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Tag: Sony Entertainment Television

  • Sony Entertainment Television brings back a classic comedy format to TV

    Sony Entertainment Television brings back a classic comedy format to TV

    Mumbai: It’s time to ROFL. Yes, roll on the floor laughing. Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is set to showcase fresh comedic talent on television with its new show called India’s Laughter Champion. Produced by Banijay Asia and Salman Khan TV, the show was conceived as the programming team at SET and producers at Banijay Asia contemplated about what to do after The Kapil Sharma Show went on break.

    India’s Laughter Champion brings back the classic format of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge that aired some 15 years ago.

    The new show will showcase a range of stand-up acts from comedians across the country who are anywhere between 22 to 80 years of age. The viewers will be exposed to a variety of comedy acts from the contestants whose ultimate aim is to win the coveted title of ‘India’s Laughter Champion.’

    Hosted by Rochelle Rao, the comedic acts will be judged by comedic experts Shekhar Suman and Archana Puran Singh. A sneak peak of the show was presented before the media on Tuesday and showcased the hilarious performances of Nitesh Shetty from Mumbai, Radheshyam Bharti from Pragyaraj, Himanshu Bavandar from Ujjain and Bollywood boys Gaurav and Ketan from Mumbai and received hearty applause.

    In the past, Banijay Asia founder & CEO Deepak Dhar has been responsible for producing The Great Indian Laughter Challenge during his stint as MD & CEO of EndemolShine India. He went on to produce another successful comedy show called Chhote Miyan – Jung Nanhe Hasgullon Ki that ran for three seasons.

    “We’ve had a great track record when it comes to comedy,” Dhar told Indiantelevision.com on the sets of the show located in Film City Goregaon. “It is only possible because of the team we’ve assembled. They know their craft.”

    India’s Laughter Champion will have anywhere up to 50-55 contestants who’ll compete in terms of their comedic ability on stage and be judged by Suman and Puran Singh and audiences.

    Dhar underplays the competitive element of the show saying that it is only a layer of the show to engage audiences. He said, “I don’t think the contestants on the show are coming to compete. They want to showcase themselves. Many years back we saw what happened to the careers of Raju Shrivastav, Naveen Prabhakar, Kapil Sharma and Bharti Singh when they appeared on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. They all became household names. So, the contestants are really here to shine in the spotlight. The idea is to give these contestants a platform so that they can become posters of wit and humour,” elaborated Dhar.

    Apart from skyrocketing the careers of comic talents that Dhar mentioned, The Great Indian Laughter also spawned other show formats such The Kapil Sharma Show and the Comedy Circus.

    “The idea for us is to do something that brings back classic TV content,” noted Dhar. “We want to make the show as universally appealing as possible so everyone can sit and watch it. That’s why we’re adding as much diversity to it so it appeals to as many people as possible. To top it off, we’re bringing two judges who are well-known to understand wit and humour.”

    The judges and producers of India’s Laughter Champion emphasised on putting on a clean show and veering away from the trend of explicit and vulgar comedy content observed on OTT and digital platforms. “We believe in mass clean comedy humour,” stated Dhar. “A show that I can watch with my daughter and my mother when I’m at home. It is important for us to make this show universally appealing so that people can watch it and appreciate it,” said Dhar.

    While the urban stand-up comedy scene has shifted to conversations around millennial and Gen Z experiences, Dhar did not seem concerned that the format of India’s Laughter Champion appealed to a mass audience, including older audiences. He remarked “We’ll wait and watch how people receive it. I feel there’s always a hunger and thirst for clean comedy. That always stands out from the clutter. We saw it many years back and I think we’ll see it again.”

    India’s Laughter Champion will begin airing on 11 June starting at 9.30 pm. SET has roped in Rajdhani Poha as a sponsor for the show.  

  • ALTBalaji onboards Snehil Dixit Mehra as head of content & digital media

    ALTBalaji onboards Snehil Dixit Mehra as head of content & digital media

    Mumbai: A wholly-owned subsidiary of Balaji Telefilms ALT Digital Media Entertainment appointed Snehil Dixit Mehra as the head of content & digital media. Earlier, Mehra worked with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali as associate director.

