Tag: Raj Nayak

  • Raj Nayak re-elected Advertising Club president

    Raj Nayak re-elected Advertising Club president

    MUMBAI: At the annual general meeting of The Advertising Club held in Mumbai today, the members unanimously re-elected Colors CEO Raj Nayak, as its president. Raj had replaced The Social Street chairman and co-founder Pratap Bose on 16 September last year.

    Over the past year, Raj has injected new dynamism into the Ad Club. A top notch sales professional, he has expanded the membership of the Club by initiating a drive last year which saw many a fence sitter, taking up it full time membership. Its management committee members say that it has had financially the most successful year under his stewardship. Hence, his re-election was unopposed and a bit of no-brainer.

    The CEO of Viacom18 Hindi GEC Colors has had strong links with industry initiatives over the past few years. He has been associated with several industry bodies right from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation and the International Advertising Association.

  • UCWeb enters into strategic partnership with Colors TV

    UCWeb enters into strategic partnership with Colors TV

    MUMBAI: China based mobile browser company UCWeb has launched its new version in India with a strategic partnership with Viacom18’s Hindi GEC Colors TV for exclusive content.

    Driven by big-data technology, the New UC Browser includes news feeds from UC News making it an integral part of UC Browser now, with more customisation options for the users.

    The partnership with Colors TV for selected shows is a reinforcement of Alibaba Mobile Business Group strategy to digitize entertainment content on mobile while transforming itself from tool to content and further offer more comprehensive content options to users, who access internet on the go.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Colors TV CEO Raj Nayak said, “It’s combination of strategic and commercial partnership where UCWeb will use our platform to enlarge their user base in India and we will use their assets to popularize our content and drive audience to our channel. They are the gaming partner with us for 24 and trending partners on Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, Bigg Boss and they are also the partners for comedy nights live. The browser will have video clips, behind the scenes, news and more on shows.”

    The group company Alibaba claims that they are the biggest browser brand in the country with over 80 million monthly active users.

    Also the Q1 FY 2016 – 2017 results of Alibaba Group mentioned that UCWeb has played a significant role by strengthening company’s competitive positions in digital media and entertainment category. The digital media and entertainment segment of Alibaba Group operates businesses through multiple properties including UCWeb.

    “Today, UC Browser is the number one independent browser in India with 50 per cent market share and is one of the world’s top three mobile browsers,” said Alibaba Mobile Business Group overseas business president Jack Huang. He also added that the new milestone of reaching 420 million MAUs has placed them at par with Twitter and Instagram. “Our vision in the coming years after success in India, is to serve half the population of the planet. Our strategy is to focus on “Glocalization” – which is going global by offering localized solutions in each market. We believe this strategy will lead us to a new digital era, which is GUF – Google, UCWeb and Facebook,” added Huang.

    UCWeb has evolved from a mobile browser to a mobile media asset, offering mobile search and news feeds to over 420 million MAUs globally. UCWeb recently launched UC News in June this year.

    UCWeb general manager India Robert Bu said, “Entertainment content is the number one content in Indian market. If you see the data, In India most searched keywords are of entertainment. Also 7 out of 10 news are related to entertainment market so we thought it’s good area to explore. And Maharashtra is the biggest market share in Entertainment which 42 per cent. The reason behind choosing is Colors is because it’s a number one channel in Entertainment space and have very good TV shows. Hence we have long term tie up with them. Right now we have tie up with Colors but we are open for other collaboration and opportunity.”

    The content or information is shareable on the browser and can be customised. It’s also available in two languages – English and Hindi, and will later be available in other regional languages as well starting with Tamil. The personalised channel settings allow users to choose their favourite news channels and make their own reading sequence, as per their individual preference. The user friendly browser also has a night mode feature that offers a convenient browsing experience during night.

  • UCWeb enters into strategic partnership with Colors TV

    UCWeb enters into strategic partnership with Colors TV

    MUMBAI: China based mobile browser company UCWeb has launched its new version in India with a strategic partnership with Viacom18’s Hindi GEC Colors TV for exclusive content.

    Driven by big-data technology, the New UC Browser includes news feeds from UC News making it an integral part of UC Browser now, with more customisation options for the users.

