ITV

Tag: Raghu Ram

  • Over 34,000 submissions for OPPO India’s Imagine IF Photo Awards

    Over 34,000 submissions for OPPO India’s Imagine IF Photo Awards

    Mumbai: Within seven weeks, OPPO India received 34,000 plus entries from photographers across India for the imagine IF Photography Awards 2024 in round one which concluded on 15 June 2024.

    OPPO launched the Imagine IF Photography Awards globally in 2023 to spark creativity in mobile photography and showcase the prowess of OPPO camera technologies. The competition made its foray into India this year after the success of the inaugural edition.

    Round one invited Indian citizens over 18 years to share their smartphone photographs across nine categories: Landscape, Portrait, Colours, Unfading Moment, Fashion, Snapshot, Light, Travel, and Collection. Of these 34,000+ entries, the ‘Portrait’ category emerged as the most popular and garnered 26 per cent of the submissions. This was followed by ‘Landscape’ which witnessed 20 per cent participation.

    OPPO India head of digital marketing Sushant Vashistha said, “We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to the platform. The high volume of entries uncovers new photography talent across India, and we are glad to present them with an opportunity and a platform to showcase their work on a global stage.”

    The top 50 photographers will move to round two by end of June and the final six winners will be announced on 25 July 2024. “The shortlisted photographers will get to shoot exclusively on our flagship OPPO Find X7 Ultra device and experience the world’s first Quad Main Camera while submitting their nominations for round two. We are excited to see the next set of photos and the creativity they will showcase.” added Sushant Vashistha.

    To generate excitement around the competition, OPPO India released a brand video on its Instagram featuring director, screenwriter, and Indian ambassador for the initiative, SS Rajamouli with TV producer and actor, Raghu Ram. The video presents Raghu as the judge of a photography contest, and in true Raghu fashion, he is shown losing his cool over the photography capabilities of the contestants. Raghu’s level of disappointment is consistently on the rise and so is his anger. Just then, SS Rajamouli enters the scene and advises Raghu to nurture creativity rather than shun it. Following this, Raghu’s attitude shifts, and he is shown sharing encouraging feedback with the contestants with a big smile.

    The Imagine IF entries are being judged by a panel of expert photographers including celebrity wedding and portrait photographer and OPPO Imaging expert Joseph Radhik, wildlife photographer Aarzoo Khurana, fashion photographer Arjun Mark, and other global jury members.

    All top six winners will get an opportunity to attend the Paris Show 2024 and collaborate with OPPO India for photography-led projects in future. The Gold awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs 5,00,000, two Silver winners will get Rs 2,00,000 each and three Bronze winners will win Rs 1,00,000.

  • Flipkart’s latest campaign delivers a healthy dose of nostalgia

    Flipkart’s latest campaign delivers a healthy dose of nostalgia

    Mumbai: Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has launched a star-studded campaign that will have you grinning from ear to ear. A series of four films brings Flipkart’s most valued traits to life, with a hilarious trip down memory lane featuring a few of India’s most beloved entertainment icons. The campaign reminds us why Flipkart is the chosen shopping destination for millions of Indians through a delivery of great dialogues by characters that most of us will remember.

    Bringing the campaign to life:

    1   The audience is reminded of Flipkart’s commitment to value and trendy selections from great brands by Shehnaaz Gill, as she  expressed her love for Flipkart with the iconic dialogue “Twada style style, Saada style Flipkart!”

    2  The promise of same-day delivery is reinforced by Boman Irani, reprising his iconic ‘Virus’ character, reassuring customers that “All is well” with Flipkart

    3  Unbeatable deals and quick delivery are humorously showcased by value conscious Rupali Ganguly and Ratna Pathak Shah as ‘Monisha and Maya’ in a laughter-filled Flipkart Grocery shopping spree

    4  Customer centricity remains a #1 priority for Flipkart, as demonstrated by Raghu and Rajiv representing ‘Customer is God’ officers, ensuring every customer’s needs are met without compromise

    Speaking about the new campaign, Flipkart senior director – marketing and media Pratik Shetty said, “Our latest campaign reaffirms Flipkart’s commitment to customer delight by offering great value on original brands, exceptional savings on monthly grocery, same-day delivery through our ‘Dawn to Dusk store’ and our promise of being the single point of contact for a speedy resolution for all consumer concerns. This promise is reinforced with beloved characters like Virus, Maya, and Monisha, alongside celebrities such as Shehnaaz Gill, Raghu, and Rajiv, who join us as Flipkart officers for each of these promises.”

