Tag: Kiccha Sudeep

Bigg Boss Kannada 11 to premiere on 29 September

Mumbai: Colors Kannada is launching season 11 of Bigg Boss, one of India’s biggest reality shows. The premiere will air on 29 September at 6 pm, with daily episodes following at 9:30 pm and on Jio Cinema. This season features a ‘Hell and Heaven’ theme, where contestants are divided into two groups—one enjoying luxury and the other facing challenges without basic amenities.

For the first time, contestants will be revealed before the show’s launch during the Raja Rani Reloaded Grand Finale on 28 September, where viewers will decide who goes to hell and who enters heaven. Kiccha Sudeep will return as host, bringing his experience and leadership to the show. This season will feature a diverse mix of celebrities and influencers, with a larger Bigg Boss house designed for elaborate games and tasks, promising drama and unexpected moments.

Kiccha Sudeep said, “Ten seasons has been an incredible journey. Stepping into the 11th season is altogether an additional responsibility. With a refreshed format and a new concept, this season is not just another chapter—it’s a legacy we’re all building together. I’m excited for the newer lot.”

Viacom18 president- general entertainment Alok Jain said, “Bigg Boss has always been a trailblazing property in the media and entertainment landscape, consistently breaking through the clutter with its dynamic, engaging content that resonates across languages and regions. As one of the most impactful franchises on television, it captivates millions with its high-voltage entertainment and unmatched viewer connection. Our aim is to always delight audiences and keep our promise of bringing new and exciting content to our viewers in Karnataka. This season of Bigg Boss Kannada introduces the exciting ‘Hell and Heaven’ theme, foretelling a thrilling experience for our audiences. We’re also thankful to our brand partners for being part of journey. Their association is a testament to the show’s reach and success across the region.”

Banijay Asia and EndemolShine India founder and group CEO Deepak Dhar said, “We are excited to bring the 11th season of Bigg Boss Kannada to our viewers, packed with high-energy entertainment and drama, with the iconic Kiccha Sudeep returning as host. The overwhelming love and support from our audience year after year has driven us to raise the bar for the show once again. Our continued partnership with Colors Kannada and JioCinema promises another successful season to our beloved audiences in India & beyond. At EndemolShine India, our focus is to tailor engaging formats like Bigg Boss to resonate with linguistic & cultural preferences across regions. We are confident that this season will not only entertain but engage and thrill viewers, as Bigg Boss Kannada continues to grow stronger each year.”

Bigg Boss Kannada Season 11 is co-powered by Freedom Refined Sunflower Oil, with special partners Sadguru Ayurveda Gram Flour Soap, Sudarshan Silks, Haier, Nirantara Divine Puja Oil, India Gate Basmati Rice, A23 Rummy, associate partner Hangyo Ice Cream and Amrutanjan, along with prize partner Confident Group and digital partner Vimal Elaichi and Sharief Bhai Biryani.

Viewers can enjoy Bigg Boss Kannada episodes for free on Jio Cinema the day after they air, catching all the action free of cost.

September 24, 2024
McDonald’s India launches crispy fried chicken

Mumbai: To expand its fried chicken offerings in the South market, McDonald’s India (W&S), owned by Westlife Foodworld, has launched crispy fried chicken, enhancing its chicken portfolio in the region. McDonald’s India has also partnered with Kannada movie star Kiccha Sudeep as the face of its new campaign, ‘Let the Crunch Takeover’.

The campaign features a TVC, conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group starring Kiccha Sudeep. These TVCs showcase the Kannada star relishing the crispy fried chicken and highlighting the product’s defining crispy texture.

The TVC opens with a comical scene of the police interrogating Kiccha Sudeep at his home, which appears a bit ransacked. As the officers scribble in their notepad, asking “if they remember anything else?” Kiccha is seen calmly enjoying a McDonald’s crispy fried chicken. A family member then exclaims, “Yes, Crunch sound! We were eating crispy fried chicken,” before grabbing a piece and biting into it with an exaggerated crunch sound. The police officer tries the same as well, repeating “Oh…like this!” as the family continues debating the perfect “this” crunch sound. The spot closes with a showcase of the mouth-watering crispy fried chicken bucket.

