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Tag: Gajraj Rao

  • Prime Video & Bombay Film Cartel to premiere Dupahiya on 7 March

    Prime Video & Bombay Film Cartel to premiere Dupahiya on 7 March

    MUMBAI: Prime Video has announced the launch of its latest Indian original series Dupahiya marking the production debut of Bombay Film Cartel, the company announced today. The series will premiere on 7 March 2025 on the platform. 

    The first production venture from Bombay Film Cartel, founded by Shubh Shivdasani and Salona Bains Joshi, it has been scripted by writers Chirag and Avinash, who have developed what Prime Video describes as “a fresh, authentic and rooted story.” 

    The trailer kicks off in the fictional village of Dhadakpur—also known as the Belgium of Bihar – that is on the cusp of celebrating being crime-free for 25 years. But chaos strikes when a never-seen-before motorbike, that was purchased as a wedding gift gets stolen seven days before the ceremony! With the fate of the wedding left hanging, the journey the family and the ex-lover of the bride take to find the Dupahiya forms the heart of this comedy that deals with the hopes and aspirations of simple people.

    Sonam Nair has directed the series. With a perfect blend of humour, chaos, and intrigue, the Original series is brought to life by a highly talented and versatile cast, featuring Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava, Shivani Raghuvanshi, and Yashpal Sharma in the lead roles.

    Prime Video India head of Indian originals Nikhil Madhok emphasised the platform’s commitment to nurturing new talent. 

    “At Prime Video, we are constantly looking to back new voices and talent,” said Madhok. “Shubh and Salona have been incredible partners through this journey, and we are proud that ‘Dupahiya’ is their first production.”
    Madhok praised director Sonam Nair’s execution of the series, describing it as “warm and funny.” 

    The collaboration between Prime Video and Bombay Film Cartel represents the streaming platform’s ongoing strategy to develop original content with emerging production houses and creative talent in India,

  • Maidaan triumphs at the Septimius Awards

    Maidaan triumphs at the Septimius Awards

    Mumbai: The glittering Septimius Awards in Amsterdam, renowned for honoring the very best in global cinema, has just announced its 2024 winners – and Maidaan, the sports biographical drama has secured the prestigious ‘Best Asian Film’ Award.

    Held at the iconic Tuschinski Theater on 20 August, the Septimius Awards are a celebration of cinematic excellence on a grand scale. Often referred to as the “Oscars of Europe,” this event is a magnet for the industry’s elite, where the world’s top filmmakers and actors come together to honor creativity and innovation. This year, the ceremony was graced by a stellar lineup of BAFTA, Emmy, and Oscar winners, including the likes of Jenny Beavan, David Parfitt, Kevin Willmott, and Sir Christopher Hampton.

    On winning this international accolade director Amit Ravindernath Sharma shared, “This is a truly special feeling, and words cannot fully capture the joy I am experiencing at this moment. Maidaan is a labor of love, and I am deeply grateful for the continuous outpouring of affection it is receiving. The global recognition the film is garnering is both humbling and a source of immense pride.”

    Maidaan, with its compelling narrative and visionary direction, resonated deeply with the values of the Septimius Awards, earning its place as the Best Asian Film of 2024. This accolade not only highlights the film’s artistic brilliance but also underscores its significance on the global cinematic stage, marking a new milestone in international cinema.

    Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma and produced by Zee Studios, Boney Kapoor, Arunava Joy Sengupta, and Akash Chawla, Maidaan features Ajay Devgn as Coach Syed Abdul Rahim along with Priyamani, Gajraj Rao and Rudranil Ghosh. The movie was released theatrically on 10 April 2024.

    Amit Ravindernath Sharma’s groundbreaking TVCs include Pooja Didi – Facebook, Dove #StopTheBeautyTest, Lifebuoy – Help A Child Reach Five, Silent National Anthem, Google Reunion, have won prestigious awards like The Cannes Lions, D&AD, London International Awards, The Golden Award of Montreux, Spikes Asia, Adfest, and many more.

