ITV

Tag: drama

  • Veteran producer-director Dheeraj kumar, Creative Eye founder, passes away at 79

    Veteran producer-director Dheeraj kumar, Creative Eye founder, passes away at 79

    MUMBAI: Mumbai is grieving the loss of veteran producer-actor Dheeraj Kumar Kochhar, founder of Bombay Stock Exchange-listed Creative Eye, who passed away this morning at the age of 79. Kumar was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Saturday following a severe bout of fever, cold, and cough, which was later diagnosed as acute pneumonia.

    Despite intensive treatment and ventilator support in the intensive care unit, his condition remained unresponsive. He breathed his last on the morning of 15 July following cardiac arrest. Tellychakkar, a sister publication, confirmed his passing while under close medical supervision.

    A graduate of the Film & Television Institute Pune, Kumar’s career spanned decades, seeing him carve a formidable reputation as a top producer for both Doordarshan and private satellite television channels. He also graced the silver screen, acting in numerous films.

    His prolific production house, Creative Eye, was behind a vast array of popular television shows, including the likes of Kahan Gaye Who Log, Adalat, Sansaar,  the iconic Om Namah Shivay, Dhoop Chaon, Shree Ganesh, Jaane Anjaane, Om Namo Narayan, Ruby Duby Hub Dub, Miilee, Jodi Kamaal Ki, Betiyann, Hamari Bahu Tulsi, and Ishq Subhan Allah, among many others. As an actor, his filmography included Painter Babu, Darling Darling, Kranti, Heera Panna, Raaton Ka Raja and Shreeman Shrimati.

    Kumar’s last rites are scheduled for Wednesday at the Pawan Hans Crematorium. He is survived by his wife, Zuby Kochhar, who serves as a whole-time director in Creative Eye. 

    His passing marks the end of an era for Indian cinema and television.

  • Doctors premieres 27 December on JioCinema; Trailer out now!

    Doctors premieres 27 December on JioCinema; Trailer out now!

    MUMBAI: In the heart of a bustling hospital, where lives hang by a thread and every second pulses with tension, heroes walk among us—silent, resilient, and often unpraised.

    Doctors, the unsung gods in scrubs, juggle life and death daily, their world a chaotic mix of hope, heartbreak, and unrelenting pressure.

    But what happens when their own lives spiral into turmoil?

    JioCinema is closing the year with a bang, bringing audiences Doctors—an electrifying medical drama packed with love, revenge, and redemption. Directed by Sahir Raza and premiering on 27 December, and with a powerhouse cast led by Sharad Kelkar, Harleen Sethi, Aamir Ali, Viraf Patell, and Vivaan Shah, Doctors promises a rollercoaster of emotions, high-stakes drama, and binge-worthy intensity that’s perfect for the holiday season.

    Prepare to witness life, love, and betrayal play out against the backdrop of life-saving miracles—because sometimes, even gods bleed.

    Produced by Jyoti Deshpande (Jio Studios) and Alchemy Films Pvt Ltd, the story follows Dr Nitiya Vasu (Harleen Sethi), a fiercely determined resident who enters the Elizabeth Blackwell Medical Centre with a hidden agenda. Her mission: retribution against her mentor, Dr Ishaan Ahuja (Sharad Kelkar), a renowned neurosurgeon she believes sabotaged her brother’s career. However, as their worlds collide within the intense pressures of the medical field, Nitiya begins to uncover truths that challenge her motives and awaken unexpected emotions.

    Sharad Kelkar on Dr Ishaan Ahuja, “Playing Dr Ishaan Ahuja has been an incredible journey. He’s a deeply layered character, shaped by his past but unwavering in his dedication to his work. Preparing for this role took me beyond acting workshops—I spent hours shadowing real doctors to grasp their struggles and emotions. Doctors is a story that will resonate with anyone who appreciates resilience and human connection.”

