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Tag: Nivedita Basu

  • Nivedita Basu joins Dangal as vice president – fiction

    Nivedita Basu joins Dangal as vice president – fiction

    Mumbai: In a strategic move aimed at bolstering its creative portfolio, Dangal, a leading general entertainment channel (GEC) under the Enterr10 Television Network, has appointed Nivedita Basu as vice president – fiction (Hindi, Oriya, Bangla). With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Basu’s return to the GEC space is set to usher in a new era of innovation and content excellence for Dangal.

    Known for her stellar contributions at Balaji Telefilms, where she helmed iconic shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Basu brings an impressive repertoire of over 100 television shows. Her expertise in audience engagement, content creation, and production management positions her as a driving force in Dangal’s ambitious expansion plans across regional and national markets.

    Expressing her enthusiasm, Basu stated, “Joining Dangal is an exciting new chapter in my career. With its strong reputation and commitment to creating impactful content, I look forward to contributing to its continued success. Meeting Manish Singhal, whose visionary leadership has made Dangal the number one Hindi GEC channel, has further fueled my excitement. I am thrilled to collaborate with him and the talented team at Dangal, and I am eager to explore opportunities to expand the channel’s portfolio with innovative and engaging projects.”

    In her previous role as senior vice president (Content) at Atrangii, Ullu, and Hari Om App, Basu transformed brands into household names, turning them into profit-making entities. She also spearheaded the launch of India’s first devotional channel, Hari Om, marking a significant milestone in her career.

    Dangal’s reputation for delivering diverse, engaging programming is expected to benefit greatly from Basu’s industry acumen and creative vision. Her leadership will focus on overseeing ongoing projects, exploring growth opportunities, and shaping the strategic direction of the channel’s fiction content.

  • Hari Om strengthens leadership team with new appointments

    Hari Om strengthens leadership team with new appointments

    Mumbai: Hari Om, an Indian mythology OTT platform, has added two senior leaders to its team: Sanjeev Agrawal as business head and Reitu Shharma as script head. These appointments aim to strengthen the leadership team and expand the platform’s offerings. Sanjeev Agrawal will lead business strategy, planning, and development, while Reitu Shharma will oversee concept development and research on religious texts to ensure content authenticity and quality.

    Sanjeev Agrawal brings over 15 years of experience across media, telecom, retail, and financial sectors. His previous roles include managing revenue and client relationships at Amagi Media, establishing geo-targeting for Zee TV and Zee Cinema, and founding ‘The Wise Monkey,’ a financial services company.

    Reitu Shharma has over a decade of experience in content development, research, and writing. Her work includes projects like Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman, Veer Shalibhdra, Swaraj, and feature film Sarabjit. Her extensive research on over 200 temples and deep understanding of India’s cultural heritage enhance her new role.

    Speaking on the new appointments SVP group Nivedita Basu shared, “We are thrilled to welcome Sanjeev Agrawal and Reitu Shharma to our team. Their extensive experience and unique insights will be invaluable as we continue to expand our platform and offer high-quality content that celebrates India’s heritage and spirituality.”

    Sanjeev Agrawal shared his enthusiasm about the new role, stating, “I am excited to join Hari Om and look forward to contributing to the growth and success of this unique platform. With my experience in business strategy and development, I am eager to help Hari Om reach new heights.”

    Reitu Shharma added, “I am thrilled to work with such a distinguished team at Hari Om. The opportunity to create content that resonates with audiences and preserves our rich cultural heritage is a dream come true. I am committed to bringing my best and contributing to the platform’s success.”

    Head of content Angira Vats said, “With Sanjeev Agrawal’s strategic expertise and Reitu Shharma ‘s profound knowledge of Indian mythology, we are building a powerhouse team that will be pivotal in delivering content that not only entertains but also enlightens our audience with the richness of India’s cultural heritage.”

    Hari Om remains steadfast in its mission to celebrate and preserve Indian heritage and spirituality. With Angira Vats leading the content team, the platform is poised to continue its journey of innovation and excellence, offering viewers a rich tapestry of Indian mythology and religious content.

  • Hari Om appoints Angira Vats as content head

    Hari Om appoints Angira Vats as content head

    Mumbai: Hari Om, an OTT platform for Indian heritage and religious content, has announced the appointment of veteran creative director – Angira Vats as their content head.