  • Yuvaa Partners With The Man Company for second season of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’

    Yuvaa Partners With The Man Company for second season of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’

    Mumbai: It was in 2023 when Yuvaa- a popular GenZ-driven media organisation introduced India’s first chat show on positive masculinity called Be A Man, Yaar. The unique and heartfelt conversations with some of the popular men from showbiz, including Naseeruddin Shah, Karan Johar, Vicky Kaushal, and Zakir Khan, caught the attention of millions, starting the much-needed conversation around men, their emotions, and positive masculinity. Now, in association with The Man Company, a leading male grooming brand, Yuvaa is coming back with season two of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’, and this time, it is all about the ‘humanity’ behind masculinity.

    To celebrate men from different fields and backgrounds, the second season of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ will witness Media Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Yuvaa, Nikhil Taneja engaging in candid, honest, authentic conversations about what it means to be a boy, a man, and a human with: Javed Akhtar, Kartik Aaryan, Bhuvan Bam, Manish Malhotra, Rohan Bopanna, Dr Vikas Divyakirti, Gajraj Rao, Boman Irani, Imran Khan, Ankush Bahuguna, Viraj Ghelani, Aryan Pasha and Prateek Kuhad.

    The trailer of the show launched today on Yuvaa’s YouTube channel, and from 10th July, the show aims to delve deeper into the conversations around mental health, loneliness, male friendships, therapy, fatherhood, insecurities, and of course, healthy relationships with women.

    Yuvaa and The Man Company share a vision of redefining masculinity and fostering a culture of positive male identity. ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ aims to provide a platform for men to express their true selves, break free from societal stereotypes, and engage in meaningful dialogues that promote mental well-being and emotional health. The Man Company, with its dedication to holistic grooming and personal development, complements this mission by encouraging men to lead lives of authenticity and compassion. Together, they strive to inspire a generation of confident, empathetic, and proud men to be themselves.

    Expressing his thoughts behind bringing the second season of the critically acclaimed show ‘Be A Man, Yaar’, Nikhil Taneja said, “Season 1 of Be A Man, Yaar! got an enormous amount of love for creating a safe space on the internet for men in the entertainment industry to have vulnerable and authentic conversations. In Season 2, we have more men, more laughs, more love, more hugs and a lot more vulnerability by iconic men from entertainment to sports to fashion to education. Our guests reflect the diversity of our country and the many ways in which men can learn and be human. I’m thrilled that The Man Company partnered with us on the mission to make masculinity more wholesome.”

    The Man Company founder & MD Hitesh Dhingra also expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting their shared mission of promoting positive masculinity, emphasizing their goal of encouraging men to embrace their individuality and lead with authenticity and compassion. He said, “At The Man Company, we believe in empowering men to embrace their individuality and cultivate confidence inside and out through grooming and a constant dialogue that urges them to bring out the #GentlemanInYou. Our collaboration with ‘Be A Man, Yaar!’ aligns perfectly with our goal to redefine masculinity and inspire men to rise above stereotypes and lead with authenticity, compassion, and gentleness.”

    With a reach of over 150 million and mentions by over 450 celebrities and creators, the first season of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ featured candid conversations with notable figures like Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, Zakir Khan, and Naseeruddin Shah, exploring the concept of positive masculinity. Starring some unconventional discussions, the show became the flag bearer for positive communication for men around, bringing out their vulnerable emotions for the world to understand what it truly means to be a man!

    The extended unfiltered episodes will be available exclusively on Amazon Music.

  • Britannia launches ‘Har Pocket Ab Dustbin’ campaign

    Britannia launches ‘Har Pocket Ab Dustbin’ campaign

    Mumbai: It’s easy to justify tossing our wrappers when there’s no bin in sight. What’s harder is holding onto those wrappers till you find a dustbin! In their latest for Britannia, Talented.Agency celebrates a milestone for the legacy brand – two years of 100 per cent plastic neutrality with a film on adopting a simple habit. Their choice of protagonist? An eight-year-old. The earnestness of a child is a striking reminder to do better, develop a conscience for cleanliness and be responsible for your own waste, if not everybody’s.