McDonald’s India (W&S) chief marketing officer Arvind R.P. said, “At McDonald’s, we are constantly strengthening our menu portfolio to offer a variety of chicken products for our customers in the Southern markets. Our new crispy fried chicken with the campaign featuring Kiccha Sudeep is a testament to this strategy. His expansive fan base and connection with our core audience in this region will drive strong consumer engagement and preference for our offerings.”

Kiccha Sudeep said, “I am truly excited to partner with McDonald’s India (W&S) for the launch of their new Crispy Fried Chicken. Glad to see the brand truly capturing the essence of crunch and flavour in this new offering. I cannot wait for my fans and food lovers across the South to experience its mouth-watering taste. The crispy fried chicken is sure to get everyone hooked on the same satisfying crunch that I love”.

Over the years, McDonald’s India has leveraged the influence of South Indian movie stars to strengthen its brand presence in the region. Alongside the partnership with Kiccha Sudeep for the crispy fried chicken launch, the brand has previously collaborated with stars like Rashmika Mandanna and Jr. NTR. These partnerships have helped McDonald’s India connect with its core audience and build brand loyalty in the South Indian market.

August 27, 2024
CCL Season 10 roars into playoffs and finals

Mumbai: As the adrenaline-fueled action of CCL 2024 Season 10 hurtles towards its climax, Karnataka Bulldozers, Chennai Rhinos, Mumbai Heroes and Bengal Tigers stand tall, having clinched their berth in the playoffs. The playoffs promise a spectacle of top-tier competition, with the four best teams battling it out for the chance to seize glory. In the heart-pounding first qualifier, Chennai Rhinos and Mumbai Heroes will clash head-on, while the eliminator will see Karnataka Bulldozers and Bengal Tigers duke it out, each fighting tooth and nail for their shot at the ultimate prize. The stage is set in Trivandrum, where the stakes are sky-high and the intensity electrifying.

In the midst of the jubilant celebrations of victory, the Telugu Warriors find themselves grappling with the harsh sting of defeat. Despite emerging triumphant in three electrifying battles and boasting the laurels of CCL Season 9 champions, their fortunes take a sour turn as their once-soaring run rate plummets, ultimately sealing their fate and relegating them from the title race. It’s a testament to the unforgiving nature of the competition, where every run, every wicket, spells the difference between triumph and heartbreak. This season has been a whirlwind journey, spanning from the scorching grounds of Sharjah to the bustling arenas of Hyderabad and Chandigarh, and now culminating in the battleground of Trivandrum. Bhojpuri Dabbangs and Punjab De Sher, despite their initial setback, fought valiantly in their quest for a spot in the finals. Despite putting up a spirited struggle, they fell short in their bid to secure a coveted place in the ultimate showdown.

Amidst the blazing heat of this season’s showdown, Kiccha Sudeep’s Karnataka Bulldozers emerge as the undeniable force, dominating the field with an awe-inspiring string of three consecutive triumphs. But they’re not alone in their quest for glory; Jisshu Sengupta’s Bengal Tigers, Arya’s Chennai Rhinos, and Ritesh Deshmukh’s Mumbai Heroes are among the fierce contenders vying for the final showdown. Please find the qualifying scenarios for the remaining teams:

March 12, 2024
COLORS Kannada to launch the region’s entertainment show Bigg Boss Kannada S10

Mumbai: Keeping up with its promise to bring the biggest and best entertainment to its viewers throughout the year, Colors Kannada today announced the launch of Bigg Boss Season 10.

Powered by Freedom Refined Oil and Nippon Paint; Special partners Levista Instant Coffee, Cera, Swastiks Masala and India Gate Basmati Rice; Health partner Amrith Noni and Restaurant partner Haldiram’s, and Prize partner Confident Group; BIGG BOSS Kannada Season 10 is set to premiere on Colors Kannada from 8 October at 6 PM and thereafter at 9:30 PM daily. Furthermore, to mark the landmark tenth anniversary season of Bigg Boss Kannada, JioCinema, the OTT platform of Viacom18, will offer exclusive content access for free, with the 24-hour LIVE channel.

For the first time, BIGG BOSS Kannada will be sporting a theme – Happy BIGG BOSS. The theme aims to underscore the happiness and engagement that this festival of entertainment brings to its viewers, participants, advertisers, social media influencers, and digital natives – uniting Kannadigas across the country!