    Harleen Sethi on Dr Nitiya Vasu, “Dr Nitiya Vasu’s character pushed me to explore emotional depths I hadn’t tapped into before. Preparing for her journey wasn’t just about medical jargon—it was about channelling her pain, passion, and purpose. Navigating her dilemmas within the world of medicine was both challenging and rewarding.”

    Aamir Ali on the show’s emotional impact, said, “Doctors opened my eyes to the dedication and humanity that define the medical profession. It’s a powerful show for the holiday season—perfect for family viewing. I can’t wait to hear what the audience thinks about this heartfelt story.”

    Get ready to witness the emotional rollercoaster of Doctors—a story where love and revenge collide—streaming 27 December exclusively on JioCinema.

     

  • Zee Telugu to premiere ‘Mukkupudaka’ on 11 July

    Zee Telugu to premiere ‘Mukkupudaka’ on 11 July

    Mumbai: Adding new content to its cutting-edge lineup of shows, Zee Telugu is all set to launch its new serial Mukkupudaka. Zee Telugu has always aimed at entertaining its audience with an array of unique fiction shows ranging from romantic tales to mythological and supernatural narratives as well as family dramas. Joining the trend, Mukkupudaka will be a traditional and deep-rooted family drama.  

    The show will hit screens on 11 July and air every Monday to Saturday at 8 p.m, only on Zee Telugu. 

    Steering clear from the usual mother-in-law and daughter-in-law tussle, Mukkupudaka revolves around Vedavati’s desperate search for a daughter-in-law who could be her successor in fulfilling a religious obligation to save their village from the wrath of Goddess Annapurna Devi. The catch here is that the daughter-in-law’s horoscope must completely match Vedavati’s horoscope. What’s more is that her younger son, Srikar (Raki Gowda), is Vedavati’s only hope as her money-minded elder son goes against her wishes. While Vedavati’s search continues, Srikar falls in love with Avani (Aishwarya Pisse), a tourist guide in their city.

    But will Avani’s horoscope match Vedavati’s horoscope? If not, will Vedavati accept Avani as her daughter-in-law? And why did Goddess Annapurna get angry in the first place? And what obligation did she put on the village? With plenty of questions in everyone’s mind and with several twists and turns in the tale, we are sure the audience will enjoy this thrilling yet emotional rollercoaster ride. 

  • Zee5 inks multi-show partnership with Applause Entertainment

    Zee5 inks multi-show partnership with Applause Entertainment

    Mumbai: Streaming platform Zee5 has announced a strategic partnership with content and IP studio Applause Entertainment, a venture of Aditya Birla Group for a multi-show association. The two content companies will collaborate to create a robust original content slate of new Zee5 originals in Hindi across genres to entertain viewers across the globe.

    The first offering as part of the partnership is titled “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’”– a dramedy series with a unique take on a dysfunctional royal family. The show will be produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Emmay Entertainment and directed by Gauravv Chawla and Ananya Banerjee. The original will premiere exclusively on Zee5 in January 2022.

    “Over the last four years, Applause has created a diverse slate of content and explored stories across genres, languages, and geographies. We are thrilled that our first outing with Zee5 is with Kaun Banegi Shikarwati, a light-hearted, heart-warming dramedy that is both quirky and delightful and boasts a stellar cast of actors. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Zee5 and help contribute in a small way to their global ambition,” said Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair.

    Zeel president-content and international markets Punit Misra said, “Zee5’s content design principles centre around intimately knowing our viewers and building a bouquet of engaging and entertaining offerings for our multiple consumer cohorts. While Consumer Intimacy is at the heart of our content creation philosophy, our Content Creator Partners are the other crucial pillar in our approach.”

    “In 2021, Zee5 has made a concerted effort to associate with premium content creators across languages and genres, a move that has enabled us to inch closer to our overall vision of ‘Entertainment inclusion’,” said Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “Applause Entertainment has had a strong record of creating some of the most popular shows of recent times and with this association, Zee5 is confident of enriching our content slate even further.”

    The move is in line with Zee5’s content-first approach of forging more partnerships within the creative ecosystem to build a diverse slate of originals and movies. The platform had earlier sealed partnerships with TVF (The Viral Fever), Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari, and Red Chillies Entertainment to deliver several new shows across the digital entertainment ecosystem.