    Har Pocket Ab Dustbin (Every Pocket, now a Dustbin) is an attempt to encourage millions of Britannia consumers to be cognizant of their surroundings and join the brand in its commitment towards efficient plastic collection and processing, leading to 100 per cent plastic neutrality. Everyone can also join the pledge with Britannia at https://www.britannia.co.in/do-not-litter

    Britannia has been actively working around various measures such as sustainable sourcing of ingredients & packaging, enriching the products with vitamins and minerals, natural resources efficiency to minimise environmental impact and much more. One of many steps the company has taken is processing over 43,000 metric tonnes of plastic in FY 22-23 alone and being 100% plastic neutral for over two years.

    Commenting about the initiative of #HarPocketAbDustbin, Britannia CMO Amit Doshi said, “Britannia is on a mission to be known as a responsible global total foods company. With the efforts of all our functions, we have been 100% plastic neutral for over two years, and on the occasion of World Earth Day – we wanted to bring light to our efforts. We wanted to extend the initiative to all our consumers because despite working at this scale, the individual efforts that you and I can make cannot be undermined. #HarPocketAbDustbin is an effort to tackle the plastic problem together with our consumers.”

    On the campaign, CodeRed director Gajraj Rao added, “This is the first time we’ve crafted an entire film for a brand without ever showing their product. We had more products on the snack tray of this shoot than in front of the camera. Kudos to team Britannia on their efforts to be sustainable. I look forward to watching them continue on their path of plastic neutrality, not just because I’d like to make them more films for future milestones!”

    #HarPocketAbDustbin is a simple yet impactful plea to take ownership of our own litter through a habit many of us are not unfamiliar with.

    Shedding light on how the insight came to be, the team from Talented, Sanket Audhi, Balaji Padmanabhan and Pearl Alex commented, “We noticed many of us were already performing the ‘fold it, hold it, wait, dispose it’ with our own litter. We also noticed we started it young. #HarPocketAbDustbin is our attempt at compounding the effect this habit had on us and our surroundings, by keeping it going through a movement that kids and India alike can follow! How we deal with today’s plastic problem will take small actions like this and larger systems like Britannia’s efforts. This was a first taste at zero waste, and we’re glad to play our part in it!”

  • Filmfare OTT Awards fourth edition nominees unveiled: Celebrating the best in the OTT world!

    Filmfare OTT Awards fourth edition nominees unveiled: Celebrating the best in the OTT world!

    Mumbai: Brace yourself for the return of the ultimate recognition in the world of OTT as Filmfare – an entertainment media brand returns with its fouth edition of the Filmfare OTT Awards. After the successful three seasons of its highly acclaimed property, the brand continues to celebrate the geniuses behind the characters that touched hearts, the stories that left a mark. This year, the awards set a new record with 38 categories and over 450 entries, showcasing excellence as the focal point for the finest in the industry.

    While Gajraj Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Jim Sarbh, Vijay Varma, Aparshakti Khurrana and others have been nominated for their gripping performances in the OTT world; talented actresses such as Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tripti Dimri, Shriya Pilgaonkar are nominated for their highly acclaimed performance for their respective show/film. Hindi Cinema’s stellar actors Anil Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur are nominated for their brilliant screen time in The Night Manager, and Bloody Daddy respectively. Veteran actresses Ratna Pathak Shah and Dimple Kapadia and other distinguished actresses Kajol, Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Sonakshi Sinha amongst others have been nominated for their captivating performance across categories for their series/film.  Jubilee, TVF Pitchers Season 2, and Darlings have swept the nominations in their respective genres as Best Series (Drama), Best Series (Comedy), and Best Film (Web Original). With these celebrated names, get ready for the ultimate celebration of India’s OTT sensations with the Filmfare OTT Awards 2023!

