MUMBAI : Zee Entertainment Enterprises streaming platform Zee5, honoured the 128 birth anniversary of the iconic Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, “the undefeated son of Bengal,” with a series of exciting initiatives. Partnering with the vibrant Subhas Mela in Kolkata, Zee5 is bringing the spirit of this legendary freedom fighter to life, celebrating his lasting legacy through engaging content and special on-ground experiences.
Running from 23 January to 23 February 2025, Subhas Mela attracts around three and a half lakh attendees each year. Zee5 has strengthened its presence through venue branding and is offering a Rs 50 discount on its monthly HD plan via a special promo code.
As part of the celebration, Zee5 is showcasing patriotic and historical narratives, including the 2.5-hour special Subhaser Chokhe Khudiram, which highlights the bravery of Khudiram Bose through Netaji’s perspective. The initiative also features regional content and interactive sessions at the mela, with appearances from Zee Bangla artists engaging the audience through live discussions.
Zee5 vice president of marketing – SVOD & global, Shresth Gupta expressed pride in celebrating Netaji’s enduring legacy, emphasising that these efforts aim to engage audiences with stories of patriotism, sacrifice, and resilience. The platform is also spotlighting iconic films like Binay Badal Dinesh, Mukti, and Panther.
Through its partnership with Subhas Mela, Zee5 has created a heartfelt tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, blending history, patriotism, and entertainment. By offering engaging content, interactive experiences, and special showcases, the platform continues to honour the legacy of India’s freedom fighters while deepening its connection with audiences.
Mumbai: Prepare to embark on a journey of resilience, bravery, and unwavering patriotism as ‘Bastar – The Naxal Story’ premieres on &pictures on Saturday, 23 November, at 9:30 PM. Directed by Sudipto Sen and featuring Adah Sharma in a compelling lead role, the film sheds light on one of India’s most critical yet underexplored battles against the Naxal insurgency.
Set in the Bastar region, the gripping narrative follows a young tribal woman and an IPS officer, portrayed by Adah Sharma, as they combat the growing influence of radical ideologies and external interference. The story highlights the exploitation of local communities and the struggle to preserve India’s sovereignty, making it a tale of national pride and unity.
Sen shared his vision behind the film, stating, “This film isn’t just about conflict; it’s about the spirit of India’s people who rise to protect their nation, no matter the odds. Bastar – The Naxal Story is a tribute to every brave soul fighting for the nation’s integrity, and with its premiere on &pictures, I believe it will awaken a deep sense of pride and patriotism in every viewer.”
Sharma reflected on her role, saying, ‘“Playing a part in this story has been a humbling experience. Bastar – The Naxal Story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by our jawans for the country we call home. I hope the premiere on &pictures inspires the audiences to think about the value of freedom and the lengths our bravehearts go to protect it.”
Mumbai: The nation marks 73 years of its transition to a republic on 26 January. To commemorate the day on which the Constitution of India came into effect, brands have come out with varied campaigns and initiatives that celebrate the important day.
PARLE-G
Homegrown food company Parle Products launched a special Republic Day film that reminisces India’s defining moments while tracing the journey of its flagship brand Parle -G over a span of seven decades. Conceptualised by creative agency, Please See in partnership with Reliance Entertainment, the film uses archival footage of major milestones and glorious moments from the freedom movement in the 1930s & 40s, the 1971 war and the country’s first World Cup win in 1983. The film directed by Sreemoyee Bhattacharya and produced by Rajdeep Chowdhry also traces India’s successful space mission, while cutting to the now successful creation of Covid-19 vaccines. All of these are interspersed with an amalgamation of Parle-G from its launch in the 1930s (Parle Gluco) to its pack version of today, showcasing it as ‘Bharat Ka Apna Biscuit’ and giving out the message that ‘Years changed, but we stayed the same’.
Voicing the narrative is veteran actor-lyricist Piyush Mishra, whose earthy tone adds a whole new dimension to the film. To create this special film, Parle Products sourced various footage through different sources ranging from Getty to the Films Division, taking special permissions.
TATA TEA PREMIUM
TATA Consumer Products’ flagship brand TATA Tea Premium ‘Desh Ki Chai’ brought its Republic Day initiative ‘Desh Ka Jhanki’ that tried to capture the innate spirit of different regions. Drawing inspiration from its state-specific packs, each Jhanki (tableau) is designed with elements reflective of the pride of the region, capturing customs, traditions, and culture-specific to each state. The initiative paid ode to the amalgamation of diverse elements that makes India truly unique. Keeping true to its hyper-local strategy the initiative brought alive elements of each state with the special creative rendition that’s akin to the tableaus of the Republic Day parade.
GODREJ GROUP
Every one of us has grown up singing and listening to the patriotic song ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’. On the occasion of India’s 73rd Republic Day, conglomerate Godrej Group has unveiled a rendition of this inspirational song ‘The Bharat Hoga Kamyab Anthem’. The music video conceptualised by the Corporate Brand & Communications team at Godrej and advertising agency Creativeland Asia features 13 frontline workers such as a doctor, nurse, police official, delivery executive, home visit technician, security guard, ambulance driver, milkman, municipal body and NGO executives. The #BharatHogaKamyab film also features individual Covid heroes and brands/institutions such as Apollo Hospital, CRY, Mumbai Thane Municipal Corporation among others, who took up unique initiatives for the well-being of citizens as we dealt with the pandemic.
Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance
Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance kicked off its digital campaign #GarvSeJeeyo ahead of Republic Day 2022. Built around its latest offering Guaranteed Suraksha Kavach– a niche product designed exclusively for Defence, Security and Police personnel, the campaign puts a spotlight on India’s brave soldiers and honours them for their selfless services. Furthermore, #GarvSeJeeyo conveys the message of living with pride despite the odds in life and essentials for smartly creating financial protection around self and family members.
FUJIFILM INDIA
To mark the occasion of Republic Day, Fujifilm India has announced the launch of a Republic Day contest titled #ShareYourIndia. As part of the contest, Instax invited participants to share what they love most about the country and stand a chance of winning the best-selling Instax camera. The contest that went live on Instagram from 20 January will be open till 26 January and the winner will be announced on the 27th. To participate, users can upload their favourite photograph which depicts the belongingness and love that they feel for the country and supports it with a caption, using the hashtag #ShareYourIndia. The initiative is a part of Instax’s endeavour to help people archive their memories better and instill a sense of happiness, pride and nostalgia on this Republic Day.
MUMBAI: Rajshri.com, broadband entertainment platform for Indian video content, has announced the online premiere of classic TV shows Malgudi Days and Fauji.
Additionally, the website will also celebrate Republic Day with an exclusive collection of Republic Day videos, wallpapers and ringtones to foster the spirit of Patriotism.
One new episode of both Malgudi Days, which is based on R. K. Narayan’s short stories and Fauji, which marks Shahrukh Khan’s debut on screen, will be unveiled everyday on the portal. Viewers will have the option to view streaming episodes for free or also download them at USD 1.99 per episode, informs an official release.
Besides the regular Hindi version of Fauji, an English subtitled version is also being offered. The TV show Mahabharat, premiered on Rajshri.com a month ago and a new episode continues to be unveiled everyday. In order to increase the consumer base of Mahabharat, Rajshri.com plans to offer the epic with Spanish and French subtitles.
Rajshri Media managing director Rajjat A. Barjatya said, “We are delighted to give our viewers the opportunity to enjoy classics like Malgudi Days and Fauji online on-demand. Both are cult TV shows and given the success of Mahabharat, we believe there will be tremendous interest among consumers to watch both shows online.