    “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’” features a spectacular cast of renowned Bollywood faces, including Naseeruddin Shah essaying the role of a King while Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Soha Ali Khan, Kritika Kamra, Anya Singh play his daughters, and Raghubir Yadav, Cyrus Sahukar, Varun Thakur and Anurag Sinha play key roles.

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by ZEE5 (@zee5)

     

    Elaborating on the new show, Emmay Entertainment producer Nikkhil Advani said, “Kaun Banegi Shikarwati offers a quintessential story of Indian families that’s replete with oddities and conflicts. But at the core of it, lies unfiltered emotions that are sure to resonate strongly with the masses.”

    Zee5 chief creative officer- Hindi Originals Nimisha Pandey said there is an increasing need for family-viewing content in a post-pandemic era and a multi-dimensional drama like “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’” works beautifully in that aspect. “We hope that the audience enjoys the roller coaster of emotions with this series,” she added.

  • Zee Cinemalu celebrates its 4 years of success this anniversary

    Zee Cinemalu celebrates its 4 years of success this anniversary

    A journey of unparalleled entertainment, of togetherness and shared experiences; it’s been a thrilling 4-years for Zee Cinemalu. A name that has grown to become synonymous with the best of Telugu movies on small screen television. Launched by the Megastar Chiranjeevi, who unveiled the logo, Zee Cinemalu began its journey on 4 September 2016 with ‘Dil Pai Super Hit’ as its brand tagline and became the first movie channel to introduce the concept of World Television Premieres in Telugu market, giving a unique offering to movie lovers. Over the years, the channel has featured the latest and most unique content that has inspired, stimulated and entertained us. Zee Cinemalu reaches out to 55 million viewers week on week in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

    In the week of FY20, Wk13, Zee Cinemalu scored the highest ever viewership of 351 GRPs in < 75L Urban and 483 GRPs in Hyderabad. This sets a new benchmark in the television movie industry as Zee Cinemalu is the only Telugu movie channel to have achieved this feat in the last 5 years as per BARC.  Zee Cinemalu stood as No.1 in Hyderabad in FY 19 & FY 20. The channel share moved from 14.8% to 25.3 per cent in the last 4 years and in the last  sixweeks, the share stood at 27.7 per cent.

    The channel has been entertaining viewers with evergreen hits and latest titles in various genres like Family, Drama, Comedy, Horror and Thriller. In this process, Zee Cinemalu has successfully occupied a special space in the hearts of Telugu audience across the state. The Zee Cinemalu HD variant launched on December 31, 2017, continues to deliver the viewing experience with this technology to their ardent viewers.

    Commenting on fourth anniversary, Zee Cinemalu business head Sai Prakash says, “Our process of curating content for programming line-up is based on what we believe the audience will enjoy and appreciate, while at the same time adding a mix of commercial and relaxing home- viewing entertainers, that are creating waves in the Telugu entertainment space. Zee Cinemalu is proud to offer a variety of movie genres that appeals to both the masses as well as the niche audiences looking for something different. We are extremely excited about completing yet another milestone in our journey in the Telugu market. We promise the viewers that we will continue to entertain them with the content that is truly Dil Pai Superhit.”

  • This Valentine’s Day, VOOT asks you to share the love and ignore the drama

    This Valentine’s Day, VOOT asks you to share the love and ignore the drama

    This Valentine’s Day, Voot’s all set to interest its viewers with some love, some slips, and all the drama that comes with the two by means of a cheeky video series. The ‘Day of Love’ is celebrated with some short, quirky and admittedly real videos that show all that goes down if you address your loved one by a wrong ‘name’. We’d watch these rather carefully before that Valentine’s dinner this year.