    Reliving the magic of the most coveted celebration, where every nomination deserves a standing ovation, this year, the awards expanded the ceremony by introducing technical categories for the OTT films section. These categories acknowledge the behind-the-scenes brilliance that enhances the storytelling experience.

    The coveted awards will be held on 26 November 2023 at the prestigious Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The hosts of the evening are Kubbra Sait and Sharib Hashmi, who are all set to entertain the audience with their wit and charm.

    Filmfare OTT Awards 2023 is co-powered by Hyundai Motor India, AJIO, and Film Bandhu – Government of Uttar Pradesh, in association with Fura Gems. The coveted will honour creative excellence across Hindi web original shows and films released between  1 August 2022, to 31 July 2023. Fans can watch the show on Filmfare.com and on its social media touchpoints.

    Here is the complete nomination list –

    Best Series:

    Asur 2
    Dahaad
    Farzi
    Jubilee
    Kohrra
    Rocket Boys Season 2
    School of Lies
    Scoop
    The Night Manager
    Trial by Fire

    Best Director, Series:

    Abhay Pannu (Rocket Boys Season 2)
    Avinash Arun Dhaware (School of Lies)
    Hansal Mehta (Scoop)
    Prashant Nair, Randeep Jha (Trial by Fire)
    Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K (Farzi)
    Randeep Jha (Kohrra)
    Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi (Dahaad)
    Tanuj Chopra (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Vikramaditya Motwane (Jubilee)

    Best Actor, Series (Male): Drama

    Aamir Bashir (School of Lies)
    Abhay Deol (Trial by Fire)
    Aditya Roy Kapur (The Night Manager)
    Anil Kapoor (The Night Manager)
    Aparshakti Khurana (Jubilee)
    Jim Sarbh (Rocket Boys Season 2)
    Pankaj Tripathi (Criminal Justice- Adhura Sach)
    Shahid Kapoor (Farzi)
    Sidhant Gupta (Jubilee)
    Suvinder Vicky (Kohrra)
    Vijay Varma (Dahaad)

    Best Actor, Series (Female): Drama

    Dimple Kapadia (Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo)
    Kajol (The Trial)
    Karishma Tanna (Scoop)
    Rajshri Deshpande (Trial by Fire)
    Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Sonakshi Sinha (Dahaad)
    Wamiqa Gabbi (Jubilee)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male): Drama

    Barun Sobti (Kohrra)
    Bhuvan Arora (Farzi)
    Gulshan Devaiah (Dahaad)
    Harman Baweja (Scoop)
    Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub (Scoop)
    Prathamesh Parab (Taaza Khabar)
    Prosenjit Chatterjee (Jubilee)
    Saswata Chatterjee (The Night Manager)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Female): Drama

    Harleen Sethi (Kohrra)
    Nimrat Kaur (School of Lies)
    Radhika Madan (Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo)
    Rasika Dugal (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Shweta Tripathi (Kaalkoot)
    Tillotama Shome (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Tillotama Shome (The Night Manager)

    Best Actor, Series (Male): Comedy

    Abhishek Banerjee (The Great Weddings of Munnes)
    Amol Parashar (TVF Tripling S3)
    Atul Kulkarni (Happy Family *Conditions Apply)
    Bhuvan Bam (Rafta Rafta)
    Johnny Lever (Pop Kaun?)
    Kunal Kemmu (Pop Kaun?)

    Best Actor, Series (Female): Comedy

    Aadhya Anand (Crushed Season 2)
    Juhi Parmar (Yeh Meri Family S2)
    Maanvi Gagroo (TVF Tripling)
    Ratna Pathak Shah (Happy Family *Conditions Apply)
    Srishti Ganguli (Rafta Rafta)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male): Comedy

    Arunabh Kumar (TVF Pitchers S2)
    Kumud Mishra (TVF Tripling S3)
    Kunaal Roy Kapur (TVF Tripling S3)
    Naman Jain (Crushed Season 2)
    Purav Jha (Ishq Next Door)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Female): Comedy

