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MUMBAI: Production house Miditech is getting more ambitious in its vision to rise to the top. It will make three documentaries for National Geographic. What is unique however is that unlike their previous show Leopards Of Bollywood the three upcoming projects will be shot across the globe. |
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Speaking to Indiantekevision.com, Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva said, “This is a part of the documentary production fund programme that National Geographic has with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The aim is to fund documentary filmmakers from across the Asian region. 330 entries were received. Out of this 28 were short listed. 12 ideas were then chosen.” “We were the only company that is doing more than one film. We will be shooting the films in US, Australia, South Africa. Another film will be shot in China. With this we are looking to take the next leap in terms of production values and scale. This competition is in its third year. The first year we had done Operation Hot Pursuit,” he added. |
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Alva added that what gave Miditech the edge over the competition was the fact that their international ideas were unique. “In our presentation we also lucidly explained how the programmes would appeal to National Geographic’s global audience. “These shows will have an Indian element but the bulk of the work will be done outside. They will air on the channel across the world next year. So while we are an Indian company we want to send out the message that we are equally capable of making high quality products for the global market.” Alva said that one programme for National Geographic Witchcraft has just been completed. This will air in the December-January period. The other companies that have been selected by National Geographic and the EDB include APV Media (Singapore), India’s Asoka Raina Productions and Southern Star Entertainment (Singapore). The closing date for the contest was 30 August 2004. 16 Asian countries had sent in entries. The chosen entries will have a potential viewership of 220 million homes.
NGC Intl executive VP production Bryan Smith, said, “This is the third year that National Geographic Channels International is working with local producers. The quality of entries has improved over the years. We are very pleased with the high standard of these documentary proposals received for the third season. “We will continue to groom and raise the bar of the Asian filmmaking community to produce exceptional documentary programs for the global audience. Great stories told by Asian documentary producers will present new angles to our understanding of the world. “ Similar to the first two seasons, a National Geographic documentary workshop will be organised for the winners to learn first-hand experience and insights about the makings of National Geographic programmes. |
Tag: Nikhil Alva
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Miditech goes global for NGC
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Miditech’s Shaitaan unveils a story on the vicious circle of superstitions
NEW DELHI: Miditech’s crime series on Colors, Shaitaan – A criminal mind, is now coming up with a special episode on the vicious circle of superstitions, where a man’s belief drives him to an extent of murdering an innocent girl.
Hosted by the popular TV actor Sharad Khelkar the episode will be telecast on 22 June.
Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva said, “Every weekend we try to bring forward the kind of crime cropping in our country and what people are facing or are the victim of. This week we are showcasing another frightening episode on superstitious belief. One very important reason, why individuals turn out to be a victim of superstition is the fear of failure or the anxiety about the outcome. Our upcoming episode on 22 June would telecast one such heinous crime.”
TV Actor and the Show Host Sharad Khelkar, said on his association with Shaitaan, “With every episode, I come closer to the realities of life which most of the people are not aware of. Shaitaan captures people’s attention by making them aware of the harsh realities of life and how one should be a responsible citizen. While shooting for this episode, it was shocking to believe that even in the 21st century, there are people who believe in a number of omens, perform a number of ceremonies to achieve their ends.”
The episode that will be showcased this weekend 22 June portrays the story of a superstitious man, who blindly follows a Swamiji. Advised by him, the man forces the girl, who is almost his daughter’s age, to marry him. The story revolves around how desperately the man tries to convince the innocent girl that leads to a murder.
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Reebok XI vs Cricket Star XI battle it out on ‘Cricket Star’
Mumbai: Miditech’s ‘Cricket Star’ is blazing into its 7th week of the 20:20 series. The new finds will face the Reebok XI team on Tuesday, Feb 20th at MIG Club, Bandra. The Reebok XI are no ordinary team. In fact, they include stalwarts like Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel and Robin Uthappa.
Says Nikhil Alva, C.E.O, Miditech, “At each stage the competition is getting tougher, but this round is the real test for the budding cricketers. It would be a real eye opener and help the ‘aam aadmi’ to decide who India’s first ‘Cricket Star’ should be! “.
The show has a run of 11 weeks, with tri-weekly episodes on Zee Sports and DD National and a weekly episode on Zee TV. While former captains and cricketing icons Kapil Dev and Saurav Ganguly are judging the players, snazzy Ajay Jadeja is shining as the expert analyst.
