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Tag: Rohan Lavsi

  • Colors Cineplex to air world TV premiere of ‘Yodha’ on 11 August

    Colors Cineplex to air world TV premiere of ‘Yodha’ on 11 August

    Mumbai: To celebrate the spirit of freedom and patriotism this Independence Day, Colors Cineplex has announced the world television premiere of Siddharth Malhotra starrer ‘Yodha’ on 11 August at 8 pm. To mark this occasion, the Hindi movie channel is celebrating the Asli Yodha, paying tribute to our nation’s true heroes.

    ‘Yodha’ conveys a powerful message of bravery and self-sacrifice, and Colors Cineplex’s ‘Asli Yodha’ campaign recognises the immense contributions of those who elevate India on the global stage, showcasing their commitment and patriotism.

    To mark this occasion, Colors Cineplex will host Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket team and the only Indian woman cricketer to score over 3,000 runs in both ODIs and T20Is. In the 2017 Women’s World Cup, she scored an unbeaten 171 in the semi-final against Australia, setting the highest individual score by an Indian woman in World Cup history and the highest individual score in the Women’s World Cup. Col. Rajeev Bharwan of the Indian Army, who has demonstrated dedication while commanding the elite infantry and strategic specialised airborne regiment, will also be present. Additionally, Afroz Shah, an environmental activist and lawyer recognised by the United Nations and praised by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for his work at Versova Beach, will participate. Shah is best known for organising a beach clean-up project, which has inspired global efforts to clean up the environment. Their presence embodies the spirit of heroism celebrated by the ‘Asli Yodha’.

    Viacom18 head of the Hindi Movies cluster Rohan Lavsi said, “At Colors Cineplex, we are deeply honoured to celebrate the ‘Asli Yodha’, praising the bravery and dedication of our nation’s true heroes. By inviting remarkable individuals like Harmanpreet Kaur, Col. Rajeev Bharwan, and Afroz Shah, we aim to acknowledge their exceptional impact and patriotism. Our commitment is to showcase inspiring stories that resonate with the values of courage and sacrifice. Through ‘Asli Yodha,’ we honour those who elevate India globally and remind us of the profound effect of selfless service.”

    An ‘Asli Yodha’ signifies exceptional dedication and sacrifice. These individuals, whether in defence, sports, or environmental activism, embody the strength and spirit of India, prioritizing their country above personal comforts and often risking their lives for the greater good.

    Indian Women’s Cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, “It is an honour to be recognized as an ‘Asli Yodha’ by Colors Cineplex. Cricket has always been more than a game for me—it’s a way to serve my country and make my fellow Indians proud. I share this recognition with every girl who dreams of wearing the Indian jersey.”

    Indian army veteran Col Rajeev Bharwan said, “Being called an ‘Asli Yodha’ is a profound honour. Every soldier in the Indian Army serves with the sole aim of protecting our motherland and ensuring its safety. This recognition is not just mine but belongs to every brave soldier who stands guard at our borders.”

    Afroz Shah, environmental activist and lawyer, best known for organising the world’s largest beach clean-up project, said, “Being part of the ‘Asli Yodha’ campaign is a great privilege. Just as our beach clean-ups aim to restore and protect the environment, this campaign celebrates those who have dedicated their lives to serving and uplifting our nation. By highlighting these stories, Colors Cineplex inspires us all to contribute positively and embody the true spirit of bravery and resilience.”

    Colors Cineplex is committed to showcasing a diverse range of inspiring content, including successful properties like Hanuman, Bhediya, OMG 2, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Drishyam 2, and Tiger Nageswara Rao.

    To build awareness, a 360-degree campaign on #AsliYodha is being unleashed across digital platforms, radio, and various social media channels, ensuring an expansive reach and unparalleled engagement.

    The first of this series celebrating the #AsliYodha will be available to watch on Colors Cineplex’s YouTube channel.

  • Viacom18 to simulcast movie premiere of Hanu-Man on Colors Cineplex & JioCinema

    Viacom18 to simulcast movie premiere of Hanu-Man on Colors Cineplex & JioCinema

    Mumbai: Colors Cineplex is proud to announce the world premiere of the critically acclaimed and commercial hit – Brahmand ka pehla superhero – Hanu-Man. Marking a historic move in the Indian entertainment industry, Hanu-Man will premier simultaneously on Colors Cineplex and JioCinema on 16 March, 2024, at 8 pm.

    “Hanu-Man,” set in the fictional village of Anjanadri where Hanumanthu gains the power of Lord Hanuman to protect its people. Teja Sajja portrays the titular hero, who confronts the villainous Michael after encountering a mysterious gem. Directed by Prasanth Varma, the Telugu-language superhero film features a stellar cast including Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Samuthirakani.

    Hindi Movies Cluster head Rohan Lavsi emphasised the importance of the groundbreaking simulcast, “At the recently concluded FICCI Frames, our CEO pledged to champion a future-proof strategy that transcends platform-specific strategies by adopting an integrated TV + Digital approach. The  simultaneous premiere of ‘Hanu-Man’ across Colors Cineplex and JioCinema exemplifies this commitment of a TV + Digital ecosystem. We’re empowering viewers with the freedom to experience this epic superhero saga on their preferred screen, reflecting our dedication to providing unparalleled accessibility and fostering a dynamic entertainment landscape.”

