ITV

Tag: Indian Television

  • Zee TV completes 23 years on Indian television; creates 1 million jobs

    Zee TV completes 23 years on Indian television; creates 1 million jobs

    MUMBAI: Twenty-three years ago to this date, one man changed the face of Indian television forever.

     

    We’re talking about none other than the czar of television in India – Dr Subhash Chandra, who began beaming Zee TV on 2 October, 1992 as the first Hindi language cable channel in India.

     

    Over the last 23 years, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) Zee TV has expanded its reach to more than 169 countries and has viewership of over 956 million across the world. What’s more, with the advent of Zee TV, the industry has created one million jobs, according to Dr Chandra.

     

    On 23 anniversary of Zee TV, Dr Chandra took to Twitter to say:

     

     

    Following his father’s tweet-steps, ZEEL MD and CEO Puneet Goenka also tweeted:

     

     

    Since launch, the channel has aired hundreds of fictional show, which while providing entertainment have also raised multiple social issues of the country. Some of its impactful dramas have been series like Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Apki Antra, Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan and Afsar Betiya amongst many others.

     

    A pioneer in many aspects, Zee TV was the first to introduce India’s first musical reality show called Antakshari, which ran successfully for over ten years. Hosted by Anuu Kapoor, the show was viewers’ staple diet across age groups.

     

    Zee also went on to launch Zee Khana Khazana, the first 24 hours food channel in India. Aap Ki Adalat hosted by renowned journalist Rajat Sharma, was among the most loved show of 90s that the channel has ever produced.

     

    In the fiction space, the channel gave a landmark show like Tara – the first show on contemporary urban women by Vinta Nanda that ran for about five years on the channel. Some of the other shows that have managed to make a mark areAastitvaa Ek Prem Kahani as well as the endearing and inimitable Hum Paanch.

     

    In 1995, the channel launched first singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, which has given some of the finest singers to the industry. After producing the first singing reality show, the channel came up with first India’s largest dance reality showDance India Dance in 2009, which is currently running in its fifth season.

     

    On the occasion of its 23rd anniversary, Zee TV is also running a contest on social media. On Twitter, the channel is running a #Zeeturns23 contest, where several questions related to Zee are posed and people are asked to tweet their answers.

     

    As was earlier reported by Indiantelevision.com, the latest offering from Zee TV is the new reality show called I Can Do That. The show is an adaptation of an international series by the same name and will be hosted by Farhan Akhtar.

     

    Additionally, Zee TV is also planning to launch the second season of India’s Best Dramebaaz in the coming months. On the fiction front, the channel is readying a new series called Kaala Teeka. However, the launch date of the show has not yet been revealed.

  • Heli-cam shoots Zee Rishtey Awards

    Heli-cam shoots Zee Rishtey Awards

    MUMBAI: Those looking forward to watching the Zee Rishtey Awards coming Sunday are in for a visual extravaganza.

     

    For the first time in the history of Indian television, a Heli-cam has been deployed to shoot all the acts live at the venuem that is, at the Andheri Sports Complex.

     

    For the uninitiated, Heli-cams are known for their flexibility and small size, and are used globally to capture aerial photographs and moving images. The technology has been of great use to professionals including astronauts and scientists for procuring panoramic views of the Earth but it is yet to make its debut in the Indian television industry.

     

    Exults director Zee Rishtey Awards Arun Sesh Kumar: “The camera is being used in films too these days, but nobody has used it for TV shows in India till now.” Kumar, who is fascinated by the technology, wanted to bring it in to shoot the Awards that have been planned on a gigantic scale.

     

    Just the platform set up by Umang Kumar for the performances is 1060/80 feet; he informs, pointing out that the Heli-cam has entered the Indian market just a month and a half ago.

     

    “We have spent a bomb to rent the camera that is usually imported from the US. The good part is that it came with an operator who was a pro at handling it and we got enough time to rehearse and get a hang of using it with ease,” says Kumar, adding that the Heli-cam has helped them capture every nook and cranny that was hitherto unreachable. It took almost 48-hours for the team to shoot the entire show.

     

    Kumar says that the camera has been used to capture some of the interesting moments that goes on among the audience. Besides, it has even helped in getting a better view of some of the exciting acts in the show.

     

    And, the camera isn’t the only first at the upcoming awards. The Zee programming team has come up with a few innovations, with Sharmistha Roy Banerjee, creative director of Essel Vision that has produced the show, working for over a month to get everything in place for the big night.