    The partnership with Colors TV for selected shows is a reinforcement of Alibaba Mobile Business Group strategy to digitize entertainment content on mobile while transforming itself from tool to content and further offer more comprehensive content options to users, who access internet on the go.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Colors TV CEO Raj Nayak said, “It’s combination of strategic and commercial partnership where UCWeb will use our platform to enlarge their user base in India and we will use their assets to popularize our content and drive audience to our channel. They are the gaming partner with us for 24 and trending partners on Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, Bigg Boss and they are also the partners for comedy nights live. The browser will have video clips, behind the scenes, news and more on shows.”

    The group company Alibaba claims that they are the biggest browser brand in the country with over 80 million monthly active users.

    Also the Q1 FY 2016 – 2017 results of Alibaba Group mentioned that UCWeb has played a significant role by strengthening company’s competitive positions in digital media and entertainment category. The digital media and entertainment segment of Alibaba Group operates businesses through multiple properties including UCWeb.

    “Today, UC Browser is the number one independent browser in India with 50 per cent market share and is one of the world’s top three mobile browsers,” said Alibaba Mobile Business Group overseas business president Jack Huang. He also added that the new milestone of reaching 420 million MAUs has placed them at par with Twitter and Instagram. “Our vision in the coming years after success in India, is to serve half the population of the planet. Our strategy is to focus on “Glocalization” – which is going global by offering localized solutions in each market. We believe this strategy will lead us to a new digital era, which is GUF – Google, UCWeb and Facebook,” added Huang.

    UCWeb has evolved from a mobile browser to a mobile media asset, offering mobile search and news feeds to over 420 million MAUs globally. UCWeb recently launched UC News in June this year.

    UCWeb general manager India Robert Bu said, “Entertainment content is the number one content in Indian market. If you see the data, In India most searched keywords are of entertainment. Also 7 out of 10 news are related to entertainment market so we thought it’s good area to explore. And Maharashtra is the biggest market share in Entertainment which 42 per cent. The reason behind choosing is Colors is because it’s a number one channel in Entertainment space and have very good TV shows. Hence we have long term tie up with them. Right now we have tie up with Colors but we are open for other collaboration and opportunity.”

    The content or information is shareable on the browser and can be customised. It’s also available in two languages – English and Hindi, and will later be available in other regional languages as well starting with Tamil. The personalised channel settings allow users to choose their favourite news channels and make their own reading sequence, as per their individual preference. The user friendly browser also has a night mode feature that offers a convenient browsing experience during night.

  • Indian media industry gives thumbs up to GST despite minor concerns

    Indian media industry gives thumbs up to GST despite minor concerns

    MUMBAI: Former Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram dubbed the move “good sense triumphed” while commenting on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill that was okayed earlier in the week by the Indian Parliament. And, probably, it is a good move, though lot of fine-tuning still needs to be done and Indian industry is still calculating the pros and cons.

    But a seven-hour debate in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) on Wednesday is nothing compared to the discussions on the issue that have been going on for over a decade in India during which time several Finance Ministers have come and gone pitching in for tax reforms that have been mired in political discussions and fights.

    Now that the Parliament has given the green signal to GST to be ushered in the country the ifs and whys still need answering leading to more questions like ‘what’ and ‘how’ because the rate of taxation under GST regime is still to be firmed up though 18 per cent is an indicative figure that is being bandied around in political and industry circles.

    Here are a few reactions from the media and entertainment industry where execs are still trying to read the fine prints of political-speak.

    Minister of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) M Venkaiah Naidu termed the passage of GST Bill as “historic” adding that “it’s a victory of people” as “good days” beckon the country.

    MIB Junior Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also said that it was a historic day for India and tweeted “a new era is about to begin as uniformity across markets in India would pave way for unity in diversity”.

    ZEEL, MD and CEO Punit Goenka:  GST will certainly bring in uniformity across businesses in the media sector. Especially for the film studios who can now lower their costs. Multiplex chains will also benefit a lot with uniformed taxes, resulting into reduction of the average ticket prices!

    Colors TV CEO & Advertising Club of India President Raj Nayak: I think it (proposition of GST) is the best thing that has happened to our country. I must congratulate the Finance Minister and leaders of all political parties for setting aside differences for a common purpose, which will help in the progress of the country. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it is `the best example of cooperative federalism.’ The passage of the Bill, along with a good monsoon, will usher in an overall positive business sentiment. I see this translating into advertising spends seeing an upward trend in the coming months, which will be good for broadcasting sector.