  • Zee Café has ‘All Eyes on New’ with a spectacular line-up of shows

    Zee Café has ‘All Eyes on New’ with a spectacular line-up of shows

    MUMBAI: Drama, laughter, secrets and revelations…Zee Café, one of India’s leading general English entertainment channels, has it all as it is leaving no stone unturned to make the month of April an exciting one for its audience. With a spectacular content line-up all through the month, the channel brings an interesting bouquet of shows comprising of fiction and reality, that the audience just cannot miss!

    Scandal– Season 7 (Finale) – Starting April 4, 10pm

    What will Olivia Pope do now?

    The seventh and monumental final season of Scandal will premiere with a brand new White House administration that includes Mellie Grant as the first female President of the United States, Cyrus Beane as the vice president, and Olivia Pope as Mellie’s chief of staff. Olivia also doubles as the head of the newly reinstated top-secret government agency B6-13, with Jake Ballard working by her side. Will Mellie be successful in making her dreams come true? Will Olivia find love?

    Discover a new cuisine every week on The Chefs’ Line – Season 1 – 9pm

    Premiered in February, the Australian reality competitive cooking show, The Chefs’ Line pits passionate home chefs against professional chefs. Featuring a new cuisine every week, the show is a visual delight for all the foodies out there. The coming weeks will witness the chefs try their skills at Lebanese, Thai, Spanish, French, Japanese and Mexican food! Remains to be seen who will win the hearts of the judges, Dan Hong, Melissa Leong and Mark Olive with their culinary skills. Which side are you on?

    Will & Grace – Season 1 – 8pm

    How they became the most fabulous foursome on TV

    Find out how it all started as Zee Café brings back the Emmy-winning show, Will & Grace, with the most fabulous foursome on television – Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally reprising their famous roles as Will, Grace, Jack and Karen. The first season begins when Grace gets an unexpected marriage proposal and her best friend Will deals with his own feelings about her proposal.

    Two and a Half Men – Season 7 – 11.55 pm

    Charlie Sheen and his new live-in fiancée!

    Television’s top-rated comedy is growing up and Zee Café brings it to you totally uncut and uncensored! Charlie Sheen as a veteran bachelor may finally be reined in by his new live-in fiancée. On the seventh season premiere, Charlie must decide between his fiancée, Chelsea, and his old flame, Mia. Rock superstar Eddie Van Halen makes a cameo appearance as himself. Charlie discovers that Chelsea hasn’t been completely honest about her finances. What happens next?

    Everybody Loves Raymond – Season 6 – 8.30pm

    The sixth season begins with first-grader Michael as he shocks the Barone clan with an unpleasant story he wrote about them. Ray tries to liven things up in the bedroom when he buys a sex game but, of course, the whole family finds out about it. Debra’s divorced parents come for Thanksgiving dinner, and her dad brings his new girlfriend, which shocks everyone. Robert gets involved with a woman he meets at a sports bar, but she thinks he is Ray Barone, the sportswriter, and Robert is afraid to tell her the truth.

    The Big Bang Theory – Season 11 – Sunday, 7.30pm (Along with the US)

    Season 11 begins with Amy giving Sheldon an answer to his marriage proposal. Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette struggle with some unexpected news. Leonard and Wolowitz are furious after they learn Sheldon went to work with the military behind their backs. Also, while Bernadette is on bed rest, she asks Raj to do some digging when she suspects Ruchi is trying to steal her job. Sheldon and Amy try to eliminate stress from wedding planning by applying math to the process. Also, Koothrappali breaks up with Wolowitz after realizing his best friend is damaging his confidence.

    The Late Late Show with James Corden– 11pm

    Each week night, The Late Late Show with James Corden throws a late-night after-party with a mix of celebrity guests, edgy musical acts, games and sketches. Corden differentiates his show by offering viewers a peek behind the scenes into the green room, bringing all his guests out at once and lending his musical and acting talents to various sketches. Additionally, bandleader Reggie Watts and the house band provide original, improvised music throughout the show.

    What’s more? Viewers don’t have to wait for their favourite shows to come to India as Zee Café brings them Along with the US. While The Big Bang Theory Season 11 is already being premiered with the US, shows like Supergirl Season 3, Lethal Weapon Season 2, Gotham Season 4 and Valor Season 1 will also be showed as a part of the property!