    Angira with her experience will be steering the development of original content and enhancing Hari Om’s diverse offerings. She will be spearheading crucial facets of production such as conceptualisation, screenplay and storytelling. Furthermore, she will be overseeing a team of specialised researchers, writers and creatives, to ensure the choicest of material for our audiences’ viewing.

    Angira Vats brings over two decades of extensive experience in writing and direction to Hari Om. Her illustrious career includes assisting in the direction of acclaimed films such as Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Bewafa, and Lucky: No Time for Love. Transitioning into the Indian television industry, Angira has creatively spearheaded some of the most groundbreaking shows like Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev, Siya Ke Ram, Dastan-e-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali, Jai Shri Krishna, and Prithvi Vallabh. Her expertise spans across conceptualizing, designing, researching, and executing distinct looks and feels for genres ranging from mythology, fantasy, and historical, to comedy and adventure. Angira’s specific working knowledge of CGI has also been instrumental in her success within these genres.

    Group SVP Nivedita Basu stated, “We are delighted to have Angira Vats join the Hari Om family. Her extensive experience and unparalleled talent makes her the perfect fit for the platform. With Angira at the helm of content, we are confident that Hari Om will reach greater heights and continue to provide enriching and engaging content to our users.”

    Angira Vats shared her enthusiasm about her new role, “I am delighted to be a part of Hari Om’s dynamic and growing team. Working with a visionary leader like Vibhu Agarwal, who has redefined content consumption in India, is truly inspiring. I look forward to contributing to this vision and creating content that resonates with audiences worldwide.”

    Hari Om remains committed to its mission of celebrating and preserving Indian heritage and spirituality, and with Angira Vats leading the content team, the platform is poised to continue its journey of innovation and excellence.

  • Mythology OTT platform ‘Hari Om’ launches at Rs 36 per year

    Mythology OTT platform ‘Hari Om’ launches at Rs 36 per year

    Mumbai: Hari Om, premier destination for Indian heritage and religious content is all set to launch today. Hari Om bridges the gap between tradition and modernity, providing a platform to explore the rich tapestry of Indian culture and spirituality. It debuts with epic untold stories ‘Shri Tirupati Balaji’, ‘Chaya Grah Rahu Ketu’, ‘Maa Lakshmi’, ‘Mata Saraswati’, ‘Jai Jagannath’, and over 20 other mythological shows featuring a stellar cast and crew. These productions boast large-budget sets designed to transport viewers back to the golden age. Renowned actors such as Sharad Malhotra (Lord Krishna), Rati Pandey (Mata Saraswati), Yuktii Kapoor (Maa Lakshmi), Mrunal Jain (Rahu Ketu), and Vishal Karwal (Lord Vishnu) will be headlining these epic shows. Hari Om will be available to audience from today onwards at an affordable price of only Rs 36 per year

    The platform also offers both long and short-format ‘U’ rated series, catering to senior citizens, children, and young adults. Additionally, it features bhajans in both video and audio formats, curated animated content on mythology and same content can be heard in podcast format as well. The platform also includes live aartis from major temples, prasad booking, temple news, donation options, and many other exciting features.

    The app launches with two originals namely Shri Tirupati Balaji and Chaya Grah Rahu Ketu.

    Shri Tirupati Balaji: Starring Vishal Karwal, this series revolves around the religious story of Shri Hari Vishnu’s incarnation as Shrinivasan at Tirumala Hills.

    Chaya Grah Rahu Ketu: Featuring Mrunal Jain, this show tells the tale of the Asura Swarnbhanu, who becomes immortal by drinking Amrit and is subsequently punished by Lord Vishnu.

    Vishal Karwal who plays Lord Vishnu in Shri Tirupati Balaji said on the show, “It is a great honor to play the role of Lord Vishnu, an avatar of Shri Tirupati Balaji. Wearing the mukut and costume felt deeply spiritual.  The promos suggest the grand scale and spectacular storytelling”.

    Rati Pandey, who plays Goddess Mata Saraswati said on the show, “I am thrilled to portray Goddess Mata Saraswati. It’s an honor to play such an important character, and the experience has been incredibly rewarding.”