    Ahsaas Channa (Hostel Daze S3)
    Shernaz Patel (TVF Tripling S3)
    Shilpa Shukla (Taaza Khabar)
    Sunita Rajwar (The Great Weddings of Munnes)
    Swati Das (Happy Family *Conditions Apply)

    Best Comedy (Series/Specials)

    Crushed
    Farzi Mushaira
    Half Pants Full Pants
    Happy Family *Conditions Apply
    Hostel Daze S3
    TVF Pitchers S2
    TVF Tripling S3

    Best Non-Fiction Original, Series/Special

    Cinema Marte Dum Tak
    Dancing on the Grave
    Mumbai Mafia: Police vs Underworld
    Playground 2
    The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives- Season 2
    The Romantics

    Best Film, Web Original

    Babli Bouncer
    Darlings
    Gulmohar
    Kathal
    Lost
    Monica, O My Darling
    Qala
    Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai

    Best Director, Web Original Film

    Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (Lost)
    Apoorv Singh Kuki (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
    Jasmeet K Reen (Darlings)
    Konkona Sen Sharma (Lust Stories 2)
    Rahul V. Chittella (Gulmohar)
    Vasan Bala (Monica, O My Darling)

    Best Actor, Web Original Film (Male)

    Diljit Dosanjh (Jogi)
    Manoj Bajpayee (Gulmohar)
    Manoj Bajpayee (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
    Rajkummar Rao (Monica O My Darling)
    Shahid Kapoor (Bloody Daddy)
    Varun Dhawan (Bawaal)
    Vijay Varma (Darlings)

    Best Actor, Web Original Film (Female)

    Alia Bhatt (Darlings)

    Huma Qureshi (Monica O My Darling)

    Janhvi Kapoor (Bawaal)

    Sanya Malhotra (Kathal)

    Sharmila Tagore (Gulmohar)

    Tamannaah Bhatia (Babli Bouncer)

    Tripti Dimri (Qala)

    Yami Gautam (Lost)

    Best Supporting Actor, Web Original Film (Male)

    Ayush Mehra (Kacchey Limbu)
    Gajraj Rao (Maja Ma)
    Pankaj Kapur (Lost)
    Rajat Barmecha (Kacchey Limbu)
    Sharib Hashmi (Tarla)
    Suraj Sharma (Gulmohar)

    Best Supporting Actor, Web Original Film (Female)

    Amruta Subhash (Lust Stories 2)
    Radhika Apte (Monica O My Darling)
    Shefali Shah (Darlings)
    Shriya Pilgaonkar (Ishq-E-Nadaan

  • IVM Podcasts and SBI Life Insurance presents “Chitthiyaan”

    IVM Podcasts and SBI Life Insurance presents “Chitthiyaan”

    Mumbai: IVM Podcasts, in collaboration with SBI Life Insurance, is thrilled to announce the launch of their latest audio fiction show titled “Chitthiyaan” starring the versatile actor Gajraj Rao to highlight a heartwarming audio fiction series themed around SBI Life’s brand philosophy ‘Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye’ and its purpose; which is to liberate individuals to pursue their dreams by securing the needs and aspirations of their loved ones. The series captures this very essence of the brand purpose, and is set to premier on 28 August 2023 and will be accessible to a broader audience across all audio platforms.

    Conceived and directed by Safura Ubaid, “Chitthiyaan” marks IVM Podcasts first ever audio fiction anthology. The series revolves around a character, Prasad Joshi, a retired postmaster, who stumbles upon a treasure trove of undelivered letters from the past. With each unopened letter, a story set in contemporary setting unfolds, showcasing the beauty of human relationships and emotions. Each episode is thoughtfully crafted, making it the perfect companion for short breaks or leisurely moments.

    SBI Life’s support has been instrumental in empowering Chitthiyaan. Through an emotionally driven storytelling, the audio fiction anthology aims at encouraging people to pursue their individual dreams while simultaneously taking care of the needs and aspirations of their family.