    The channel will also air other shows like Fameless, Melissa & Joey, Criminal Minds, Originals and much more. With its unmissable content offerings, Zee Café promises to make this April an interesting one. Happy binging!

  • COLORS Bangla launches new period drama ‘Prothom Protisruti’

    COLORS Bangla launches new period drama ‘Prothom Protisruti’

    MUMBAI: Stirring thoughts and perceptions, Bengali stories and literature are prominent in society for provoking rational thinking amongst readers. COLORS Bangla is proud to recreate the magic of Prothom Protisruti – one of the most riveting tales penned by author Ashapoorna Debi through a period drama that will bring to life the revered and distinguished ideals of the author. Premiering on Monday, March 5 Prothom Protisruti airs from Monday – Sunday at 9:30 pm only on COLORS Bangla.

    The first installment of the trilogy, Prothom Protisruti invokes a deep notion on the slow yet gradual evolution of society in Bengal through the viewpoint of three generations of women. The protagonist Satyabati’s journey on the show will take the viewers through various stages of liberation and finding her true identity. During the post-independence era, society was facing drastic changes, and Satyabati faced insufferable struggles trying to survive while living by her principles.

    Commenting on the concept of the show,  Colors Bangla and Colors Odia – Business Head, Rahul Chakravarti said, “Bengali literature has played a pivotal role in bringing about a revolution in mindset of the society. Revitalizing these glorious pieces of art through the medium of television, we aim to satiate the demand of the viewers for meaningful content. The story of Saytabati in Prothom Protisruti encapsulates a rousing and spirited journey of a woman striving to make her place in post-independence India. The eloquent ensemble cast complimenting the riveting story will make the show a must-watch for all television viewers.”

    Produced by DAAG Creative Media, Prothom Protisruti will see the lead role of Satyabati portrayed by Sushmili Acharjya, and supported by a stellar cast including Prerona Bhattacharya (Bhubaneshwari), Manasi Sinha (Elokeshi), Mallika Majumdar (Mokkhoda), Sujan Mukherjee (Ramkali), Falguni Chattopadhay (Kunjokali), Laboni Bhattacharya (Sankari) and Biplab Bandopadhyay (Nilambar).

  • MIP ’17: Nippon TV gears up with two scripted, three non-scripted formats

    MIP ’17: Nippon TV gears up with two scripted, three non-scripted formats

    MUMBAI: Having recently been crowned ratings champion for the third consecutive year in Japan, coupled with the tremendous success of its scripted drama Mother which has received numerous offers from around the world and is a ratings success in Turkey as ANNE, Nippon Television Network Corporation (Nippon TV), the leading commercial broadcaster and network in Japan offering entertainment, anime, documentaries and news, announced that the company will be heading to MIP 2017 with five new formats.  

    The titles include two scripted formats which are based on successful Nippon TV dramas: Your Home Is My Business! (60 min eps.) and Lost ID (60 min eps.), in addition to three non-scripted formats: Meet Me There (60 min eps.), Ghostwriter To The Rescue (30 min eps.), and Grab The Chance (60 min eps). The announcement was made by Nippon TV president – International Business Development Atsushi Hatayama who also announced that given all of Nippon TV’s recent success the company will be moving to a new booth #P1F55 at this year’s MIP-TV.

    “We could not be more proud to be the top-rated broadcast network in Japan for three consecutive years,” commented Hatayama.  “As evidenced by the success of Mother, as well as the five new formats we are unveiling at MIP-TV, we at Nippon TV are constantly adapting to the needs of all buyers around the world, including the digital platforms, where the need for formats, especially scripted formats, is at an all-time high.”

    The first scripted format, Your Home Is My Business!, is based on the successful drama series of the same name on Nippon TV.  The series follows a real-estate saleswoman who is known for closing the deal no matter who the client is. She pries into the private lives of her clients, uses a vast range of tactics, and always finds them just the right home achieving a 100% success rate.