    Group SVP Nivedita Basu said, “We take great pride in launching India’s first mythological platform. This platform is special to us as it showcases our rich culture to the world. We aim to transport viewers to the golden age, experiencing religion and mythology in its purest forms. This platform will explore untold religious stories and delve into the detailed narratives of mythological characters whose stories have never been fully explored.”

    Hari Om is poised to become a one-stop destination for mythological content enthusiasts, blending entertainment, education, and cultural knowledge. The app is available on the Play Store, App Store, Google TV, Samsung TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Fire TV.

  • Vibhu Agarwal announces India’s first Mythology OTT platform ‘Hari Om’

    Vibhu Agarwal announces India’s first Mythology OTT platform ‘Hari Om’

    Mumbai: Hari Om, India’s first groundbreaking mythological OTT platform designed to revolutionise the digital landscape has been announced on 15 May. Spearheaded by the visionary media mogul Vibhu Agarwal, Hari Om is poised to become the ultimate destination for experiencing Indian heritage and religious content. In a pioneering move, this app breaks through the clutter, offering a comprehensive repository of Indian mythology and traditional content—a concept never explored before. With an increasing global interest amongst younger audiences, Hari Om emerges as the much-needed bridge, providing a singular platform to delve into the rich tapestry of Indian culture, and spirituality. This platform will be launched in June 2024 with an incredible line-up of more than 20 epic mythological shows, featuring a stellar cast and crew.

    This unique one-of-a-kind OTT platform will feature long format and short format ‘U’ rated series, created for senior citizens, children and young adults. The OTT platform will also offer bhajans in both video and audio formats. For the first time ever, children will be able to experience curated animated content on mythology. This is the only OTT platform to exclusively host ‘U’ rated content, making it suitable for people across all age groups.

    Vibhu Agarwal has consistently been synonymous with innovation, introducing unique content platforms that have transformed the digital landscape in India. He led the OTT revolution with game changing platforms Ullu and Atrangii. His latest venture, ‘Hari Om’ OTT, introduces India’s first dedicated mythological platform, a concept never explored previously anywhere across the globe.

    Vibhu Agarwal, on the announcement of Hari Om shared, “As Indians, it is essential for us to know our roots, culture, tradition, and heritage to develop a sense of pride and respect for it. This app is one of its kind by any OTT platform in the world to feature only mythological and religious content which can be consumed by the entire family together. Recognizing the demand amongst the senior citizens and younger audiences to explore our Indian mythology, we are delighted to announce this unique, clutter-breaking destination, bridging the existing gap. Hari Om is designed for family audiences worldwide, with the belief that it will be embraced by viewers and serve as a source of enlightenment to various nationalities across the world.”

    The app will showcase an eclectic and massive line-up of more than 20 epic untold stories and many more, including, “Shri Tirupati Balaji”, “Mata Saraswati”, “Chaya Grah Rahu Ketu”, “Jai Jagannath”, “Kaikeyi Ke Ram”, “Maa Lakshmi” and “Navgrah”. The app will be available on Play Store and App store, Google TV and Fire TV. Religious shows will feature large-budget productions with sets that transport viewers back to the golden age. Renowned actors such as Sharad Malhotra, Rati Pandey, Yuktii Kapoor, Mrunal Jain, Vishal Karwal and many more will headline these shows in titular roles.

    Atrangii group senior VP Nivedita Basu added, “It is an enriching experience to work with a visionary mind like Vibhu Agarwal and bring to reality such innovative and unique ideas. At ‘Hari Om’, our focus is on producing inspiring and visually spectacular shows that bring our untold mythological stories to life. These shows feature exceptional casts, immersive storytelling, and informative yet entertaining content, aiming to showcase to the world our rich religious and cultural heritage.”

    ‘Hari Om’ is poised to become a one-stop destination for mythological content enthusiasts, promising a blend of entertainment, education, and cultural knowledge.

  • Atrangii App elevates Nivedita Basu to senior vice president group

    Atrangii App elevates Nivedita Basu to senior vice president group

    Mumbai: Atrangii App Hindi OTT helmed by media baron Vibhu Agarwal, has elevated Nivedita Basu to senior vice president group. Earlier Nivedita was the vice president content & business alliances at Atrangii. The relatively new OTT platform was launched in June 2022 and is gaining immense love from audiences each passing day with its distinctive programming line-up. Nivedita joined the company two years ago and her new role will entail developing, creating, and producing original content and leading strategic business alliances.