     

    According to Kumar, “This year’s show is much better and bigger than any of the past years,” with artistes from Zee’s many serials roped in for the event.

     

    Another first is that in keeping with Zee’s theme, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is my family), the channel is extending a gesture of friendship to other channels. Kumar reveals that Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited MD Puneet Goenka has come up with the idea of felicitating top shows from other channels; marking the opening of a new chapter in Indian television history. “I agree that channels are always at war. But rivalry doesn’t need to be taken to the level of enmity,” says Kumar, who thinks the initiative will work well for the industry.

     

    With so many new beginnings, the awards, to be aired on Zee TV on Sunday, 1 December, have got good sponsors too, reveals a source from the marketing team. Vaseline is the title sponsor and the show is powered by Vatika Enriched Coconut Oil. Lacto Calamine Reneu is the Co Presenting Sponsor and Colgate Active Salt Healthy White, Dabur Chyawanprash, JOY Skin Fruit Face Wash, LIC, Johnson Baby Cream are the associate sponsors.

  • Final Ind vs Aus ODI garners unprecedented viewership

    Final Ind vs Aus ODI garners unprecedented viewership

    MUMBAI: Beginning today everyone will be glued to their television screens to witness one of the biggest cricketing moment in history. This will be the last time that cricket fans will get to see the master blaster – Sachin Tendulkar – don the Indian colours.

     

    But, that’s not all – cricket as a sport has always been followed as a religion in this culturally diverse nation. The latest viewership numbers that the seventh and final ODI played between India and Australia witnessed proves it.

     

    The last ODI between India and Australia emerged as the highest rated single day TV event in India for the year 2013. According to data provided by Star Sports, the match garnered 55,561 TVTs (CS 15+, M, SEC ABC, All India ) which remains unmatched on Indian television across all genres this year. It also recorded highest time spent per viewer (TSV) across ODIs in 2013 with 101 minutes on both Hindi and English commentary feed on Star Sports channels.

     

    The recently concluded Star Sports India vs Australia ODI series 2013 was watched by almost 43 per cent of the C&S homes.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Star India head of sports business Nitin Kukreja said, “We are delighted with the viewer traction for the series. There is an upswing of almost 18 per cent in average time spent per viewer per match for the India-Australia ODI series as compared to all India ODIs played in the year 2013.  We are pleased to note the stickiness that Hindi commentary has been able to generate in the HSM markets. This is a clear cut vindication of our strategy of promoting choice of language for the consumer.”

     

    Sports broadcaster Star Sports had launched a high-decibel campaign, with the core theme ‘Fight for No 1’; to promote the India Australia series featuring seven ODIs and a T20 match. The high profile series commenced on 10 October and ended on 2 November, just two days before Diwali.
    ODI 4 and 5 of the series were impacted by rain. India won the hard fought contest 3-2 thereby retaining the number one ranking in the ICC ODI Rankings.

  • Indian content to Glow in South Africa

    Indian content to Glow in South Africa

    MUMBAI: If you were ever in doubt about the cross-border reach of Indian television content, here’s some solid proof.

    A recently launched South African TV channel – Glow TV, in the business of syndicating and displaying content from across the globe, will give SA audiences a taste of our home-grown television shows such as Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Kya Huaa Tera Vaada and Sanjeev Kapoor’s Kitchen (Sony), No Big Deal (NDTV) and Koffee with Karan (Star India).

    An FTA channel, Glow TV, will also telecast UK-based Indian shows like The Kumars at No 42 and Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee.

    The first television channel from Kagiso Media, Glow TV, is a partnership between Kagiso Media and Nolava Television, and calls itself ‘Eastern inspired’. This is its first television offering as it has a significant holding in the radio business.

    With the Census 2011 pegging the Indian population in South Africa at 1.3 million, a majority of which lives in and around the city of Durban, Glow TV will mainly cater to this segment.

    “We believe that there is no channel which caters to this market in the free-to-air arena. Whilst our primary target market is the South African Indian audience between the ages of 20 – 45 years, we do believe that our content has great crossover appeal and will attract audiences across the South African market,” says Glow TV head Yusuf Nabee.