    The second scripted format is Lost ID based on a Nippon TV drama series. This drama is about a brilliant system engineer whose identity disappears completely.  His name on the official family registry and certificate of residence has been changed, his bank accounts seized, and his employment terminated.  Left with nothing but loneliness, he refuses to give up no matter what the outcome.

    Three non-scripted formats are next for Nippon TV. First is the docu-reality series Meet Me There.  Every couple has a special place that marks a turning point in their love story. But as months turn into years will two people still share the same memory? If you receive a handwritten letter from your loved one with the words “Meet Me There” where would you go?

    Ghostwriters To The Rescue stars celebrities who have made a name for themselves for being funny, romantic or dramatic. In this docu-entertainment format, these celebrities will come to your rescue to help with what to say or do dhttp://www.indiantelevision.com/nice-terror-attack-cannes-and-the-palais-des-festivals-160718uring a special time. In your ‘spotlight moment,’ they will ghostwrite the most important script of your life.  

    Rounding out the non-scripted titles is Grab The Chance, a docu-entertainment format which grabs people off the street and gives them the chance to say “yes” or “no” to once in a lifetime opportunities. From bungee jumping in Macau, to swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, to skydiving in California, Grab The Chance offers the ultimate life-changing experience.

    Also Read:

    MIPCOM 2016 sets new records

    Amit Goenka receives honour at MipTV 2016

    Nice terror attack, Cannes and the Palais des Festivals

  • Windfall of fresh Utsab content on Colors Bangla

    Windfall of fresh Utsab content on Colors Bangla

    MUMBAI: This October, television viewers will have more than one reason to celebrate, as Colors Bangla announces a plethora of entertaining shows to keep them glued to their television screens.

    Starting 17 October, promising complete family entertainment with a line-up of five fresh new shows including three exciting game shows and two fictional dramas, Colors Bangla will become the destination for your favorite content. Extending the spirit of Durga Puja Utsab, the channel announced their fresh line-up through a specially created promo ‘Utsaber Natun Rong’ – A new color of celebration.

    Ravish Kumar, business head, Bangla, Kannada and Oriya, said, “Just as the festival of Durga Puja brings the family together to celebrate this auspicious occasion, similarly, Colors Bangla is all set to bolster its content offering with shows that appeal to the varying demographics in a family.”

    The new non-fiction line up will include popular shows like Rojgere Ginni, Rannaghar e Rockstar and Gaaner Gnuto and the fiction slate includes Pita and Ki Kore Toke Bolbo.

    * Rojgere Ginni – Monday to Saturday at 5:30 PM

    Being the first-ever women-only game show on television, the show give the “Ginni” of the house an opportunity to become “Rojgere Ginni”, the gameshow promises not only exciting gifts but also zestful entertainment. Reprising her role as the host Paroma Banerjee returns to yet another exciting season of the show.

    * Rannaghar e Rockstar Season 2 – Thursday to Saturday at 8.30 PM

    A high octane unique food game show with most popular anchors Kanchan and Aparajita Addhya.

    * Gaaner Gnuto – Monday to Wednesday at 8.30 PM

    A unique game show that involves unadulterated fun with music. Rib tickling comedy and interactive games in four rounds will keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

    * Ki Kore Toke Bolbo – Monday to Saturday at 6.30 pm

    The show encompasses the lives of two teenagers Minu and Nilu who meets at a correctional home. Being an optimist, Minu tries to make a better life even while at the juvenile home and continues to encourage Nilu to see life in a positive light.

    * Pita – Monday to Saturday at 7:30 PM

    A story of a sculpting artist suffering from Alzheimer’s and disowned by his children in his old age. The story unfolds when one of his students comes back as his daughter in law and slowly changes his life.

    With five new shows, Colors Bangla promises five new reasons to enjoy watching television with your family again.

    A family entertainment channel that brought about a revolution in Bangla Television, Colors Bangla (erstwhile ETV Bangla) matches the distinctiveness of the rich Bangla culture with qualitative and contemporary programming.