    She has been extensively involved in creating content on Atrangii’s platform with highly successful shows in diverse genres such as fiction and reality television like Johri, Libaas, KINK and Ansuni. She has been instrumental in bringing Atrangii to new heights by developing new sub-verticals like Firangii, Satrangii, Flaunt and Imli under the visionary leadership of Vibhu Agarwal.

    Speaking on the announcement, Atrangii founder Vibhu Agarwal said, “Nivedita has been an integral part of Atrangii since its launch. We are pleased to elevate her as the Senior Vice President Group as she has new roles and bigger responsibilities with Atrangii App growing as an all-in-one super app. As we have entered a new phase of Atrangii with various sub platforms, fiction and non-fiction shows, Nivedita in her elevated role, will lend her expertise, aligned with our vision in growing our brand Atrangii to reach newer and higher heights in the OTT entertainment space.”

    To further bolster its exhaustive content offering, the platform is gearing up to roll out a slew of shows for 2024 spanning genres, which includes Baghin, KINK 2 and multiple exciting fiction and non-fiction shows.

  • Atrangii’s ‘KINK’ reality show sets new viewership and engagement record

    Atrangii’s ‘KINK’ reality show sets new viewership and engagement record

    Mumbai: Atrangii TV and its OTT app helmed by Vibhu Agarwal has brought a one of its kind reality show called ‘K.I.N.K (Kiss Ishq N Konnections)’. This show also marked the debut of Reality TV Queen Divya Agarwal. Atrangii TV’s first-ever relationship-based reality show tested the love of six hot and happening couples in bold and challenging situations. This show was shot in an island resort in Daman and Diu.

    With this, Atrangii became one of India’s first OTT to have a record growth in subscription because of their game-changer show. It was also amongst top 10 most-watched reality shows on OTT platforms in the month of September and is seeing a steady increase in viewership. It has also seen a multifold increase in viewership and subscription in the past few months and it has been steadily growing at 20-25 per cent month on month.

    This show witnessed overall 250 million views across all social media platforms which was the highest for the platform since its inception. K.I.N.K had all the ingredients of a reality show and found its audience amongst youngsters, primarily in the states of Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana.  It has been a raging hit on social media too, raking in record engagement by being amongst the top 15 most engaging show as fan clubs were created and each task discussed in detail. While this show was enjoyed by all age demographics, it was majorly dominated by females, followed by men who turned to the show after the first few episodes.  The platform also received record breaking subscriptions from iOS users and received a staggering 70% views/subscription from female viewers

    Speaking on the success of KINK, VP content & business alliances Nivedita Basu said, “We are thrilled to see this unprecedented response to our first ever reality show KINK. We always believed this show will be a gamechanger for Indian OTT and for our platform as it has all the ingredients for a masala reality show. We scouted for contestants across the length and breadth of the country, who were confident, bold had a personality of their own and full of the zing to keep the viewers engaged and hooked.  This has only encouraged us to further bolster our non-fiction offering. Our next show will be a unique chat show and we will soon be making an announcement for that.”

    The host of the show, an elated Divya Agarwal shared, “This show got my attention from the concept itself!  There are a lot of dating reality shows but this one feels fresh and new. I am thankful to the audience for giving me constant love, from being a contestant in a dating reality show to now hosting one.  KINK will remain very special for me. I made some genuine connections and I am blessed to receive so much love from people across the country. My social media is flooded with messages and I can say that this has been getting so much love from all over the country. My social media is flooded with messages and Indeed it has been a dream stint! Can’t thank Atrangii enough to help me connect with my fans and audiences.”

    This show is streaming on Atrangii OTT!

  • Ullu appoints Nivedita Basu as head of content strategy & business alliances

    Ullu appoints Nivedita Basu as head of content strategy & business alliances

    Mumbai: Homegrown OTT platform Ullu has appointed Nivedita Basu as the head of content strategy and business alliances. Her role will entail developing, creating, and producing original content and leading strategic business alliances for the platform. 

    With over two decades of experience in production and programming, Nivedita is one of the most noteworthy professionals in the entertainment industry. Her most significant stint was with Balaji Telefilms, where she donned the hat of a creative director.  She was key in revolutionising Indian soap series and also spear-headed content creation for leading Indian GEC namely Star, Zee Entertainment, Sony amongst many others. She is lauded for shows like “Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,” “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki,” “Kasauti Zindagii Ki,” “Kusum” and has also worked as a creative director for 24 at Anil Kapoor Film Company. Prior to joining Ullu, Nivedita had directed and co-produced its much-talked-about show “Tandoor.”