    Yusuf Nabee says that the channel will give what people have been asking for- universal story lines and great production quality

    Apart from India, content is also being sourced from various distributors in countries like Brazil and the US. As of now, Glow TV has no original content but that will be part of phase two and will be produced by its subsidiary, Urban Brew Studios. “We will look at content in all languages – our main criteria are compelling entertainment and high production values,” says Nabee.

    People today are looking at great content, high production values and universal story lines, all of which Glow TV can provide, according to Nabee. “Glow is a cleverly tailored offering that brings comedy, drama, movies, reality, food and game shows, in one easy-to-access, free-to-air offering,” he exults.

    Currently, Glow TV is only looking at adding English sub-titles though there are plans to dub shows in future.

    But why would Indian television channels like Sony, NDTV and Star India want to be a part of this new channel?

     

     
    Nilesh Kriplani says that this deal will give their shows great value

     

    For Sony, it is about supporting an upcoming channel of a parent they have known for the last two to three years. “Although our channel is already known in Africa, this deal adds value to our library content and also increases awareness,” says Sony Entertainment Network Exec VP Syndication Nitesh Kriplani.

     

    For Star India, it is about expanding into Africa with its linear channels as well as syndication. “Kagiso was looking for top-quality Indian content to populate Glow TV programming and Star being the biggest content creator of India, was a natural destination for Kagiso. So, we found great synergies in working together to further our expansion plans in Africa,” says Star India senior VP commercial Ashutosh Mordekar, adding, “For now, just the first two seasons of Koffee with Karan are being shared, but more shows are in discussion.”

    Star India is expanding its reach to Africa says Ashutosh Mordekar

    With Glow TV yet to pick up in the market, all deals are only for a period of two to three years. Also, with all syndicated shows, the channel is presently relying on advertisers for revenue. A package called ‘Glow Watt Bundles’ has been designed for Indian advertisers with a presence in South Africa. Kagiso Media has entitled its ad sales rights exclusively to H2O Media for all advertisers based in India. H2O is a media marketing company that markets Indian content that caters to the NRI community to Indian advertisers.

    Currently, Glow TV is only available on the Open View HD satellite bouquet along with 14 other channels. An initial amount of ZAR 1600 has to be paid for acquiring the set top box, satellite dish and for installation that is paid to Open View HD whose USP is ‘pay once-enjoy forever’.

    However, plans are afoot to bring in more channels under the Glow TV umbrella in future when South Africa shifts from analogue to digital TV. With the way things are shaping, more Indian shows are set to be aired on Glow TV as well.

  • Sahara One gives Indian Television the first ever FIRANGI BAHU

    Sahara One gives Indian Television the first ever FIRANGI BAHU

    MUMBAI: As more and more foreign nationals come to India, one is often prompted to ask “Can a foreigner feel at home in India?” Sahara One will address this question through its brand new, light hearted family show ‘FIRANGI BAHU’ to go on air from Monday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. The show will put forth a concept that has never been seen in the history of Indian Television: a foreigner who comes to stay in her sasural in India.

    It is a well known fact that foreigners are fascinated by India, its colorful festivals, traditions and diverse cultural heritage. This fascination makes them want to try and become a part of Indian culture. At the same time Indians too, are quite curious about the West. They have accepted Western influences on Indian food, attire, art, music and many other things. However when it comes to the sacred institution of marriage, Indians still consider people from the West to be unwelcome representatives of a world that is too different and alien. And it is amidst this background that ‘FIRANGI BAHU’ is set.

    The show will take viewers through the journey of a British girl, Camili Jonathan, who marries into the conservative Desai family in Rajkot, Gujarat.

    The story starts with Pranay Desai (Rohit Bhardwaj) the youngest son of the Desai family, who is in London for higher studies and meets Camili Jonathan (Sippora).

    Slowly through her eyes, Pranay begins to see India, his own country, in a new light. He begins to admire things that he had overlooked over the years, despite being an Indian himself. In the process, Pranay falls in love with Camili’s simple lifestyle and her perspective of India.
    Aware of his conservative family background, he decides to marry Camili in London and return to India.

    Commenting on this, Sharad Raj, Content and Programming Head, Sahara One, says, “At Sahara One we are constantly innovating with the aim of providing interesting and novel content to viewers. This is the first time that a foreigner is playing a bahu in a Hindi serial. This is clutter breaking; a real FIRST TIME event on Indian television. Moreover, this provides sufficient scope for drama and lighter moments. Viewers will enjoy watching a European lady adapt to a conservative Gujarati family. At the same time, her journey will result in a lot of drama. I hope viewers support us in our endeavour to bring them something new. And I hope they appreciate the effort we have made to do this.”