    Mehra has a vivid professional portfolio and worked as a writer, director and digital influencer. He recently forayed into acting with her stellar performance in Jio Studios’ Apharan Season 2.

    Mehra brings with her an enviable experience in the media and entertainment space and over 16 years of experience in the broadcast industry. She has held various leadership positions at Bhansali Productions, Star India, Sony Entertainment Television & Endemol India. Ektaa R Kapoor is keen on expanding her digital footprint with producing more originals and after the immense success of her digital reality show Lock Upp she aspires to create more original formats for the non-fiction audiences. Thus, a high-profile acquisition was expected, given the content powerhouse wanted the leadership to work in close association with content creators and producers.

    In her new role, Snehil will be leading the content and programming division for ALTBalaji and will be responsible for managing the upcoming original content line-up and the platform’s creative strategy.

    Talking about joining the team, Snehil said, “This is my second innings at ALTBalaji, a homecoming for me, however with a larger mandate now. I am looking forward to planning a roadmap for further accelerated growth of ALTBalaji as a leading digital content hub.”

  • Crime Patrol returns with second season on Sony

    Crime Patrol returns with second season on Sony

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is coming up with the second season of its longest running crime docu-drama “Crime Patrol.” Starting 7 March, “Crime Patrol 2.0” will air every Monday to Friday at 10 p.m.

    Shot in real locations across India, “Crime Patrol 2.0” will revolve around the lives of the men in uniform who protect the city from gruesome crime every day. While bringing forth impactful crime stories, the show will also give a glimpse into the personal lives of the police officers, their camaraderie, and how these cases leave a lasting impression on them, said the channel in a statement.

    Using the point of view of the cops, it will make the viewers understand the anatomy of a crime by highlighting some unseen facets of investigation, the usage of new-age tools, as well as the chase replete with the anticipation, pressure and drive to find an answer, it added.

  • upGrad, Flipkart & Kia Motors come onboard as sponsors for ‘Shark Tank India’

    upGrad, Flipkart & Kia Motors come onboard as sponsors for ‘Shark Tank India’

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television is set to telecast “Shark Tank India” starting 20 December every Monday to Friday at 9 p.m. Produced by Studio Next, the show will see upGrad as ‘presenting’ sponsor, Flipkart as ‘co-powered by’ sponsor and Kia Motors as ‘associate’ sponsor, announced the channel in a statement.

    The first edition of “Shark Tank India” will feature seven ‘Sharks’ including Ashneer Grover (BharatPe founder and managing director), Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics CEO and co-founder), Peyush Bansal (Lenskart founder and CEO), Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals executive director), Anupam Mittal (Shaadi.com – People Group founder and CEO), Ghazal Alagh ( Mamaearth co-founder and chief mama) and Aman Gupta (boAt co-founder and chief marketing officer). The show will be hosted by Rannvijay Singha who will act as a guide for the pitchers on the show and the audience alike.

    The selected applicants or the ‘Pitchers’ will find themselves face-to-face with the ‘Sharks’ or the investors who will understand, assess and make an offer based on the applicant’s final ‘pitch.’

    “This revolutionary show that celebrates entrepreneurship perfectly aligns with the current sentiments across the country and we feel that there couldn’t have been a better time to launch this show,” said head content – Sony Entertainment Television and digital business Ashish Golwalkar. “Shark Tank India is an extremely relevant show for us and I believe that it has the potential to connect with the Indian audience as well.”

    “At Studio Next, it’s our endeavour to present to our viewers ‘entertainment with a purpose’ and shows like KBC, Scam 1992, Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii or soon to be released Whistleblower are a testament to our efforts,” said head – Studio Next Indranil Chakraborty. “In line with this thought, we are excited to bring a show like Shark Tank India that offers a unique viewing experience to the audience not only educating them but entertaining them at the same time.”

    Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the rights for the Indian adaptation of the globally successful business reality format – “Shark Tank,” which will be aired on Sony Entertainment Television. The format has reinvigorated businesses in over 40 countries since its first launch in 2001. With over 180 seasons; winning over 30 awards globally, “Shark Tank” is the world’s top business reality show. Since its first launch in 2001, as “Tigers of Money” in Japan, created by Nippon TV the format was later adapted as “Dragon’s Den” in 2005 in the UK and the show premiered in the US as “Shark Tank” in the year 2009. The format is distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television.