    Leo Burnett India CCO Sachin Kamble said, “We thoroughly enjoyed bringing together some of the most iconic audience-favorite characters and the creative process of bringing their signature dialogues into play with real characters resulting in a series of humorous yet very reliable brand promises for Flipkart. We have woven a series of 4 films with quirky characters and each film reiterates an important attribute about Flipkart while keeping it fun and humorous.’’

  • Ritvik Sahore shares insight on his Jamnapaar journey

    Ritvik Sahore shares insight on his Jamnapaar journey

    Mumbai: Amazon miniTV recently released the much-awaited aspirational drama, Jamnapaar. Boasting a gripping and heartfelt story, the series explores the life of Shantanu Bansal aka Shanky, a young man from East Delhi. Torn between his Jamnapaar roots and his desire for a high-flying corporate career in South Delhi, Shanky’s journey is one of self-discovery, cultural contrasts, and the enduring value of family. Featuring Ritvik Sahore, Shrishti Rindhani, Varun Badola, Ankita Saigal, and Raghu Ram in pivotal roles, the series authentically captures the inner conflicts and essence of Delhi’s diverse lifestyle.

    Ritvik Sahore, who essays the role of Shantanu Bansal in the series, reveals what drew him to the project. He shared, “First and foremost, the script blew me away the moment I read it. It was the kind of character and story I had been waiting to be a part of for a long time. When Jamnapaar came along, there was no reason to say no to it. It was perfect, and I wanted to be a part of it in any capacity.”

    Reflecting on his personal growth and major takeaway from the series, he added, “I learned a lot about myself as a person. Although I relate to Shanky in some way, he is still a different person from Ritvik. Playing this character taught me a lot about myself, how far I would go for someone and where to set boundaries. It was also an utterly joyful experience to work with an incredible team on this series.”

    Jamnapaar is now streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV.

  • Arré Announces Season 3 of A.I.SHA

    Arré Announces Season 3 of A.I.SHA

    After two successful seasons, India’s most loved sci-fi thriller franchise, is back this November, as Arré gets set to launch Season 3 of A.I.SHA.
    The award-winning A.I.SHA (Artificial Intelligence Simulated Humanoid Assistant) franchise was launched in 2016 and was the first-ever sci-fi thriller series in India. It went on to prove that millennial India is more than willing to explore new genres in entertainment beyond romance and comedy.
    A.I.SHA is set at the intersection of the real and virtual worlds, and explores an unusual relationship between artificial intelligence and humanity. It’s a boy meets girl tale, except the girl is an A.I. app. Season 1 told us the story of what happens when technology turns against us, and Season 2 showcased the immense power of A.I. in terms of far-reaching global consequences. Season 3 will push the boundaries of imagination, as we see A.I.SHA transitioning from intelligent technology to a sentient human being by acquiring human form and values.
    While the A.I.SHA franchise has garnered global acclaim at several prestigious global festivals such as the LA Web Festival, South Florida Web Festival, CMO Asia Awards, and the Asia Web Awards, it has also created millions of engaged viewers across Arré and its partner platforms in Hindi/English, Tamil, and Telugu.
    The six episodes of the new season, will continue the franchise with an ensemble cast – Raghu Ram, Aahana Kumra, Nasir Abdullah, Ruslaan Mumtaz, Auritra Ghosh, Rashi Mal, Adesh Sidhu, and Flora Saini and will play out on the Arré platforms and MX Player, the new streaming app, soon to be launched.
    This season is directed by the talented Ajay Bhuyan, who has directed popular films such as Housefull and Dhada in Telugu and Amit Sahni Ki List and Phir Se in Hindi. Recently, he has directed the popular Telugu Amazon Original GangStars. The season is written by Shiv Singh who has worked with Bhuyan on Amit Sahni Ki List and Dhada. Recently he has worked on Dil Juunglee.