    Publicis India -South Asia CEO & AAAI President Nakul Chopra: Everyone is hopeful that in the long run this will benefit our economy. While right now we are concerned about its implications on our (advertising) industry as we are a multi-locational service providers. If GST positively impacts our client, it would eventually benefit us as well. Though there are some legitimate concerns that the advertising industry has over GST, we will try to address them as an association.

    Videocon d2h  CEO Anil Khera: GST is a welcome step. It will unify the indirect tax administration in India and help the country in two ways. First, it will simplify (the tax regime) and make it easy for the consumers to understand their tax split up. Second, it will significantly improve the ease of doing business in India. As a DTH operator, GST will help us to be more efficient in our business.

    Travelxp and  Media Worldwide CEO Prashanth Chothani: There won’t be much impact (on the broadcasters’ ad revenues). The current rate that stands at 15 percent may increase to 18 percent. This might mean that the advertising cost will go up but advertising is directly related to consumer needs. If people have money to spend and they are consuming products,  brands will market and advertise.

    From the reactions it seems that the media and entertainment industry, by and large, has reacted positively to the proposed tax reforms. As it is in all such cases there are some creases, but the media and entertainment industry is willing to look at the brighter side of GST and the promised economic growth.

     

  • Indian media industry gives thumbs up to GST despite minor concerns

    Indian media industry gives thumbs up to GST despite minor concerns

    MUMBAI: Former Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram dubbed the move “good sense triumphed” while commenting on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill that was okayed earlier in the week by the Indian Parliament. And, probably, it is a good move, though lot of fine-tuning still needs to be done and Indian industry is still calculating the pros and cons.

    But a seven-hour debate in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) on Wednesday is nothing compared to the discussions on the issue that have been going on for over a decade in India during which time several Finance Ministers have come and gone pitching in for tax reforms that have been mired in political discussions and fights.

    Now that the Parliament has given the green signal to GST to be ushered in the country the ifs and whys still need answering leading to more questions like ‘what’ and ‘how’ because the rate of taxation under GST regime is still to be firmed up though 18 per cent is an indicative figure that is being bandied around in political and industry circles.

    Here are a few reactions from the media and entertainment industry where execs are still trying to read the fine prints of political-speak.

    Minister of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) M Venkaiah Naidu termed the passage of GST Bill as “historic” adding that “it’s a victory of people” as “good days” beckon the country.

    MIB Junior Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also said that it was a historic day for India and tweeted “a new era is about to begin as uniformity across markets in India would pave way for unity in diversity”.

    ZEEL, MD and CEO Punit Goenka:  GST will certainly bring in uniformity across businesses in the media sector. Especially for the film studios who can now lower their costs. Multiplex chains will also benefit a lot with uniformed taxes, resulting into reduction of the average ticket prices!

    Colors TV CEO & Advertising Club of India President Raj Nayak: I think it (proposition of GST) is the best thing that has happened to our country. I must congratulate the Finance Minister and leaders of all political parties for setting aside differences for a common purpose, which will help in the progress of the country. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it is `the best example of cooperative federalism.’ The passage of the Bill, along with a good monsoon, will usher in an overall positive business sentiment. I see this translating into advertising spends seeing an upward trend in the coming months, which will be good for broadcasting sector.

    Publicis India -South Asia CEO & AAAI President Nakul Chopra: Everyone is hopeful that in the long run this will benefit our economy. While right now we are concerned about its implications on our (advertising) industry as we are a multi-locational service providers. If GST positively impacts our client, it would eventually benefit us as well. Though there are some legitimate concerns that the advertising industry has over GST, we will try to address them as an association.

    Videocon d2h  CEO Anil Khera: GST is a welcome step. It will unify the indirect tax administration in India and help the country in two ways. First, it will simplify (the tax regime) and make it easy for the consumers to understand their tax split up. Second, it will significantly improve the ease of doing business in India. As a DTH operator, GST will help us to be more efficient in our business.

    Travelxp and  Media Worldwide CEO Prashanth Chothani: There won’t be much impact (on the broadcasters’ ad revenues). The current rate that stands at 15 percent may increase to 18 percent. This might mean that the advertising cost will go up but advertising is directly related to consumer needs. If people have money to spend and they are consuming products,  brands will market and advertise.

    From the reactions it seems that the media and entertainment industry, by and large, has reacted positively to the proposed tax reforms. As it is in all such cases there are some creases, but the media and entertainment industry is willing to look at the brighter side of GST and the promised economic growth.