This season of BIGG BOSS Kannada will have 16 contestants from different walks of life entering the house as 73 cameras across every corner of the new BIGG BOSS house bring their lives to the viewers. To mark its tenth anniversary season, Colors Kannada has built a new BIGG BOSS house on the outskirts of the city that will have more space and is considered the biggest BIGG BOSS House across all language formats. Spread over a massive 12000 sq. ft., the new BIGG BOSS house will allow for more elaborate games and tasks, ensuring even more drama, emotion and engagement!

Colors Kannada business head Prashanth Nayak – said, “This season is a landmark moment for 3 reasons. Firstly, it is the tenth anniversary and hence this celebratory feeling underlines all aspects of the show. Secondly, we have introduced a theme for the first time and hence another dimension to the way that participants will play this season. Finally, the new house offers a lot more space – for tasks and for brand integrations. Altogether, this creates an environment for unparalleled drama and engagement while the theme underscores the family appeal of Bigg Boss Kannada.”

Superstar Kiccha Sudeep, the host of the show said, “I started my Bigg Boss Kannada with Season 1 and it’s already a decade. This is not just a show for me, but rather my Happy home! I always enjoy meeting new personalities and the flavours of the characters that they bring to the show. With the biggest Bigg Boss house, a first-ever theme and some surprises along the way – Bigg Boss Season 10 promises to be the most engaging entertainment project for me as well.”

Commenting on the occasion, Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India founder and group CEO Deepak Dhar said, “We are thrilled to mark the 10th anniversary of Bigg Boss Kannada, a testament to its enduring popularity and the immense joy it brings to viewers. Bigg Boss is a global phenomenon, and its success in India, under Endemol Shine India production, continues to be a source of pride for us. We look forward to another new season of drama, emotions, and engagement with its Kannadiga audience”.

To amplify the Bigg Boss Kannada 10th season anniversary experience, JioCinema will bring some exciting additions to ensure non-stop entertainment on the platform for free. Coupled with some exclusive and unseen content, exciting segments such as Bigg News, Unseen Kathegalu, JioCinema Fun Fryday, Deep Agi Nodi will keep the viewers hooked with the trending and hyper-current happenings of the house. Live Shorts will add to the drama and provide snacky content from the 24-hour LIVE channel that will fuel the excitement for the show. Additionally, fans of Bigg Boss Kannada will be in for a treat with interactive offerings such as Watch & Win, Meme the Moment, Hype Chat and Video Vichaar that will give viewers a chance to stay connected through fun contests, chats on the live feed and engage on the platform by creating memes. For the first time, users can watch the show on television and answer questions on JioCinema to win exciting prizes each day. These power-packed interactivity features will enhance user experience and give them the power to take over and influence key decisions inside the house, as well as vote to save the nominated contestant.

Get ready to watch Kannada entertainment’s biggest visual spectacle Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10 from October 8 at 6 PM, thereafter at 9.30 PM daily on Colors Kannada, and non-stop with the 24-hour LIVE channel on JioCinema.

October 5, 2023
Bigg Boss Kannada is a success story

BENGALURU: A few weeks ago, some film producers from Sandalwood held a protest in front of Innovative Film City in Bidadi, where the Bigg Boss house is located, demanding the actors not to participate or host reality shows on television. Season 4 of Endemol’s global format Big Brother through Endemol Shine India was and is still being held there. The current season will run through 100 days to culminate on 15 January this year on Colors Kannada.

During the protests the Kannada film fraternity bigwigs also tried to impose a ban on the show because of its popularity affecting the performances of movies in the box office. These few opening lines indicate how much of an impact, how much of a success Bigg Boss has been in its Kannada avatar.

Right from the first season when the show was aired on ETv Kannada (now Colors Kannada), Bigg Boss has been a huge hit. Even during season 2, when Star India’s Kannada GEC Suvarna TV brought the rights, the show ended up with about 25 percent increase in viewers for the channel say industry sources. “We at Suvarna could not capitalise on the success and ended up losing money on the show,” revealed a source at Suvarna TV.

Bigg Boss returned to Viacom 18 though it’s now renamed channel – Colors Kannada and grew even bigger for season 3, which was shot at Film City Bidadi for the first time. The location for the first two seasons of Bigg Boss Kannada was near Pune. And as for season 4, as mentioned above – is history.