    B. Saikumar, Founder – Arré, said, “A.I.SHA is a special franchise since it was the very first show that Arré launched. We’re thrilled to extend the series to Season 3, given the loyal community of audiences it has helped build for Arré along with the continued love from our brand partners Gillette and Palo Alto Networks who believed in the show since Season 1. Microsoft has now been added to the happy family. The show franchise approach has worked well for us and we’re fully focused on scaling our existing shows into multiple seasons and languages, even as we launch newer ones.”

    The series is produced for Arré by Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman’s production venture, Monozygotic. Raghu Ram, who also a plays a key role in the show said, “Season 3 of A.I.SHA is going to be thrice the action, emotion, and drama as the plot unfolds to reveal many twists and new characters. I’m excited about our cast line up and there’s going to be a lot to look forward to for our A.I.SHA fans”.
    The show is co-powered by Gillette in association with Palo Alto Networks, both of whom were partners to Seasons 1 and 2 of the show. Palo Alto Networks has also partnered with the series as script consultant and cyber security advisor, to bring in the required technical authenticity to the show. In addition, Arré has also brought on board Microsoft – Ruuh, as A.I. partner.
    Karthik Srivatsan, Country Marketing Manager, Gillette India said, “We’re delighted to partner with Arré, now for the third season of A.I.SHA, after the resounding success of the first two seasons. The show is a first of its kind in the digital space in India and globally, whose concept and audience is well aligned to the Gillette consumer. Gillette’s core philosophy has always been to innovate, to serve evolving consumer needs and our partnership this season is reflective of that. The approach for Season 3 is different as the communication is interestingly integrated within the series to bring about the various myths, facts, and aspects to grooming and shaving, which I believe will resonate well with our users and audiences.”

    KP Unnikrishnan, senior director, Marketing, Asia Pacific & Japan, Palo Alto Networks, said. “The global entertainment industry is going through a huge flux today with internet-only content growing at a phenomenal rate. Companies such as Arré, with content like A.I.SHA, are at the forefront of this revolution. Palo Alto Networks is honoured to be the cybersecurity advisor for this ground-breaking work and we are excited to help continuing to educate the audience on how successful cyber attacks can be prevented.”
    Abhishek Mathur, Senior Program Manager, Ruuh – Microsoft said, “At Microsoft, we’re excited about the opportunities that AI brings to people and organisations. In India, we are experimenting with a chatbot Ruuh that’s focused on advancing conversational capabilities within our A.I. ambitions. Companies such as Arré with content like A.I.SHA are boldly portraying the future potential of technology in this space. We are excited to be the A.I. partner for the AISHA web series. Not only will Ruuh be an A.I. character in A.I.SHA this season, but will also chat with users about the show and much more.”

  • Amazon Prime Video announces a new original series, Skulls and Roses

    Amazon Prime Video announces a new original series, Skulls and Roses

    Amazon Prime Video announces an all-new unscripted Amazon Prime Original series, Skulls and Roses, in collaboration with Monozygotic. Skulls and Roses, in a unique first-of-its-kind reality show format, combines 2 key youth hot-buttons: Romance & Adventure.   The show blurs the lines between romance and adventure reality shows to take contestants through a truly audacious and daring journey.

    Participants are invited to form couples and bonds of love on ‘Rose Island’, which are then tested for their authenticity and fortitude on ‘Skull Island’. The test is to find out which is stronger – the instinct to love or the instinct for self-preservation. The show is an ultimate test of choice – between love, trust, survival and betrayal and it forces participants choose between ‘WE’, and ‘ME’. Skulls and Roses will be hosted by television’s dynamic duo Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman, the faces behind several renowned reality shows.  Entries to participate in the exciting reality series are now open. Those interested in the bonds of romance and the thrill of adventure are invited to apply on https://www.facebook.com/skullsandrosescasting.