     

  • Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    MUMBAI: Featuring an intense and rugged looking Anil Kapoor as Jai Singh Rathod, Colors unveiled the first look of its much- anticipated espionage thriller 24 season 2 or 24s2. The first trailer revealed much about the upcoming season, leaving the audience awestruck.

    The trailer makes it evident that Jai Singh Rathod has isolated himself from the world to become a recluse in self-imposed exile. It shows that his dark past has made him a fugitive; while his daughter Kiran supports him, his son Veer, who has become a part of the intelligence bureau, does not. Season two will also show how drug-lord Haroon Sherchan threatens to release a contagious airborne virus which could eradicate humanity unless his brother Roshan is released from prison. Setting in motion a series of events, the one man- army Rathod returns to thwart every sabotage attempt and face political blackmail, while battling an unseen enemy with a personal vendetta at the same time.

    The Indian adaptation of the US series 24 has been co-produced by Anil Kapoor Film Co and Ramesh Deo Productions and directed by Abhinay Deo & Rensil D’Silva.

    Season 2 of 24 is to be a weekend show. Though the channel didn’t officially announce the date, it is believed that the show would launch on 16 July at 9pm on Saturday- Sunday.

    Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “24 Season 2 is a weekend show, while the time and date has not been decided as yet, it is most likely to be in July. Also deciding the time slot is more of challenge for us because we have so many shows on the channel and it’s difficult to decide which show 24s2 will replace. It is likely to be a 9pm show.”

    Nayak expressed, “The first edition of 24 was an unprecedented game- changer, it conquered the Indian television industry with its freshness and gripping narrative. The show pushed the traditional boundaries with the device of presenting the plot within a real time format. Anil Kapoor and the team have an incredible job as the second season looks even more riveting in terms of storytelling and very international in terms of look and feel. Every time when we make show on Colors our expectations are very high. We worked hard towards making the show and try making it big.”

    The show will see a robust multi-media promotional plan across key markets, including a 360 degree marketing campaign. “We are looking at this show as a film. We won’t leave out any medium be it radio, digital, outdoor, cinema, television or print. The weightage will differ, but visibility will be there across the channels,” informed Nayak.

    The show has also earned the support of the advertising community with Maruti Suzuki coming on-board as the presenting sponsor and Oppo Mobiles as the ‘powered by’ sponsor for the second season of the show. According to industry guestimates, Maruti Suzuki had agreed to invest close to Rs 23 crore for the title sponsorship.

    A source close to the development informed Indiantelevision.com, “The show’s ad rate is Rs 2.5 lakh per 10 second slot and the production cost of per episode is between Rs 1.5
    crore- to Rs 1.7 crore.” Tthe production cost per episode of the first season has been estimated around Rs 1.4 crore.

    Divulging details about season 2 of the show, actor and producer Anil Kapoor said, “The real star of 24 is the concept which will compel viewers to think about national sensibility and sentiment. We have devised a complex plot which when combined with Jai Singh Rathod’s volatile relationships, strong instincts and adrenaline- fuelled action, will be the perfect setting to foil a devastating terrorist plot. We are exploring different plotlines to enhance content relatability, shooting at multiple real locations outside Mumbai, and anteing up the production scale to enhance to overall television viewing experience.”

    Commenting on its association, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd executive director (Marketing and Sales) RS Kalsi said, “We always like to associate ourselves with the brands which are equally powerful, synergistic and reinforce our relevance. Talking about these three factors, 24 is a premium content based on international format following a global standard. S-Cross is a premium offering, which offers a unique combination of power and performance of a SUV and the comfort and refinement of a sedan. The target audience that 24 caters to and its genre allows us to draw synergies between the brands of S-Cross and 24.”

    Oppo MD of International Mobile Business and president of Oppo India Sky Li also added, “We are thrilled with this partnership with the popular show 24-the most awaited show this season on Colors. Oppo Mobiles has been a game-changer in the mobile devices industry through its innovation and leadership in selfie technology and camera performance and so is show 24 with its action packed drama amid twists and turns. Our alliance with the show enables us to draw synergies with the its target audience and cater to their needs while increasing market penetration and brand recall.”

  • Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    Colors to air season 2 of ’24’ with sponsors Maruti Suzuki and Oppo

    MUMBAI: Featuring an intense and rugged looking Anil Kapoor as Jai Singh Rathod, Colors unveiled the first look of its much- anticipated espionage thriller 24 season 2 or 24s2. The first trailer revealed much about the upcoming season, leaving the audience awestruck.