    Speaking on her appointment, Ullu founder and CEO Vibhu Agarwal said, “As we continue to expand and foray in different domains, Nivedita’s rich and illustrious experience will help us drive our goals. In her capacity, Nivedita will be responsible for not just creating engaging original content but also identifying the right talent for it. She will also lead our existing and new key business alliances.”

    “It gives me immense pleasure to join the vibrant and growing team of Ullu. Its commendable, how in such a short span of time, Ullu has established itself as a key player in the OTT space which offers content across genres,” said Nivedita Basu. “Earlier last year it expanded its library with family viewing shows like Assi Nabbe Poore Sau,  Bulls of Dalal Street, Cyanide and Tandoor amongst others which had some of the best-known talents from the industry along with intriguing concepts.  It is now at a pivotal juncture of diversifying and I join the team to further solidify its premium content offering.  I am really thankful to Vibhu ji for instilling faith in me.  I hope to take Ullu’s premium content domains to new heights and make the brand a one-stop destination of entertainment across domains.”

  • Nivedita Basu’s journey from Balaji Telefilms to her own production house

    Nivedita Basu’s journey from Balaji Telefilms to her own production house

    MUMBAI: The Day 2 of The Content Hub 2020 had an interesting session on producing for television by Nivedita Basu.  The audiences witnessed the independent producer and creative director speak on her journey in Balaji Telefilms to becoming an independent producer and creative director. 

    Basu joined Balaji Telefilms in 2000 as a deputy creative director and worked on many TV serials with Ekta Kapoor and worn many hats under her mentorship. Basu quit Balaji Telefilms in 2009 and she started her own production house 'House of Originals'. 

    Basu says, "After 15 years, it's natural to go independent. I was very excited about making Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai and we wanted to make a show that stands out."

    She further adds, "There are lots of obstacles in becoming an independent producer and creator. I always wear a creative hat more than the producer's. Even though I didn't make profit out of my first show but I am still proud of it. Luckily, after Meri Awaaz… I got the second show and that did commercially well and gave me the confidence as a producer."

    Basu also shared her experience of working with Balaji Telefilms. She says, “The advantage of Balaji Telefilms is that we have Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor there. In Balaji I was handling nine shows at a time and it was not that difficult as I had Ekta as guru.”

    Basu believes today's writers are struggling between writing and producing. She says, “Right now, television is not the only thing for writers or creative people. Thanks to digital and OTT, people are making what they want to make. Going ahead, I will be producing content for OTT platform.”

  • &TV’s new show ‘Tere Bin’ replaces ‘Meri Awaaz Hi Pechan Hai’ at 8pm time band

    &TV’s new show ‘Tere Bin’ replaces ‘Meri Awaaz Hi Pechan Hai’ at 8pm time band

    MUMBAI: After launching new shows like Waaris, Life Ka Recharge and The Voice India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL)’s other Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) &TV is all set to launch a new show Tere Bin. Starting from 18 July, it will be aired from Monday – Friday at 8 pm.

    Produced by Shree Sidhivinayak Chitra, Tere Bin will replace the Nivedita Basu led House of Originals’ Meri Awaaz Hi Pechaan Hai at the primetime band. Launched on 7 March, 2016 the show is a finite series which marked the television debut of Bollywood actress Amrita Rao, who portrays the character of Kalyani, whereas Aditi Vasudev will be seen as her younger sister Ketaki will come to its logical end in July.

    The new show on &TV, is about a complex mature love story of two people. Tere Bin is based on love and separation. Gaurav Khanna and Shefali Sharma have been roped in as the lead actors of the show.

    &TV’s new offering Tere Bin will be pitched against Zee TV’s Tashan-e-ishq, Colors’ new offering Shakti- Astitva Ke Eshaas Ki, Star Plus’ mythological show Siya Ke Ram, Sony TV’s Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman, Life OK’s Bahu Hamari Rajnikant and Sab TV’s Bal Veer in the 8 pm time slot. &TV seems to be betting high with its new offering but only time will show how it will work for it.