A channel and its shows are successful because of the people behind them. With his vision of making Colors Kannada emerge as the ultimate storyteller, Parameshwar Gundhkal joined the channel in September 2012 as Business Head. Based in Bengaluru, he has escalated the growth of the channel from a number 4 player to being numero-uno. Gundhkal, who began life as a journalist, has experience as fiction head and later as programming head at the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) Zee Kannada.

“Today Colors Kannada continues to retain its number one position with a significant margin,” Gundhkal told www.indiantelevision.com

Gundhkal has been personally involved in Bigg Boss as a de facto director say people at Colors Kannada. Season 4 has 55 cameras and 300 people working around the clocking recording the happenings in the house, picking up stories that could interest viewers and following them up.

“Bigg Boss is a study of human behaviour when cut off from the outside world. Their core character comes out because of the isolation. Though contestants sometimes become predictable, Bigg Boss is all about characters that really surprise you, some of whom have a very salted approach towards life, they will never become predictable,” explains an enthusiastic Gundhkal.

A big chunk of the success of Bigg Boss Kannada must be attributed to its weekend anchor. All the four season have been hosted by Sandalwood superstar Kiccha Sudeep whose name has become synonymous to the show and its format in the Kannada entertainment world. Rumours allege that Sudeep has signed a Rs 18 crore five season deal starting with Season 3 with Colors Kannada to host the show.

A special home has been setup for Sudeep at the Film City in Bidadi. The actor comes in on Friday nights, watches the interesting stories picked up for broadcast and then with the channel and production teams scripts the questions and the remarks that he will make for the weekends when he is host. So passionate are they for the show that the star and the channel head often work through the night for the weekend episode and sleep for a short time at about 500 am on Saturday revealed Gundhkal.

On rumours that the drama on the show is a scripted, induced and does not come out from within the characters, Gundhkal explained, “It cannot be induced. Bigg Boss’s intervention is limited to tasks. Eventually when the participants come out, they will definitely share notes when they meet and would speak out if the show were scripted. More than 50 contestants have taken part in the show so far. It would be difficult to control the participants because they will have some level of disagreement with the direction team. Each of the contestants wants to be popular, to win, and there can be only one winner. At the end of the day it is a 90 minute piece of content per day telecast picked from a 24 hour period shot with multiple cameras. Of course the initial part where Sudeep speaks during weekend episodes is scripted, but then the continuation is not. Based on the response, Sudeep has to react, respond himself, often impromptu.”

Continuing on Sudeep and his role in questioning the contestants for the weekend episodes, Gundhkal explained, “We take a very neutral stand as far as any contestant is concerned. Based on our interpretation – Sudeep’s and my own, we script the questions and the possible follow-ups for these episodes.”

The show has been drawing in sponsors like a magnet does a piece of iron. For season 1 Bigg Boss Kannada was presented by jewellery brand Bhima and powered by slipper brand Paragon. The number of brands increased for season 3 which had OLX as the main sponsor and was co-sponsored by food brands Nisargalaya Brahmi Oil, Gemini Cooking Oil and Eastern. Season 4 has five brands associated with it- Vaseline as the presenting sponsor and it was powered by Nutrigain for the first 50 days. Special partners for the current season are Airtel 4G, McDowell No.1 Soda and MTR.

The show is aired on Colors Kannada and Colors Kannada HD simultaneously from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM every day. This is the first season of Bigg Boss Kannada to be shot and aired in High-Definition. A spin-off show, Bigg Boss Night Shift is being produced and aired on Colors Super from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM every day.

January 5, 2017
Bigg Boss Kannada is a success story

BENGALURU: A few weeks ago, some film producers from Sandalwood held a protest in front of Innovative Film City in Bidadi, where the Bigg Boss house is located, demanding the actors not to participate or host reality shows on television. Season 4 of Endemol’s global format Big Brother through Endemol Shine India was and is still being held there. The current season will run through 100 days to culminate on 15 January this year on Colors Kannada.

During the protests the Kannada film fraternity bigwigs also tried to impose a ban on the show because of its popularity affecting the performances of movies in the box office. These few opening lines indicate how much of an impact, how much of a success Bigg Boss has been in its Kannada avatar.