    The trailer makes it evident that Jai Singh Rathod has isolated himself from the world to become a recluse in self-imposed exile. It shows that his dark past has made him a fugitive; while his daughter Kiran supports him, his son Veer, who has become a part of the intelligence bureau, does not. Season two will also show how drug-lord Haroon Sherchan threatens to release a contagious airborne virus which could eradicate humanity unless his brother Roshan is released from prison. Setting in motion a series of events, the one man- army Rathod returns to thwart every sabotage attempt and face political blackmail, while battling an unseen enemy with a personal vendetta at the same time.

    The Indian adaptation of the US series 24 has been co-produced by Anil Kapoor Film Co and Ramesh Deo Productions and directed by Abhinay Deo & Rensil D’Silva.

    Season 2 of 24 is to be a weekend show. Though the channel didn’t officially announce the date, it is believed that the show would launch on 16 July at 9pm on Saturday- Sunday.

    Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “24 Season 2 is a weekend show, while the time and date has not been decided as yet, it is most likely to be in July. Also deciding the time slot is more of challenge for us because we have so many shows on the channel and it’s difficult to decide which show 24s2 will replace. It is likely to be a 9pm show.”

    Nayak expressed, “The first edition of 24 was an unprecedented game- changer, it conquered the Indian television industry with its freshness and gripping narrative. The show pushed the traditional boundaries with the device of presenting the plot within a real time format. Anil Kapoor and the team have an incredible job as the second season looks even more riveting in terms of storytelling and very international in terms of look and feel. Every time when we make show on Colors our expectations are very high. We worked hard towards making the show and try making it big.”

    The show will see a robust multi-media promotional plan across key markets, including a 360 degree marketing campaign. “We are looking at this show as a film. We won’t leave out any medium be it radio, digital, outdoor, cinema, television or print. The weightage will differ, but visibility will be there across the channels,” informed Nayak.

    The show has also earned the support of the advertising community with Maruti Suzuki coming on-board as the presenting sponsor and Oppo Mobiles as the ‘powered by’ sponsor for the second season of the show. According to industry guestimates, Maruti Suzuki had agreed to invest close to Rs 23 crore for the title sponsorship.

    A source close to the development informed Indiantelevision.com, “The show’s ad rate is Rs 2.5 lakh per 10 second slot and the production cost of per episode is between Rs 1.5
    crore- to Rs 1.7 crore.” Tthe production cost per episode of the first season has been estimated around Rs 1.4 crore.

    Divulging details about season 2 of the show, actor and producer Anil Kapoor said, “The real star of 24 is the concept which will compel viewers to think about national sensibility and sentiment. We have devised a complex plot which when combined with Jai Singh Rathod’s volatile relationships, strong instincts and adrenaline- fuelled action, will be the perfect setting to foil a devastating terrorist plot. We are exploring different plotlines to enhance content relatability, shooting at multiple real locations outside Mumbai, and anteing up the production scale to enhance to overall television viewing experience.”

    Commenting on its association, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd executive director (Marketing and Sales) RS Kalsi said, “We always like to associate ourselves with the brands which are equally powerful, synergistic and reinforce our relevance. Talking about these three factors, 24 is a premium content based on international format following a global standard. S-Cross is a premium offering, which offers a unique combination of power and performance of a SUV and the comfort and refinement of a sedan. The target audience that 24 caters to and its genre allows us to draw synergies between the brands of S-Cross and 24.”

    Oppo MD of International Mobile Business and president of Oppo India Sky Li also added, “We are thrilled with this partnership with the popular show 24-the most awaited show this season on Colors. Oppo Mobiles has been a game-changer in the mobile devices industry through its innovation and leadership in selfie technology and camera performance and so is show 24 with its action packed drama amid twists and turns. Our alliance with the show enables us to draw synergies with the its target audience and cater to their needs while increasing market penetration and brand recall.”

  • Colors to air ‘Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon’ se from 11 June

    Colors to air ‘Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon’ se from 11 June

    MUMBAI: Uneasy rests the soul that loves and loses. Its obsession with love challenges the realms of life and death. But, what happens when the soul turns rogue? Colors’ upcoming drama, a finite paranormal thriller series titled Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon Se is a story of love, passion and obsession. Drawing evil from its grave to possess a pure soul in an epic battle against good, the show delves into the lives of a loving couple Paridhi and Rajbir, and his fanatical lover Manjulika’s unfulfilled soul. Supported by a dramatic narrative and backed by Balaji Telefilms’ prowess in celebrating Indian folklore and myths, the show dwells deep into the elements of supernatural occurrences and exorcism.