    Speaking about the launch, SBI Life Insurance chief of brand, corporate communication & CSR Ravindra Sharma said, “Today’s consumers are increasingly consuming content via various convenient mediums and one of the emerging mediums is ‘Podcasts’ or the voice medium. While the popularity of this medium is gradually growing, the new age consumers are on a look out for content that stays relevant and meaningful to them. Keeping in mind the need to serve these consumers through a medium of their preference, along with IVM, we launched “Chitthiyaan” that captures the very essence of our brand philosophy ‘Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye’.” He further added, “We hope this audio fiction series inspires individuals to liberate themselves by pursuing individual passions, while taking care of their familial responsibilities”.

    IVM Podcasts- Pratilipi co-founder Kavita Rajwade commented on the launch, “As audience preferences continue to evolve, we aim to captivate and fulfill their information and entertainment needs through storytelling with a difference. In India, we have a deep affinity for narratives that delve into relationships and emotions, resonating deeply with our hearts. With this audio fiction anthology, our aim is to touch the hearts of the masses, forging strong bonds with them and turning them into dedicated enthusiasts”

    Commenting on the launch of “Chitthiyaan”, actor Gajraj Rao said, “I am a regular listener of fiction and non-fiction audio books/ podcasts for the last four-five years. So one day, when I got a call from Amit Doshi- Founder, IVM Podcasts for collaborating on an audio series, I was more than happy.  He further added, “Chitthiyan is a story of a retired Postal service officer, Prasad Joshi and few letters he couldn’t deliver while in service. These letters and stories related to them are full of human emotions. We discover relationships, ambitions, and dreams in a contemporary startup age, where the old passes the baton to the new generations. I am thankful to SBI Life for backing such a beautiful idea as it reflects the shared vision of both IVM Podcasts and SBI Life in bringing meaningful content that touches lives”.

  • Experience Ajay Devgn’s power in ‘Bholaa’ world TV premiere on 27 Aug on Zee Cinema

    Experience Ajay Devgn’s power in ‘Bholaa’ world TV premiere on 27 Aug on Zee Cinema

    Mumbai: Yeh bhakt mahakaal ka, karega naash shaitaan ka! Witness the ever-reliable Ajay Devgn channel his inner Raudra avatar to fight like a fearless warrior as Zee Cinema presents the World Television Premiere of Bholaa. Symbolising the attributes of Lord Shiva – strength and fearlessness, watch him bring a father’s unbreakable determination to reunite with his daughter, against all odds with the world television premiere of Bholaa on Zee Cinema on Sunday, 27 August at 8 pm.

    Zee Cinema, being true to its philosophy ‘Jazbaa Hai Jeene Mein, Jab Cinema Hai Seene Mein’, has time and again presented unique campaigns to connect with their audience. For the world TV premiere of Bholaa, the channel has once again devised a unique initiative, engaging with Shiv Bhakts across the nation on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Somvaar & Nagpanchami.

    Bowing down to the greatness of Lord Shiva and joining Shiv bhakts in their aradhana, Zee Cinema created an unmatched experience at prominent temples such as Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Mahakaal Temple in Ujjain and Trambakeshwar Temple in Nashik. Devotees from around the country visited these Shiv Temples on the auspicious occasion and the channel joined them every step of the way. Be it distributing cloth bags for their prasad and extending refreshments to people in queues, to offering maha-prasad to Bholenath and serving the needy with that, channel dedicated itself to the seva of the Lord and his devotees. Devotees at each location had their hearts brimming with reverence as they departed not only with blessings but a unique and holistic experience.

    When discussing the film “Bholaa,” the Mass Maharaja, Ajay Devgn, shared, “”Bholaa is a large-scale action spectacle with an emotional core. The process of creating Bholaa has been a fulfilling journey for me as both a director and an actor. I’ve consistently strived to introduce innovative filmmaking techniques, many of which are used in the action sequences in Bholaa. The heartfelt connection between the father and daughter in the film is bound to resonate with numerous people. I am looking forward to audiences watching the film on television and immersing themselves in the world of Bholaa.”