    Lead actor Teja Sajja said, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have the first-of-its-kind premiere for my film, HanuMan. This film is very special to me, and I believe that the simultaneous premiere on Colors Cineplex and Jiocinema is a fitting way to reach a much larger audience, especially the younger ones. I am positive that with our movie, kids will understand the power of Lord Hanuman in a more simplistic and enjoyable way. It feels amazing knowing that this film and I are in some way impacting the current generations with the rooting of our rich cultural heritage. I hope that everyone will resonate with our very own “Brahmand ka pehla superhero.”

    Hanu-Man shattered the box office records, grossing over Rs 330 cr worldwide and ranking eight highest-grossing film globally in 2024. The film received critical acclaim for its engaging narration, stunning visuals and powerful performances. Director Prashant Varma, known for his national award-winning debut film AWE, brought his vision to life through this epic superhero tale – Hanu-Man.

    Join Teja Sajja for a special live Q&A session on JioCinema half an hour before the premiere, offering a unique opportunity to connect with the star on 16 March 2024 at 7:30 pm.

  • Colors Cineplex and Rati Foundation join hands to raise awareness on Sex Education in conjunction with the World Television Premier of ‘OMG 2’

    Colors Cineplex and Rati Foundation join hands to raise awareness on Sex Education in conjunction with the World Television Premier of ‘OMG 2’

    Mumbai: In a resolute commitment to fostering positive change and championing social causes, Colors Cineplex proudly announces its collaboration with the Rati Foundation, a Mumbai-based NGO devoted to spreading awareness about sex education. By joining forces, they will empower individuals through the provision of essential counselling services, encompassing professional support for mental health, online safety, sexual and reproductive health rights guidance, and more.

    The collaboration with Rati Foundation comes in anticipation of the much-awaited World Television Premier of ‘OMG 2’, scheduled to air on the Colors Cineplex channel on March 10th at 8:00 PM. Through this partnership, Colors Cineplex and the Rati Foundation endeavours to leverage the widespread reach of entertainment medium to address the pressing issue of sex education.

    OMG 2 delves into the nuances of societal norms, wherein the protagonist embarks on a legal battle after his son faces injustice due to societal taboos around sex education. Guided by divine intervention from a messenger he is seen challenging the flawed system, advocating for progressive parenting and the inclusion of sex education in schools. The movie skilfully blends humour with a serious societal critique, urging for open dialogue on adolescent sexuality.

    To complement the film’s theme and highlight the importance of sex education, Colors Cineplex launched the #ShikshaKiShuruwatGharSe digital campaign. Partnering with the Rati Foundation as cause ambassadors, along with influencers like Smita Bansal, Dr. Tanaya, Seema Anand and Saurabh Ghadge, the campaign aims to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of starting sex education at home. These content creators have skilfully maintained a light-hearted tone infused with subtle humour, thereby fostering an environment where the subject matter can be openly discussed within households.

    Rohan Lavsi, Head, Hindi Movies Cluster, expressed his enthusiasm on this groundbreaking collaboration, stating, “We recognize the power of storytelling to drive meaningful conversations and ignite social change. Our collaboration with the Rati Foundation aligns seamlessly with our mission to address critical issues through the medium of storytelling. ‘OMG 2’ is not just a film; it’s an opportunity to spark conversations and drive awareness about the importance of sex education.”

  • Viacom18 consolidates film portfolio under Colors Cineplex umbrella

    Viacom18 consolidates film portfolio under Colors Cineplex umbrella

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has consolidated all its movie channels under one brand umbrella – Colors Cineplex, and the new Hindi movie channel Colors Cineplex Superhits will go live on 1 April. The channel will be available on DTH and cable platforms including DD Free Dish.

    Colors Cineplex Superhits will air a mix of Hindi films and dubbed from other languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and English. Its content library includes more than 500 film titles, said the statement.

    “Movies are the most preferred medium of entertainment for the viewers and Colors Cineplex has always been at the forefront of providing exceptional movie content,” said Viacom18 head Hindi movies cluster Rohan Lavsi. “The mother channel – ‘Colors Cineplex’ has seen impressive growth in the past few years and has made it to the top five channels in the Hindi movie space.  With the launch of Colors Cineplex Superhits, we are now consolidating all the movie channels under the “Colors Cineplex” brand name. With the strengthened portfolio of channels that now includes Colors Cineplex, Colors Cineplex Bollywood and Colors Cineplex Superhits, we are excited to bring some blockbuster premieres and a splendid line-up of superhits of yesteryears for our audience.”

    Colors Cineplex Superhits will soon premiere films namely “Vijay Raghavan,” “Dumdaar Khiladi 2,” “Roberrt,” and “Minnal Murali” all April, every Sunday starting from 3 April.

  • Colors Cineplex announces robust content lineup until February 2022

    Colors Cineplex announces robust content lineup until February 2022

    Mumbai: Hindi movie channel Colors Cineplex has announced a slew of fresh and exciting content offerings until February. This includes the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 series, several film premieres and Road Safety World Series in February 2022.