    Set to take over the baton from Naagin, the show will go on-air starting 11 June 2016, and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 pm.

    Commenting on the launch of the show, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “The numero uno show of Indian television is going to be replaced by a new entrant which has the potential to become another trendsetter in the industry. The success of Naagin has led us to believe that the Indian viewers have a huge appetite for stories which dangle on the realms of the unknown. Going by the efficacy of this research, we bring to the viewers, Kawach – a show that talks about love, demonic possession and exorcism. Colors has set a benchmark of sorts in the finite fiction series space and we hope to continue the same trend now with Kawach. The show will definitely create ripples, is our belief.”

    Adding further, Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “Rooted in possession and exorcism driven by fanatical love, the show will create supernatural experiences that will engage viewers across the country. The show is essentially a love story; on one side is a devoted wife who vows to protect her husband against all evils and on the other side is an insatiated spirit whose unrequited love for the same man makes her wreak havoc in his blissfully married life. Everyone who has struggled to secure his/her love or has loved and lost will identify with the emotions displayed in this drama. As Kawach charts its own course, we are confident in its ability to grip audience attention.”

    Speaking about the show, the reigning Czarina of Indian television, producer Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms said, “Supernatural themes in recent times have tasted much success across the entertainment industry. Be it in films or on television, audiences enjoy watching stories based on myths and folklore. Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon Se will witness evil energies taking center stage as the goodness of love will be tested in all its glory. The show will evoke a multitude of emotions amongst viewers – be it empathy for Rajbir, hatred for Manjulika or reverence for Paridhi. With a strong VFX team in place, Kawach will be our next visually spectacular proposition on Colors and we look forward to strengthening our association with the channel further.”

    When love turns into an evil obsession, it holds the power and ability to completely take over a person’s existence. The show will see two types of love – an all-consuming obsessive love that draws Manjulika (Maheck Chahal) to Rajbir (Vivek Dahiya) even after her death, and a selfless strong-willed love that empowers Paridhi (Mona Singh) to protect Rajbir from dark elements. Paridhi’s determination and devotion, Rajbir’s conundrum and inability to ward off harm from his wife’s life, and Manjulika’s malevolence as she recuperates from having failed at being a temptress while she was still alive, will play a major role in shaping their personalities. As a fierce tussle juxtaposes good and evil, Manjulika’s soul possesses Paridhi’s body, and uses her dreams and ambitions to manipulate her presence in Rajbir’s life and future. And with Manjulika’s evil ploys and hell-fire for her fixation with Rajbir in the offing, it will be Paridhi’s efforts that will battle the realms of bone-chilling incidents.

    Speaking about her character, Mona Singh, who essays the role of Paridhi said, “Paridhi is a modern women who is well educated, is an archaeologist by profession and doesn’t believe in supernatural occurrences. But, she is willing to go to any length to protect her husband from the clutches of evil. She will get possessed by Manjulika’s spirit, but even this will not deter her from her goals. Paridhi considers love supreme and will chart her course to her destiny with that one goal in mind.” Commenting on Rajbir’s character, actor Vivek Dahiya said, “As a story of love and obsession, Kawach will take viewers on a spine-tingling ride. Rajbir doesn’t believe in supernatural powers, but is a strong believer in the power of love and uses it to fight evil spirits when his wife Paridhi is possessed by Manjulika’s soul. His misfortune and failure at protecting his wife causes him to take many decisions that shape their future and existence. But how Rajbir and Paridhi’s love fights through all odds forms the crux of this story.”

    Upon being casted in her first ever fiction role as Manjulika,Maheck Chahal said, “Manjulika is a dark and sexy seductress. She tries to win Rajbir’s heart but fails. Her return from the dead is a mark of power and passion, and she will do all it takes – including inhabiting Paridhi’s untainted and loving soul – to own the man who she believes is rightfully hers.”

    Along with the above cast, the show brings together a power-packed cast comprising of Ashwini Kalsekar as Indrani, Aham Mehta as Jagat Singh, Shiva Rindani as Bharat Singh, and Ritu Vij as Janki Devi amongst others.