Right from the first season when the show was aired on ETv Kannada (now Colors Kannada), Bigg Boss has been a huge hit. Even during season 2, when Star India’s Kannada GEC Suvarna TV brought the rights, the show ended up with about 25 percent increase in viewers for the channel say industry sources. “We at Suvarna could not capitalise on the success and ended up losing money on the show,” revealed a source at Suvarna TV.

Bigg Boss returned to Viacom 18 though it’s now renamed channel – Colors Kannada and grew even bigger for season 3, which was shot at Film City Bidadi for the first time. The location for the first two seasons of Bigg Boss Kannada was near Pune. And as for season 4, as mentioned above – is history.

A channel and its shows are successful because of the people behind them. With his vision of making Colors Kannada emerge as the ultimate storyteller, Parameshwar Gundhkal joined the channel in September 2012 as Business Head. Based in Bengaluru, he has escalated the growth of the channel from a number 4 player to being numero-uno. Gundhkal, who began life as a journalist, has experience as fiction head and later as programming head at the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) Zee Kannada.

“Today Colors Kannada continues to retain its number one position with a significant margin,” Gundhkal told www.indiantelevision.com

Gundhkal has been personally involved in Bigg Boss as a de facto director say people at Colors Kannada. Season 4 has 55 cameras and 300 people working around the clocking recording the happenings in the house, picking up stories that could interest viewers and following them up.

“Bigg Boss is a study of human behaviour when cut off from the outside world. Their core character comes out because of the isolation. Though contestants sometimes become predictable, Bigg Boss is all about characters that really surprise you, some of whom have a very salted approach towards life, they will never become predictable,” explains an enthusiastic Gundhkal.

A big chunk of the success of Bigg Boss Kannada must be attributed to its weekend anchor. All the four season have been hosted by Sandalwood superstar Kiccha Sudeep whose name has become synonymous to the show and its format in the Kannada entertainment world. Rumours allege that Sudeep has signed a Rs 18 crore five season deal starting with Season 3 with Colors Kannada to host the show.

A special home has been setup for Sudeep at the Film City in Bidadi. The actor comes in on Friday nights, watches the interesting stories picked up for broadcast and then with the channel and production teams scripts the questions and the remarks that he will make for the weekends when he is host. So passionate are they for the show that the star and the channel head often work through the night for the weekend episode and sleep for a short time at about 500 am on Saturday revealed Gundhkal.

On rumours that the drama on the show is a scripted, induced and does not come out from within the characters, Gundhkal explained, “It cannot be induced. Bigg Boss’s intervention is limited to tasks. Eventually when the participants come out, they will definitely share notes when they meet and would speak out if the show were scripted. More than 50 contestants have taken part in the show so far. It would be difficult to control the participants because they will have some level of disagreement with the direction team. Each of the contestants wants to be popular, to win, and there can be only one winner. At the end of the day it is a 90 minute piece of content per day telecast picked from a 24 hour period shot with multiple cameras. Of course the initial part where Sudeep speaks during weekend episodes is scripted, but then the continuation is not. Based on the response, Sudeep has to react, respond himself, often impromptu.”

Continuing on Sudeep and his role in questioning the contestants for the weekend episodes, Gundhkal explained, “We take a very neutral stand as far as any contestant is concerned. Based on our interpretation – Sudeep’s and my own, we script the questions and the possible follow-ups for these episodes.”

The show has been drawing in sponsors like a magnet does a piece of iron. For season 1 Bigg Boss Kannada was presented by jewellery brand Bhima and powered by slipper brand Paragon. The number of brands increased for season 3 which had OLX as the main sponsor and was co-sponsored by food brands Nisargalaya Brahmi Oil, Gemini Cooking Oil and Eastern. Season 4 has five brands associated with it- Vaseline as the presenting sponsor and it was powered by Nutrigain for the first 50 days. Special partners for the current season are Airtel 4G, McDowell No.1 Soda and MTR.

The show is aired on Colors Kannada and Colors Kannada HD simultaneously from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM every day. This is the first season of Bigg Boss Kannada to be shot and aired in High-Definition. A spin-off show, Bigg Boss Night Shift is being produced and aired on Colors Super from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM every day.

January 5, 2017