  • Sony India premiers new show – ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’

    Sony India premiers new show – ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is celebrating women from all walks of life with its latest finite series, ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’.

    Starring Additi Gupta, Rohit Purohit and Vidyut Xavier in the lead roles, the show traces Dr Deepika’s journey, who continues to defy stereotypes in her personal and professional life to fulfil her dreams of becoming a successful surgeon. Produced by Invictus T Mediaworks and StudioNEXT, the show premiered on Monday and will air every Monday to Friday at 10 p.m.

    Producers Nilanjana Purkayasstha and Herumb Khot said the show is very close to their hearts, more so because this is a story that needs to be told and experienced by all. “Dr Deepika’s character mirrors the woman of today who has broken stereotypes and fought through the challenges laid down by the society to achieve great milestones. We hope that ‘Dhadkan’ starts the right kind of conversations in social circles and that we create an impact with this one-of-a-kind show.”

    On playing the lead role actor Additi Gupta said, “I have always believed in doing shows that have a powerful message and ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’ fits the bill perfectly. This show is a tribute to all the woman warriors, fighters and dreamers out there who didn’t’ give up on their dreams and fought like a boss lady to get what they deserve. The best part is that the Deepika’s fight feels like it’s my own story and so will a lot of women, I am sure.”

  • SET unveils seven ‘Sharks’ who will be part of ‘Shark Tank India’

    SET unveils seven ‘Sharks’ who will be part of ‘Shark Tank India’

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television has unveiled the seven ‘Sharks’ who will be part of the first season of “Shark Tank India” that will premiere soon on the TV channel.

    The show will provide an opportunity and platform for entrepreneurs with interesting business ideas, business prototypes, or active businesses that will be evaluated by the business experts aka ‘The Sharks.’

    These business experts are BharatPe founder and managing director Ashneer Grover; Sugar Cosmetics co-founder and chief executive officer Vineeta Singh; Lenskart.com founder and chief executive officer Peeyush Bansal; Emcure Pharmaceuticals executive director Namita Thapar; Shaadi.com (People Group) founder and chief executive officer Anupam Mittal; Mamaearth co-founder and chief mama Ghazal Alagh, and boAt co-founder and chief marketing officer Aman Gupta.

    “Shark Tank India” is produced by Studio Next. It is based on the American Emmy award-winning entrepreneurial reality show “Shark Tank.” A panel of five investors called ‘Sharks’ listen to business pitches from entrepreneurs and decide to invest in their company. The ‘Sharks’ include personalities like Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, and others who appear as guests on the show.

  • Sony Entertainment Television announces new show ‘Kaamnaa’

    Sony Entertainment Television announces new show ‘Kaamnaa’

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has announced its new show titled “Kaamnaa – Hoga Khwaahishon Aur Usoolon Ka Aamna Saamna.” Starting 15 November, the show will air every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm only on SET.  

    The slice of life drama tells the story of Akanksha and Manav, a middle-class couple with different ideologies. The lead roles are played by Chandni Sharma and Abhishek Rawat. Manav is a sincere government official and a loving family man who believes in living an honest life based on his principles. On the other hand, Akanksha is a devoted housewife and caring mother, but she has big dreams and desires to break away from the stereotypical middle-class environment and live a luxurious life. The conflict plays out as the story unfolds.

    “At Sony Entertainment Television, we always strive to engage the audience with stories that are not just relatable and entertaining but also thought-provoking. ‘Kaamnaa’ is one such show that mirrors the reality of every Indian household especially when it comes to making a choice between one’s middle-class values and aspirations,” said SET and digital business head of content Ashish Golwalkar.

    The show is produced by Cockcrow and Shaika Entertainment. “Sony Entertainment Television has been a pioneer in bringing forth simple, yet heartfelt concepts depicting the life and struggles of the common man. We are extremely delighted to present our passion project ‘Kaamnaa’ – that puts the spotlight on the middle-class society where one is constantly faced with conflicting ideologies,” stated Cockcrow and Shaika Entertainment head Rajesh Ram Singh.