    To engage with viewers at a grass-root level, Colors has devised a robust marketing and digital strategy including different touch points including outdoor and radio. Further, the channel has planned a series of on-ground activations at more than 130 Hanuman temples across HSMs (Hindi Speaking Markets) wherein a Kawach kit comprising of a Hunaman Chalisa and a Hanuman Kawach will be distributed amongst devotees. On the digital front, an extensive outreach has been planned utilizing multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram amongst others.

  • Colors to air ‘Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon’ se from 11 June

    Colors to air ‘Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon’ se from 11 June

    MUMBAI: Uneasy rests the soul that loves and loses. Its obsession with love challenges the realms of life and death. But, what happens when the soul turns rogue? Colors’ upcoming drama, a finite paranormal thriller series titled Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon Se is a story of love, passion and obsession. Drawing evil from its grave to possess a pure soul in an epic battle against good, the show delves into the lives of a loving couple Paridhi and Rajbir, and his fanatical lover Manjulika’s unfulfilled soul. Supported by a dramatic narrative and backed by Balaji Telefilms’ prowess in celebrating Indian folklore and myths, the show dwells deep into the elements of supernatural occurrences and exorcism.

    Set to take over the baton from Naagin, the show will go on-air starting 11 June 2016, and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 pm.

    Commenting on the launch of the show, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “The numero uno show of Indian television is going to be replaced by a new entrant which has the potential to become another trendsetter in the industry. The success of Naagin has led us to believe that the Indian viewers have a huge appetite for stories which dangle on the realms of the unknown. Going by the efficacy of this research, we bring to the viewers, Kawach – a show that talks about love, demonic possession and exorcism. Colors has set a benchmark of sorts in the finite fiction series space and we hope to continue the same trend now with Kawach. The show will definitely create ripples, is our belief.”

    Adding further, Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “Rooted in possession and exorcism driven by fanatical love, the show will create supernatural experiences that will engage viewers across the country. The show is essentially a love story; on one side is a devoted wife who vows to protect her husband against all evils and on the other side is an insatiated spirit whose unrequited love for the same man makes her wreak havoc in his blissfully married life. Everyone who has struggled to secure his/her love or has loved and lost will identify with the emotions displayed in this drama. As Kawach charts its own course, we are confident in its ability to grip audience attention.”

    Speaking about the show, the reigning Czarina of Indian television, producer Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms said, “Supernatural themes in recent times have tasted much success across the entertainment industry. Be it in films or on television, audiences enjoy watching stories based on myths and folklore. Kawach…Kaali Shaktiyon Se will witness evil energies taking center stage as the goodness of love will be tested in all its glory. The show will evoke a multitude of emotions amongst viewers – be it empathy for Rajbir, hatred for Manjulika or reverence for Paridhi. With a strong VFX team in place, Kawach will be our next visually spectacular proposition on Colors and we look forward to strengthening our association with the channel further.”

    When love turns into an evil obsession, it holds the power and ability to completely take over a person’s existence. The show will see two types of love – an all-consuming obsessive love that draws Manjulika (Maheck Chahal) to Rajbir (Vivek Dahiya) even after her death, and a selfless strong-willed love that empowers Paridhi (Mona Singh) to protect Rajbir from dark elements. Paridhi’s determination and devotion, Rajbir’s conundrum and inability to ward off harm from his wife’s life, and Manjulika’s malevolence as she recuperates from having failed at being a temptress while she was still alive, will play a major role in shaping their personalities. As a fierce tussle juxtaposes good and evil, Manjulika’s soul possesses Paridhi’s body, and uses her dreams and ambitions to manipulate her presence in Rajbir’s life and future. And with Manjulika’s evil ploys and hell-fire for her fixation with Rajbir in the offing, it will be Paridhi’s efforts that will battle the realms of bone-chilling incidents.

    Speaking about her character, Mona Singh, who essays the role of Paridhi said, “Paridhi is a modern women who is well educated, is an archaeologist by profession and doesn’t believe in supernatural occurrences. But, she is willing to go to any length to protect her husband from the clutches of evil. She will get possessed by Manjulika’s spirit, but even this will not deter her from her goals. Paridhi considers love supreme and will chart her course to her destiny with that one goal in mind.” Commenting on Rajbir’s character, actor Vivek Dahiya said, “As a story of love and obsession, Kawach will take viewers on a spine-tingling ride. Rajbir doesn’t believe in supernatural powers, but is a strong believer in the power of love and uses it to fight evil spirits when his wife Paridhi is possessed by Manjulika’s soul. His misfortune and failure at protecting his wife causes him to take many decisions that shape their future and existence. But how Rajbir and Paridhi’s love fights through all odds forms the crux of this story.”