The show has been gaining popularity ever since thousands of aspirants auditioned during the nationwide screening for ‘Cricket Star’. 23 participants made it to the final round and found a place in the Cricket Star Academy, Mumbai. Spread over 10 weeks, the training process has seen an exclusive panel including stalwarts like Robin Singh, Praveen Amre, Abey Kuruvilla and Zubin Bharucha, work on these aspiring cricketers whose life at the Academy is action-packed and includes intense daily training, customized cricketing tests and ‘Master Classes’, conducted by former players as famous as Geoffrey Boycott, Monty Panesar, Mahela Jayawardene, V.V.S. Laxman and Dilip Vengsarkar.
At the end of an intense and grueling 11 weeks and 33 episodes, India’s first Cricket Star will be selected. The take away? An all expenses paid one-year contract with the reputed Leicestershire County Cricket Club besides other cash prizes.
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Investors In Cricket joins forces with DD, Zee, Miditech for cricket based reality show
MUMBAI: With new sports channels coming in it is inevitable that new formats will also come in. One such format is a cricket based reality show called Cricket Star.
This is an initiative to find a budding cricket star who has been bypassed by the system. The idea is the brainchild of Investors In Cricket (IIC) a firm that looks at sports rights relevant to the Asian subcontinent. This will be in the form of a reality hunt and will air as a television event for 11 weeks from 14 January 2007 on DD and Zee. DD and Zee Sports will each week simulcast three episodes. Zee TV will air an episode each week.Miditech has been roped in to produce the show. Airtel and HLL are the presenting sponsors. Aspiring cricketers can apply by calling 5052727 from GSM mobiles, 1277777 from MTNL landlines or 1255527 from MTNL and BSNL. One can also send an SMS CSTAR to 7575.
Eight selection centres are open and one has to showcase one’s skills there, whether it is batting, bowling or wicket keeping. From there the chosen ones go to a pre academy phase. Finally 23 contestants will go to the Academy. There will be a countdown and thus an elimination process to find the winner.
The channel has roped in Kapil Dev and Saurav Ganguly as judges. The flamboyant Ajay Jadeja will be the expert analyst. IIC chairman Manoj Badale points out that after the event in India is finished it will travel abroad to the UK and Pakistan among other countries. “This marks the first time a cricket based reality show is launching in India. This marks the first time a reality show that has originated from India travels abroad. Normally it is the other way around.
This idea has taken a while to put together. We wanted the best possible reach, which is why we approached DD and Zee. DD as the national broadcaster can reach the small towns. Zee with its multi lingual channels will also help get the message across.”
The winner gets an all expenses paid contract with Leicestershire County Cricket Club and cash. The final 11 contestants will also get a chance to participate in the rollout of Cricket Star in the UK next Summer and in Pakistan. Also, Cricket Star aspirants will play a series of 20:20 matches.These will air on Zee Sports.
When the 23 chosen contestants enter the cricket Star Academy each week the judges will nominate the four bottom performers out of whom two will be evicted by the participants., When it is down to the final 11 viewers will be able to vote by phone or through SMS. The final episode airs at the end of March 2007.
Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva points out that the challenge begins from today as the lines are now open. Whether or not it is as big as Indian Idol will depend on the response. “We are confident that with our previous experience we will be able to handle the logistics of the event. There will certainly be drama as viewers get to know the human side of the candidates in addition to their cricketing abilities.
Zee Sports business head Himanshu Mody says that this is the first time a format has brought cricket and television together in an entertaining manner. “We aim to find the hidden wonders in India’s villages and towns And showcase them to the country along with their travails and struggles. At Zee Sports it has always been about showcasing sports and sportspersons from India. As they say may the best man or woman win.”
Jadeja says that more than just a show this will also be a coaching platform for aspirants. Kapil Dev and Ganguly will offer advice to aspirants on how to improve their skills.
Ganguly sees this endeavour as a way to give back to the game for the opportunities it has given him. Dev says that every youngster who is passionate about the game should at least be given an opportunity. It should not be that a youngster feels that he/she could have made it but an opportunity was not given.
Airtel marketing director Gopal Vittal says, “In India cricket and Bollywood share a passion that cuts across geographies, cultures and religions. Today every street, nukkad or galli in this country has an enthusiastic budding cricketer waiting for an opportunity to perform on a bigger stage. Cricket Star offers them an opportunity to perform at the highest level.”
HLL is involved through its product Faior And Lovely Mens Active. HLL VP Skin Care Ashok Venkatramani says, ” Our product has already changed the story of male gooming in India. This association will catch the fancy of every male in India who aspires to get that opportunity to see themselves as the next Cricket Star.
This is our contribution to Indian cricket and we are certain that this will help discover the Sachin’s Dhoni’s, Pathan’s Sehwags etc. Our support is a sure way of changing the story of Indian cricket and taking it to greater heights of glory.