    “After announcing our foray into reality shows with comedy and music, we’ve seen great enthusiasm from Prime members,”  Amazon Prime Video India, Director, Content, Vijay Subramaniam said, “We’re excited to add even more variety to our offering and in collaboration with Monozygotic, bring a new bold concept to the unscripted content space that will continue to reinvent the way customers consume content in India.”

    Speaking about the show, Monozygotic, Raghu Ram said, “In today’s age of dating apps, young couples are finding it increasingly difficult to deal with the problems of a committed relationship. Consequently, more & more youngsters are making ‘stress-free’ life-choices of self-love & self-growth.  This generation is increasingly facing a dilemma of ‘we vs me’. Skulls and Roses magnifies both aspects of this dilemma as well as the consequences of their choices. What will you choose if ‘Love’ is the best chance to stay in paradise, but ’Survival’ can only happen alone?  I think that is an intriguing concept for us to delve into.”

    Speaking about the collaboration, Monozygotic, Rajiv Lakshman said, “It’s a first-of-its-kind format where the best of two opposite worlds come together on a reality show. With this venture we bring the excitement of reality shows, on-demand, to a personal screen at your home, college or commute. The concept is very intriguing and bold and we are thrilled to be able to breathe life into this project in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video.”

    Anyone above the age of 18 can apply for this show.  All you need to be is tough, adventurous, with the gumption to survive on this show.

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest and exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, ad-free across Indian and Hollywood movies, US TV shows, top/popular Indian and international kids’ shows, award winning Amazon Original shows along with content from top Bollywood, regional, Indian and international studios – all available in one location/service.

    To watch these and other new release Hollywood and Bollywood movies, US TV shows, kids’ programming and Amazon Originals, please visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video app today and sign-up for a Prime membership.

  • MTV to air new reality show ‘Dropout Pvt Ltd’

    MUMBAI: MTV launched a new reality show MTV Dropout Pvt. Ltd, presented by Droom.in, powered by Micromax and Maruti Suzuki and grooming partner Gillette which will see the birth of the world’s first ever start-up formed on television.

    Created by Monozygotic and co-developed by MTV and Monozygotic, the show will premiere on 29 July at 7pm and next day onwards on Voot.

    Dropout Pvt. Ltd. is a show that will take viewers through the process of identifying and transforming ‘dropouts’ into the ideal start-up team and kick-starting their entrepreneurial journey.

    Expert businessmen who have excelled in their respective fields, Droom.in CEO and founder Sandeep Aggarwal, Mydala.com CEO and co-founder Anisha Singh, Games2Win CEO and co-founder Alok Kejriwal along with the show’s hosts and creators Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman will be a part of panels identifying and transforming ‘dropouts’ into the dream start-up team to kick-start their entrepreneurial journey.

    Speaking about the first season of Dropout Pvt. Ltd., Viacom18 youth, music and English entertainment head Ferzad Palia said, “India is brimming with young untapped energy keen on making ideas come to life and we at MTV, believe that as the largest platform for everything related to the youth, it is our responsibility to recognize, channelize and mobilize this energy by providing the youth with the right tools to make ideas happen. MTV aims at empowering these youngsters by providing them the biggest encouragement in the form of Dropout Pvt. Ltd. to kick start their entrepreneurial dreams. We at MTV realize that the youth today with their ‘go-getter’ attitude is willing to dream big to achieve their goals. We just want to give them the wings to fly.”

    Raghu Ram shared, “This exciting new show which revolves around the idea of entrepreneurship will be all about gutsy young minds keen on achieving their dreams. Rajiv and I saw a lot of potential in the idea of the show and we sat down with the MTV team to discuss and finalize the concept. The two of us together have conceptualized the show and will be producing and hosting the show as well. This is India’s first of its kind startup reality show aimed at the youth and we hope to boost the confidence of a lot of youngsters out there as we already have a long-standing connection with the youth of India.”

    “In a country like India where blazing one’s own trail is not encouraged too much; MTV is yet again taking a brave step by celebrating those youngsters who choose to go their own way by providing them with the correct platform to give life to their dreams. Through this show that has been conceptualized by Raghu and me, we aim to transform these young people into the ideal entrepreneurs and kick- start their start-up journey. When we were starting out, Raghu and I have had to go through a lot and hence understand the struggle and we both understand the youth very well due to the work we have done with them throughout our careers. It takes a lot to give up on everything and start something of your own and we are here to make this a lot easier for the youth out there,” said Rajiv Laxman.