    Upon being casted in her first ever fiction role as Manjulika,Maheck Chahal said, “Manjulika is a dark and sexy seductress. She tries to win Rajbir’s heart but fails. Her return from the dead is a mark of power and passion, and she will do all it takes – including inhabiting Paridhi’s untainted and loving soul – to own the man who she believes is rightfully hers.”

    Along with the above cast, the show brings together a power-packed cast comprising of Ashwini Kalsekar as Indrani, Aham Mehta as Jagat Singh, Shiva Rindani as Bharat Singh, and Ritu Vij as Janki Devi amongst others.

    To engage with viewers at a grass-root level, Colors has devised a robust marketing and digital strategy including different touch points including outdoor and radio. Further, the channel has planned a series of on-ground activations at more than 130 Hanuman temples across HSMs (Hindi Speaking Markets) wherein a Kawach kit comprising of a Hunaman Chalisa and a Hanuman Kawach will be distributed amongst devotees. On the digital front, an extensive outreach has been planned utilizing multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram amongst others.

  • The 6th Gionee Colors Gima awards is all set to take viewers on a melodious journey

    The 6th Gionee Colors Gima awards is all set to take viewers on a melodious journey

    MUMBAI: The 6th Gionee Colors GiMA Awards powered by Hungama & Renault has witnessed an array of performances by some of the most celebrated names in the music industry. Adding to the anticipation of the memorable awards show, the GiMA’s will be telecast on Colors TV channel twice on Sunday 5th June 2016 with an afternoon broadcast from 1pm to 4pm and in the evening from 10pm to 1am. Fans can also get to see a one-hour special before the Awards screening with an exclusive GiMA Red carpet telecast on 5th June from 12 noon till 1pm.

    TELECAST DETAILS OF GiMA 2016

    GiMA Red Carpet

    Sunday 5th June, 12noon – 1pm

    GiMA Awards 2016

    Sunday 5th June, 1pm – 4pm & 10pm – 1am

    The Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) Awards over the years has seen a number of outstanding moments and this year’s host Ayushmann Khurrana along with celebrity co-presenters raised the bar through a mix of humor, dance and singing.  The ceremony certainly will leave viewers in amazement following a number of performances such as ‘Dabangg’ actress Sonakshi Sinha’s glittering dance number to Arjun Kapoor’s dhol act to even Anil Kapoor and Aditi Rao Hydari singing on stage! Adding to the night, Arijit Singh performed a soul-stirring opener while Yo Yo Honey Singh made a comeback as he enthralled the audience through an energetic performance.

    The awards night also saw Amitabh Bachchan honor the Late Shri Aadesh Shrivastava, the talented musician who lost his battle with cancer in 2015 and recognized his contribution towards Indian music. Seen joining the stage was Aadesh’s family as his son, Avitesh Shrivastava paid tribute to his father by singing one of his touching songs.

    While speaking on the GiMA Awards, Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizcraft International said, “We are incredibly glad that the Gionee Colors GiMA Awards will be telecast on Colors. GiMA has constantly been a unique musical experience that combines Film and Music’s most extraordinary performers on a grand scale. GiMA is truly a must-watch experience that cannot be missed”.

    Raj Nayak, CEO – COLORS, also shared saying, ”At COLORS we are big aficionados of dance and music; and GIMA is a wonderful platform where the entire music industry, from yesteryear’s legends to the current budding talents, come under one roof to celebrate music and celebrate each other. It’s a lovely association, and viewers will be delighted to see so many music maestros come together in support of each other.”

    Arvind Vohra, Country CEO and MD, Gionee India said, “As a brand, Gionee has always tried and connected with its consumers through their passion, be it in the field of music, sports or entertainment. Music is one of the ways which allows any individual to express himself and spread happiness which definitely goes with our brand statement of ‘Make Smiles’. We are proud of being associated with GIMA 2016 as this is one of the most genuine platform for music lovers and we look forward to celebrating Indian music.”

    With the winners of the night including Arijit Singh, Amitabh Bachchan, Nucleya and many more, the Awards are certainly an enjoyable show!