues during special occasions like Holi, Women’s Day and Valentine’s Day, for Independence Day, channels which have a special line up plan earn some extra bucks, but regular programming does not see a huge shift or hike in the revenues.