    The upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 league will start airing from 19 November onwards on Colors Cineplex, Rishtey Cineplex, Voot and Jio. On 19 December, the channel will telecast the world TV premiere of the biographical war film “Shershaah” starting at 7:30 p.m. Road Safety World Series will return in February 2022. The channel has announced a New Year programming lineup that includes Tamil blockbusters “Vijay Raghvan” starring Vijay Anthony, Rudhram starring Raghava Lawrence, and Malayalam blockbuster “Minnal Murali.”

    “The powerful combination of cricket and movies has helped Colors Cineplex grow and achieve new feats,” said Viacom18 business head – Hindi movies cluster Rohan Lavsi. “With the new and exciting lineup, our endeavor is to keep bringing an unmatched entertainment experience with a fresh yet varied content mix of movies and sports to our viewers.”

    The Abu Dhabi T10 features six teams consisting of legends like Faf Du Plessis, Chris Gayle and Yusuf Pathan, among others from 20 different nations, will play 35 matches in this series. Road Safety World Series is a tournament played by former cricket icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh is organized to create awareness about the safety rules on the road. The inaugural edition took place this March which was won by the host – India Legends.

    “Our Indian audiences swear by two things- cricket and movies and Colors Cineplex has been successfully delivering exceptional content on both fronts. With another exciting cricket league Abu Dhabi T10, the premiere of Shershaah and Road Safety World Series ahead of us, it will create new opportunities for our viewers and sponsors alike thus contributing to the growth of the channel,” said Viacom18 head – Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network Nina Elavia Jaipuria.

  • Colors Cineplex aims to be in top 3 Hindi movie channels list in 2020

    Colors Cineplex aims to be in top 3 Hindi movie channels list in 2020

    MUMBAI: Viacom18’s Hindi movie channel Colors Cineplex is strategically attracting eyeballs by offering cricket with road safety series and world television premieres of big movies of the year like Brahmastra and Dostana 2. The aim is to enter the top three movie channel list in 2020. 

    The channel currently has a movie festival, Hindi movie premiere, south dubbed movies, movies review show with Atika Farooqui and now it has added a cricket league as an annual property.

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria says, “Our target is to ensure to get into the top three list. We want to make sure that we make Colors Cineplex a robust platform. It is by far the fastest growing movie channel on pay platforms and we want to continue with all the efforts that we are making on an everyday basis which has been consistent with the catalogue that we open up, with the kind of festivals, with the kind of engagement and entertainment that we have with Teetar mausi and with the kind of chat shows Atika brings to the table and with the kind of world television premieres. And then there will be the annual league of cricket that will ensure that we get an additional dose of viewers and footfall on the channel.”

    The programming strategy of the channel focuses on partnering with movies for at least two festivals in a month. The channel partnered with Love Aaj Kal for loveria film festival from 10-14 February where it aired movies Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm and it also tied-up with Dabang for BangBang film festival from 16 -20 December 2019 at 7.30 pm.

    The movie genre is the second biggest genre after Hindi GEC and the viewership on movie channels is growing with the curated world television premieres. Jaipuria says, “From Viacom18's perspective as a wholesome broadcaster and entertainer it is very important for us to be in the movie business. So, Colors Cineplex is the frontrunner and our representation in the movie genre. We are here to stay and invest in it and hope to see it moving from mid-tier to top five. The beauty of Viacom18 is that we have motion pictures in the house therefore there is absolute integration that works from that perspective from where we get our annual dose of premieres. We have a studio that makes it and we have a platform that broadcasts it. It's a very important genre.”

    The channel is also excited about the premiere of road safety series. Jaipuria says, “We have been exploring the white spaces and India is obsessed about Bollywood, cricket and food, now with the launch of series we have two out of three on the same platform.”

    She further says, “Both Bollywood and cricket evokes emotion that nothing else can. So it's a great fit for us to bring cricket on the movie channel. We have done Nidahas Trophy in the past on Rishtey Cineplex which was a great success and we are hoping to replicate that with the Road Safety Series this year. We want to make the series a winning annual property for us. We are leaving no stone unturned to make it larger than life with the legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara coming back on the field.” 

    For the series the channel is selling its ad inventories on the cricket rates i.e., in lakhs per ten sec and not on the movie channel rates. 

    “The movie market is title-driven and it's investment heavy. It's expensive to be in and we have to ensure that it makes business sense for the organisation and we get the deserving ROI on the business. I think that is the biggest challenge,” said Jaipuria.

    Viacom18 Colors Cineplex head Rohan Lavsi says, “We will be the only channel who will do positive EBITDA in year one. We are very cautious about our cost and spending on catalogues and premieres. Even our FTA channel Rishtey Cineplex had a breakeven in year one. So in that sense we are very conservative.” 

    Jaipuria further adds that they won't be leaving anything on chance. "Whatever rightful investment is required for the rightful deserving ROI we will continue to do. I am sure in year two and three it will start getting the right ROI. It is an expensive proposition but we are not shying away from our investment either making movies at Viacom18 motion pictures or in broadcasting them on the channel and buying movies as well.”