    Adds Vipul D Shah, Managing Director & CCO (Chief Creative Officer), Optimystix Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd., “Firangi Bahu is a clutter breaking concept, which is an unusual and never-seen-before concept on Indian Television. Firangi Bahu is a slice of life, dramedy (Drama & Comedy) story of Camili Jonathan, a 20 year old British citizen, who falls in love with a Gujarati boy in London.

    Motivated purely by love and devotion, she decides to settle in India in a joint Gujarati family (her sasural). This is in a way, a celebration of India and Indianness through a foreigner’s point of view. All characters and situations in the serial are endearing and believable.”

    Sahara One’s show ‘FIRANGI BAHU’, showcases the struggle of Camili Jonathan, a British girl, who enters India and its culture that is rich, diverse and different from her own. In the process she discovers her own ability to adapt, after getting married into a traditional, conservative Indian family and winning over members of the family with her knowledge and love of Indian culture.

    ‘FIRANGI BAHU’ will introduce the beautiful SIPPORA ZOUTEWELLE, a Dutch debutant actress, who will play the title role of FIRANGI BAHU. The Desai family will see an ensemble of seasoned actors like Indira Krishna, Pranoti Pradhan, Deepmala Parmar, Dilip Darbar, Hetal Puniwala, Paresh Bhatt and Rohit Bhardwaj.

  • CNN-IBN shines at the 13th Indian television academy awards

    CNN-IBN shines at the 13th Indian television academy awards

    NEW DELHI: India’s Most Awarded News Channel, has once again proved its mettle by winning three awards at the prestigious 13th Indian Television Academy Awards. CNN-IBN was adjudged the Best English News Channel of 2013 – for the seventh time in the last eight years and four times in a row. Sagarika Ghose, was conferred the Best Anchor – Talk/Chat Show for Face the People. The other award was bagged by the channel’s flagship show INDIA at 9 in the category Best News/ Current Affairs Show.

    The Indian Television Academy Awards is an annual event organised by the Indian Television Academy. The awards are presented in various categories, including popular programming (music, news, entertainment, sports, travel, lifestyle and fashion), best television channel in various categories, technical awards and best performance awards.

    Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, CNN-IBN, IBN7 & IBN Lokmat, said, “It is with great pride that we accept the award for the Best English News Channel for the seventh time in the last eight years. This is indeed a tribute to the relentless spirit of the wonderful team at CNN-IBN which works very hard day after day, 365 days.”

  • Discovery Kids ushers in Diwali with festivities

    Discovery Kids ushers in Diwali with festivities

    MUMBAI: World Children Expo (WCE) is partnering with Discovery Kids TV channelto bring families together to celebrate this Diwali, at a two-day kids’ carnival taking place in Gurgaon.

    Conceptualised by Creative Children Media, WCE@Diwali will be held at the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon on 19 October and 20 October, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

    Creative Children Media & World Children Expo founder Rahul Gupta said, “WCE is now being acknowledged nationwide as India’s biggest kids’ expo, catering to the ecosystem of children and children-centric brands. I am excited to partner with Discovery Kids which we believe is one of the finest additions to Indian television. It is gratifying to see that our exhibitor brands range from top corporates to upcoming start-ups. The philosophy of WCE@Diwali is essentially to be a platform for start-ups to launch and the top brands to expand their offerings and interact with children through one singular event.”

    True to the smart fun positioning of Discovery Kids, the carnival will include a variety of exciting activities such as games, a painting corner, quizzes, and workshops for kids and engagement with parents to win plenty of prizes. There will also be a range of products on display and for sale.

    Adding more excitement to the carnival, the new season of the animated TV series Transformers Prime Beast Hunters, exclusive to Discovery Kids, will be launched at the event. The kids will get a special opportunity to be seen with the famous characters of the series.

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific south Asia and head of revenue, Pan-regional ad sales and southeast Asia Sr. VP and GM Rahul Johri said, “Discovery Kids is focused on giving kids a unique experience through its smart and engaging content. Since the channel’s launch last year, Discovery Kids continues to excite children of all age groups and on this auspicious occasion of Diwali, we are thrilled to celebrate the channel’ssuccess with the children.  Our newly introduced character Transformers Prime Beast Hunters will add more fun to the activities at the carnival.”