    Speaking about the show, Aggarwal shared, “Dropout Pvt. Ltd. is a brilliant concept. This is an amazing platform for young minds who have a knack to start something of their own to be pitted against the biggest real-world business challenges, who must survive to form India’s dream startup team. Entrepreneurship is nothing without risk- taking and taking risks is scary whether you are going for a game of poker or quitting your college to pursue one of your promising business ideas. Entrepreneurship is a real test of once conviction, confidence and courage and the ones who take risks ultimately reach their destination. Dropout Pvt. Ltd. will be a great kick starter for all the risk- takers out there!”

    Singh also mentioned, “It feels exhilarating to be a part of the jury for Dropout Pvt. Ltd, especially after interacting with the kind of people that have walked in through the doors during the audition rounds. Each one had a phenomenal story or idea. It’s great that the Indian youth finally has a large platform to experiment with their ideas and launch their start-up dreams. We are looking for contestants who have the ‘self-starter’ attitude. Love that MTV recognizes that the youth today has bigger dreams and is willing to do what it takes to beat the odds. They are ready to change the status quo to make a difference. It’s time to become bigger than your dreams and MTV is giving you a chance to do it.”

    “It’s a different high being one’s own 8boss and a show like Dropout Pvt. Ltd. will help young minds kickstart their journey towards realizing their dream. Entrepreneurship is not only about being the best at what you do, it’s also about surrounding yourself with people who are smarter and can do a better job. MTV has given the biggest platform to young entrepreneurs to shed all their pretexts and learn how to build a company, not to sell but to keep,” said Kejriwal.

  • Arre’s ‘Virtual Girlfriend’ wins five awards at LA Web Festival

    MUMBAI: Arré’s first web series A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend wins five awards at the recently held LA Web Festival for Best Series, Best Editing, Best Direction, Best Actress and Best Overall Premise within the Drama Category, from among a selected shortlist of 35 webseries across the world. The series was also nominated for Best Sound Design, Visual Effects, Outstanding Score, Cinematography, Supporting Actor, Best Actor and Writing.

    The LA Web Festival is one of the oldest, largest and most influential web series festivals globally and has screened nearly 1400 web series since 2010. It has been referred to as the ‘Sundance of Web Series Festivals’ by Los Angeles Magazine.

    This is the third set of international awards for A.I.SHA after winning Best Overall Web Series and Best Suspense/Thriller at the South Florida Web Festival held in Miami and for Exceptional Merit at the WRPN.TV Global Webisode competition.

    Arré’s Official Chukyagiri was also named an Official Honoree in the Film and Video Long Form or Series Category at the 21st Annual Webby Awards 2017.

    A.I.SHA, Artificial Intelligence Simulated Humanoid Assistant (A.I.SHA) is India’s first AI-based digital series. The story pivots around the widely debated and chilling premise of what happens when artificial intelligence develops feelings and consciousness? Sam, the show’s protagonist, creates A.I.SHA, without realising the consequences, and thus begins a series of events that rapidly spirals out of control. Catch the full series here.

    Season 2 of A.I.SHA is currently live on Arré (at www.arre.co.in, Arré’s YouTube Channel, Facebook Page) and on Arré’s partner platforms – Yupp TV, SonyLIV, Vodafone Play and Jio Cinema.

    The series is directed by Sahir Raza, written by Raghu Ram and Harman Singha and produced for Arré by Monozygotic. The show has partnered with Gillette Flexball, Palo Alto Networks, a next-generation security company, Nissin Cup Noodlesand Dell.

    Arré brings to India’s new-gen digital audiences a range of contextual storytelling and entertainment using video, audio, graphic-art and text.

  • Second season of ‘A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend’ to launch on Arré

    MUMBAI: Arré’s cult and award winning web series A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend is back with a season two. This season endeavors to further explore the maze of dimensions that go beyond the creation of A.I.