    The Ajay-Tabu winner combo reunites with Bholaa, along with notable actors like Sanjay Mishra, Deepak Dobriyal, Gajraj Rao amongst others.

  • Zee Theatre to celebrate dramatic feast of 30 plays in 30 days

    Zee Theatre to celebrate dramatic feast of 30 plays in 30 days

    Mumbai: Zee Theatre has announced an unprecedented theatrical extravaganza to provide dramatic riches to its audience on a daily basis. Har Din Naya Drama, a dramatic feast of 30 plays in 30 days, will entertain and engage viewers every day at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Tata Play Theatre.

    This is a celebration of the best of India’s vast and diverse theatre fraternity’s classic, contemporary, and boundary-breaking content. Under this campaign, viewers will be able to watch both old favourites and brand new, original plays in the “Blockbuster” and “Premiere” categories. The “Weekend Highlights” will feature stories that are themed or commemorate special occasions and festivals.

    This campaign will also be live on other platforms such as Airtel Theatre, Dish TV & D2H Rangmanch.

    Talking about “Har Din Naya Drama,” ZEEL Shailja Kejriwal chief creative officer of special projects said, “The idea of “30 Days, 30 Plays” stems from our commitment to offer audiences more of what they want and to give them more value for the time and resources they invest in Zee Theatre. We always strive to make the best of Indian theatre more accessible and to give audiences what they love by enriching and expanding our repertoire. We want to transform the concept of daily entertainment by bringing these masterpieces right into your living room, and we are proud that viewers will now be able to watch a specially selected teleplay everyday.”  

    The new teleplays in the “Premiere” category will add to the existing repertoire of over 90 teleplays, while popular stories such as Sir Sir Sarla and Chokher Bali will be screened in the blockbuster category.

    Over the years, Zee Theatre has collaborated with renowned theatre veterans such as Mahesh Dattani, Vijaya Mehta, Lillete Dubey, Atul Kumar, and young stalwarts such as Purva Naresh to recreate and bring to life some of the most celebrated stories across languages.

    Among the well-known actors in this vast library are Gajraj Rao, Mita Vashishth, Ashutosh Rana, Virendra Saxena, Vikram Gokhale, Mohan Agashe, Nandita Das, Mahira Khan, and Aahana Kumra.                                                                                                                               

  • Wunderman Thompson South Asia unveils sequel to ad campaign for Tata Pravesh

    Wunderman Thompson South Asia unveils sequel to ad campaign for Tata Pravesh

    Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson South Asia has unveiled a sequel to the first-ever thematic film for Tata Pravesh on all its social media assets.

    This sequel film called ‘The Surprise Visit,’ a part of their ‘Akela Hi Kaafi Hai’ campaign, delivers a two-fold message informing the potential customers that Tata Pravesh products come with their own frames that can easily be screwed into a finished wall and that the Individual Home Builders (IHBs) need to contact Tata Pravesh customer care before installing an ordinary frame.

    Produced by Small Fry Productions, the film is supported by print, OOH, POS and digital. A 360-degree campaign anchored by TV has been conceptualised to drive home the dual message.

    This is the first time ever that actors Gajraj Rao and Priyamani share screen space on the screen. “Getting Gajraj Rao and Priyamani together was a casting coup of sorts by the Wunderman Thompson team,” stated Wunderman Thompson Kolkata Senior VP & managing partner Vijay Jacob Parakkal. “They really helped bring this script to life and made it a very entertaining and memorable film. We are really looking forward to seeing the response to this new Tata Pravesh campaign.”

    “The previous campaign ‘Akela Hi Kaafi Hai’ helped Tata Pravesh enter the consideration set of customers and we are proud to be part of 50,000+ Indian homes. The latest film will hopefully bring many more households into the Tata Pravesh family,” said Tata Steel Ltd national business head – Tata Pravesh Animesh Roy. “The popularity of Gajraj Rao & Priyamani will not only further enhance awareness of the brand but also effectively deliver the message that Tata Pravesh comes with its own frame and Individual Home Builders (IHBs) need to call us before installing an ordinary frame.”