  • Romedy Now brings love and laughter to Indian television

    Romedy Now brings love and laughter to Indian television

    MUMBAI: ROMEDY NOW, the brand new English entertainment channel from the Times Television Network, launches on september 22nd at 7 am, giving television buffs a whole new reason to turn on the telly. Encouraging viewers to get back to the key life values, ROMEDY NOW delivers a healthy dose of love and laughter to lighten up your life.

     

    With a top movie line-up of light-hearted entertainment, ROMEDY NOW promises to put you in the greatest of moods. From date nights to bridezillas, sit back and unwind with some of the best feel-good movies from Hollywood.

     

    Who can resist a good cat fight between two best friends? Catch best friends turn bridezillas as Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway discover and re-discover where their friendship stands with a dream wedding in Bride Wars on Sep 27 at 9 pm.

     

    Men may be from Mars and women from Venus, but catch the cast of cult film He’s Just Not That Into You tell it like it is. With a star cast that includes Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Scarlett Johansson, tune in to some dynamic performances on Sep 22 at 9 pm.

     

    Don’t miss the ensemble cast of Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel and Julia Roberts in Valentine’s Day on Sep 28 at 9 pm. Watch as their lives cross paths to reveal a truly romantic story.

     

    Jennifer Aniston delivers yet another power-packed performance in Love Happens as the free-spirited florist who falls in love with a bestselling novelist. Catch the twist in the tale and watch how love has the power to conquer all on Oct. 4 at 9 pm.

     

    When two single adults step up to take care of their best friends’ orphaned girl, they learn that being parents is the toughest job in the world. Tune in on Sep 27 at 10.40 pm to watch the vivacious Katherine Heigl work on her motherly instincts in Life as we know it.

     

    Love. Laugh. Live and tune in to ROMEDY NOW on September 22, 2013!

  • Who will be India’s Junior MasterChef?

    Who will be India’s Junior MasterChef?

    MUMBAI: If you thought children’s reality shows on the small screen were only about singing, dancing or acting, think again. Riding on the success of MasterChef India, Star Plus is gearing up for a brand new show that will see kids aged eight to twelve years cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Indeed, the show titled Junior MasterChef – Swaad Ke Ustaad and produced by Colosceum Media, will be the first such in the history of Indian television.

    It is not a singing or dancing show. Nobody has ever seen kids cooking, I am sure in my head and heart that the show will do well, says Ashish Golwalkar

    But why children? clarifies Star India senior VP – marketing Nikhil Madhok: “Kids have a universal appeal. Everybody, including adults and kids themselves, will be interested in what these small wonders cook up. Most importantly, we are giving young cooking enthusiasts a platform.”

    While the format is modeled on the lines of Junior MasterChef Australia, which has already completed one season, the show will adapt to Indian sensibilities. Explains Star India senior vice president – programming, Ashish Golwalkar: “What they cook there, we cannot cook here because many of the ingredients are not available. The basic essence will be similar to Junior Masterchef Australia, but we have changed it a lot to suit the Indian palate.”

    Auditions have been conducted in three cities including Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata and ten kids have been finalised. What’s more, four to five episodes have already been shot at RK Studios in Chembur.

    Chefs Jolly, Kunal and Vikas will expect nothing less than perfect, well-executed and delicious dishes

    Talking about the response at the auditions, Golwalkar says: “To be frank, before conducting the auditions, we were not sure whether the kids would be able to do this or not. And if so, then what kind of kids we were going to take. But the response we received was overwhelming. Around 8,000 kids turned up for the auditions. Some even travelled from smaller towns to showcase their skills.”

    But will it work? Madhok sounds confident: “We want to capture the innocence of the children and showcase their skills in an area usually associated with adults. Eight to twelve years is perfect for us because the kids are cute, eager to learn and the way they will demonstrate their talent will amaze people worldwide.”

    Adds Golwalkar: “It is not a singing or dancing show. Nobody has ever seen kids cooking, I am sure in my head and heart that the show will do well. So, by the sheer nature of its content, it will be different from the others. It’s prime time and we are ready to take a fight, and as a channel, we are ready to take up any challenge. As leaders, if we don’t take risks and push the envelope, then who else will.”

    The first season of Junior MasterChef – Swaad Ke Ustaad will be begin to air from today, for 12 weeks every Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m.

    And it’s not just about giving other reality shows a run for their money.