    Season two of A.I.SHA is about revenge, redemption and a revolution that threatens to destroy anyone who comes in the way of a mad pursuit of power, control and world domination.
    This season of A.I.SHA has six episodes and will launch on the Arré App, website (www.arre.co.in) and all its partner platforms, including Facebook, Youtube, SonyLiv, YuppTV, Vodafone Play, and others on 23 March 2017.

    Arre founder B Saikumar said: “We are overwhelmed with the response on A.I.SHA, a show that introduced a new genre within the digital space in India. Set in the backdrop of A.I, virtual reality and cyber crime, this season explores various emotions from love to revenge in the real and virtual worlds, promising to keep the viewer on the edge of his seat. A.I.SHA is very special to us since it was one of the shows that Arré launched with and we are thrilled to be coming out with a new season within the year.”

    The show is presented by Gillette Flexball in association with Palo Alto Networks and Indo Nissin Foods. Palo Alto Networks has also partnered with the series as script consultant and advisor, to bring in the required technical authenticity to the show.

    It is produced for Arré by Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman’s production venture, Monozygotic.

    Ram added, “We’re fast approaching a world where the power balance depends on who controls A.I. Season 2 is a peek into this exciting and scary world and A.I.SHA is at the centre of this deadly power struggle. This season takes this great game to the next level.“

  • Arre’s ‘A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend’ wins at WebFest

    Arre’s ‘A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend’ wins at WebFest

    MUMBAI: Arré’s first web series A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend has won the best overall web series and best suspense/thriller at South Florida WebFest in Miami. The show has been selected from among a selected screening of the best 27 global web series and short films that were shortlisted.

    A.I.SHA, Artificial Intelligence Simulated Humanoid Assistant (A.I.SHA) is India’s first AI-based digital series. The story pivots around the widely debated and chilling premise of what happens when artificial intelligence develops feelings and consciousness. Sam, the show’s protagonist, creates A.I.SHA, without realising the consequences, and thus begins a series of events that rapidly spirals out of control.

    “I am happy that A.I.SHA has broken new ground in the web series space in India and globally. We’re now excited about Season 2 and hopefully will pack in enough thrills and chills for our viewers,” said Arre founder B. Saikumar.

    The series is directed by Sahir Raza, written by Raghu Ram and Harman Singha and produced for Arré by Monozygotic. The show was presented by Gillette Flexball. To bring technical authenticity, the series has also partnered with Palo Alto Networks, a next-generation security company, as Cyber Security Advisers and Dell as the Technology Partner.

    Following the resounding success of season 1, Arré also launched a Telugu version of the show in association with Yupp TV and also plans to release a Tamil version of the show to reach out to a wider audience.

    The team has also begun pre-production work for season 2, which is planned for launch early next year.

  • Arre’s ‘A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend’ wins at WebFest

    Arre’s ‘A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend’ wins at WebFest

    MUMBAI: Arré’s first web series A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend has won the best overall web series and best suspense/thriller at South Florida WebFest in Miami. The show has been selected from among a selected screening of the best 27 global web series and short films that were shortlisted.

    A.I.SHA, Artificial Intelligence Simulated Humanoid Assistant (A.I.SHA) is India’s first AI-based digital series. The story pivots around the widely debated and chilling premise of what happens when artificial intelligence develops feelings and consciousness. Sam, the show’s protagonist, creates A.I.SHA, without realising the consequences, and thus begins a series of events that rapidly spirals out of control.

    “I am happy that A.I.SHA has broken new ground in the web series space in India and globally. We’re now excited about Season 2 and hopefully will pack in enough thrills and chills for our viewers,” said Arre founder B. Saikumar.

    The series is directed by Sahir Raza, written by Raghu Ram and Harman Singha and produced for Arré by Monozygotic. The show was presented by Gillette Flexball. To bring technical authenticity, the series has also partnered with Palo Alto Networks, a next-generation security company, as Cyber Security Advisers and Dell as the Technology Partner.

    Following the resounding success of season 1, Arré also launched a Telugu version of the show in association with Yupp TV and also plans to release a Tamil version of the show to reach out to a wider audience.

    The team has also begun pre-production work for season 2, which is planned for launch early next year.