    “In this film, we take up where we left off in the first one,” said Wunderman Thompson Kolkata VP & senior ECD Arjun Mukherjee. “Gajraj Rao is no longer the naïve, unsuspecting customer of the first film. And Priyamani makes a heart-stopper of an appearance in this one. The effort was to tell the story in an entertaining and engaging way with penny drop moments that are sure to bring a smile. Who says you can’t have fun while introducing a toll-free number?”

  • No compromise on Tata Sky when it comes to your choice of entertainment

    No compromise on Tata Sky when it comes to your choice of entertainment

    MUMBAI: With an objective to liberate customers from their current confusions, Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform launched its latest campaign, ‘No Compromise’ toexplain why it is necessary to choose Tata Sky to fit anindividual’s budget and content needs. Featuring Gajraj Rao, the campaign highlights the core message of ‘No Compromise’on entertainment needs viatailor-made Packs and Instant Pack Modificationsavailable on Tata Sky.

    Gajraj Rao clearly the show-stealer of 2018 will star in 3Tata Skyad films helping the customersunderstand why there is no reason or ‘Rishtedaari’ (relation) that should make one compromise between theircontent of choice and budget. The campaign urges customers to make that all important and long impending move to Tata Sky. At a time when change is inevitable and mostly seems painful, Tata Sky assures that its high-end technology will provide answers to all the consumers needs. 

    Through this campaign, Tata Sky addresses the changebrought about by the current pricing regime and offers assurances of never letting any customer compromise between either content or budget. 

    The ad campaign delights with Gajraj Rao playing the adamant husband & son-in-law unwilling to change with time., leading to unhappy family members. A smile is rest assured, as you relate to these day-to-day scenarios from our lives. 

    Film 1:The first adfilm opens inside a local shop, where the conversation between the father-in-law and son-in-law (played by Gajraj Rao) is around why the same set of channels are now costing more. Since the son-in-law doesn’t budge on his argument, the father-in-law ends up finding Tata Sky as the solution to his problems. But since the ‘rishtedaari’ must be maintained he reluctantly has to step back and compromise on his choice of packs fitting his budget.  

    Film 2:In the second film, the wifetells her husband, (played by Gajraj Rao)she is unable to watch her favourite shows, as the desired channels are unavailable in their selected pack. When her husband dismisses her plea, she tries calling Tata Sky for a switch.  But is unable to complete her selection as she feels conflicted about straining her‘Rishtedaari’with her husband thereby compromising on her choice of channels.

    Film 3: The brother-in-law – Saleji, asks his Jijo (Gajraj Rao), ifhecan add his favorite sports channel for just a few days. But his Jiju refuses saying it’s not possible to add or drop channels whenever he asks. Saleji decides to book a Tata Sky connection online. Precisely then he remembers his ‘Rishtedaari’ with his sister and Jijo and compromises on his choice to add or drop his desired channels as he wishes. 

    Anurag Kumar, Chief Communications Officer, Tata Sky said, “Tata Sky remains committed to providing subscribers with quality entertainment using easy and simple steps. The ‘No Compromise’ campaign captures the pain that TV viewers across the country are facing today for something as critical as their daily dose of content viewing. Tata Sky is here to resolve the same. With Gajraj Rao’s immense popularity and Ogilvy &Mather’s creativity put to test we are glad we could deliver a campaign that addresses this pain in a humorous yet relatable manner.”

    Speaking on the new campaign, Sukesh Nayak, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy Mathersaid, “A compromise in relationships is inevitable. This campaign humorously depicts the compromise one must make in relationships. Luckily for majority of customers out there, who are un related parties, they can just switch to Tata Sky and watch their entertainment with #NoSamjhauta."

    With an aim to connect with the viewers and address all relevant concerns, the campaign is a 360-degree campaign which includes outdoor, digital and TVCs. To further build awareness and connect with people across the country, Tata Sky has created the advertisement in 8 different languages which includes Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Kannada, Telegu, Malyalam and Tamil.