    We are giving young cooking enthusiasts a reality show platform but in a whole new avatar says Nikhil Madhok

    “One child will win, that is the nature of the competition, but our attitude and endeavour is to encourage all the children who participate in the show,” says Madhok.
    Chefs Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapoor and Surjan Singh Jolly will be the celebrity judges on the show. With kids involved, won’t they be lenient as compared to the adults’ version?

    Nothing will be made easy for the li’l chefs, clarifies Golwalkar. Every week, different tasks will be assigned to them and they will have to live up to the judges’ expectations.
    What about the kids’ safety?

    Four contestant managers will take care of the children while they chop or cook, says Golwalkar, adding: “Nobody needs to worry about safety. We have followed enough precautions as per the international format.”

    The show will be replacing the dance reality show India’s Dancing Superstar on Star Plus. Amul is the presenting sponsor and Pigeon, Fiona and Yippee noodles are its associate sponsors.

    Marketing and promotions

    Star Plus has adopted a three-pronged approach toward promoting Junior MasterChef – Swaad Ke Ustaad; television, digital and on-ground.

     

    On the television front, promos are already being aired on the entire Star network as well as 22 channels outside the network to communicate that JMC is not just a show for kids but for the entire family.

    Digitally, Star Plus has tied-up with MSN India and Yahoo! to make available exclusive behind-the-scenes content of the show. A digital application is on the cards which will help download recipes one sees on the show or indulge in a live chat with the judges and kids. A Facebook application has also been created where the young guns will test the audience’s knowledge about food.

    As far as on-ground activity is concerned, various competitions will be held between adults and children in ten cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Chandigarh and Lucknow. The intent is to demonstrate how talented kids can be, sometimes surpassing adults as well.

    Viewers will witness a perfect amalgamation of great food stirred up with a riot of laughter and fun

    Apart from the three important legs of the campaign, Star Plus has teamed up with Hindustan Times for a novel print idea. On the day of the launch of JMC, HT Cafe and HT City will appear half their usual size as a tribute to the “Junior Master Chefs” debuting the same night.

    Secondly, in a unique contest on Radio City, listeners who believe they have carried the most boring dabba that day will be encouraged to interact with the RJ. If the listener manages to convince the RJ that he/she does have ‘the most boring dabba’, he/she will win a treat from The Junior MasterChef Kitchen – the very same day.

    Thirdly, selected cinema halls will have a special ‘Junior Master Chef seat’. The lucky viewer who happens to get that seat will be treated to a delicious surprise from the JMC kitchen during the interval.

    While season one of the Australian version was won by one Isabella, we eagerly await to see who will win the show’s Indian counterpart.

  • The Splendour of Rashtrapati Bhavan revealed on Discovery Channel

    The Splendour of Rashtrapati Bhavan revealed on Discovery Channel

    NEW DELHI: Coinciding with India’s 67th Independence Day celebration on 15 August, Discovery Channel is telecasting a series with an exclusive journey inside the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan.

    Having its premiere at 9 pm on 15 August, Revealed: Rashtrapati Bhavan captures the story of Rashtrapati Bhavan from its conception to its completion and the changes undergone as the home of the respective Indian Presidents. Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is amongst the largest presidential estates of the world, was the heart of the British plan for a new imperial capital.

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific senior vice president and general manager – South Asia Rahul Johri said, “Discovery Channel is privileged to present the breathtaking splendour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan – the office and residence of the President of the largest democracy in the world. On the occasion of this Independence Day, we are delighted to take viewers inside the corridors of the presidential palace rarely seen on the Indian television.”

    Especially produced for Discovery Channel by AIM Television, Revealed: Rashtrapati Bhavan charts the history of this building on two parallels. One story follows the shift of the capital and the efforts of Edwin Landseer Lutyens as the architect of this house while the other takes viewers through the sprawling palace and its magnificent rooms. Every element in the Rashtrapati Bhavan has evolved over the past eight decades where the building has witnessed the transition from an imperial occupation to being the home of the head of the largest democracy in the world.

    The palatial residence is an extended expression of architect Edward Lutyen’s passion and finesse. From the most spectacular room in the palace, Ashoka Hall, to the Dwarka Suite now used for serving the state guests – this exclusive insight into the President’s house answers a spectrum of questions on what lies behind the high gates. The programme also brings to light the design of the residence, the creative culinary quotient as well as the history and intense security.