    “Our characters Manav and Akanksha are two faces of the same coin, while one is a man of principles and believes in doing the right thing, the other has high aspirations of living a luxurious lifestyle. Through their journey viewers will get to witness how far one can go to fulfil their dreams,” added Singh.

  • Sony TV ropes in 12 sponsors for KBC 13

    Sony TV ropes in 12 sponsors for KBC 13

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India has announced the 13th season of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), starting 23 August. Produced by StudioNEXT and hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, the show will air on Sony Entertainment Television, every weekday at 9 p.m. 

    The show has roped in BYJU’s and Cadbury Dairy Milk as ‘co-presenting’ sponsor, Hyundai Motor India, Asian Paints Royale Glitz, Ultratech Cement, and Zydus Wellness (Complan) as ‘co-powered by’ sponsor and CERA, Pharmeasy, IDFC First Bank, LIC of India, Bharat Matrimony as associate sponsors. The Reserve Bank of India has come on board as a ‘special’ partner.

    “For a show like KBC that has followed a certain creative pattern, it was time for us to break the mold and approach it differently. While digital auditions replaced the regular audition process, it didn’t deter the volume of entries. In fact, the ease of digital audition encouraged a lot more aspirants, based in the remotest areas possible to participate. We are happy with the spiritedness of each contestant, and we are hopeful that they fulfil their KBC journey,” said Sony Entertainment Television, head of content and digital business, Ashish Golwalkar. “While we did introduce AR (Augmented Reality) in the previous seasons, this year, the use of AR is far more superior and immersive. From refurbishing the entire set with the play of lights to the graphical elements and LED panels, India is the only country to host the format with the inclusion of such refined technological detailing. With distinct modifications to the game this season, we look forward to rewarding gameplay and promise an enhanced viewing experience to the audience.”

    “It’s the 21st year of my association with Kaun Banega Crorepati and I can never get enough of this show,” said Amitabh Bachchan. “It was probably for the first time, last season, that the studio audience wasn’t a part of the show and we saw a major change in the lifelines as well. I, for one, truly missed them and their energy… it’s infectious! I am happy that the studio audience is back this season with a newfound vigour and so is the lifeline – Audience Poll. It’s an enriching experience for me, each year, to be surrounded by contestants from all walks of life and I look forward to engaging and fulfilling gameplay. These contestants inspire me in every way,” Bachchan said.

    “It’s the 21st year of India’s longest-running show, and it’s heartening to know that KBC remains such a strong family favourite, that it still resonates with viewers across the social spectrum, and from all age groups,” said Siddhartha Basu, consultant for KBC season 13. “Each season, we’ve seen participants coming on to the hot seat from across the country, with varied levels of education and occupations, each with a distinct dream and story. Among a host of reasons that drive them, a key one is the search for ‘sammaan’ or respect. And they win that respect along with what can be life-changing amounts of winnings through a knowledge game. Gyan or knowledge is what provides a level playing field in our society, and viewers can now look forward to an exciting and entertaining new season of the show with a signature offering of gyan, dhan, and sammaan.”

    Fans of KBC may also log on to SonyLIV to participate in the gameshow via KBC Play Along, starting from 23 August, said the channel.

  • Our shows celebrate the common man: Ashish Golwalkar

    Our shows celebrate the common man: Ashish Golwalkar

    Ashish Golwalkar is a veteran media professional who has worked with three of the four big television broadcast companies in a career spanning 22 years and counting. An alumnus of Symbiosis School of Business Management, he wrote/co-wrote many award-winning unscripted format shows for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, Star TV Network and now at Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India.

    At Zee, Golwalkar played a pivotal role in the launch of shows like ‘Dance India Dance’ exhibiting a flair for unscripted formats. At Star India, he worked as senior vice president, programming.

    In 2015, he joined Sony Pictures Network as senior creative director, (content) and headed all fiction and non-fiction format shows, and was also responsible for commissioning scripted and non-scripted shows for the broadcaster. Under his helm, SPN India went on to launch hits such as ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’, ‘Super Dancer’ and successful editions of popular franchises like ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, ‘Indian Idol’, ‘CID’, ‘Crime Patrol’ and more. In 2018, he was elevated as the head of programming for Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and was given the additional charge as head of content for digital business i.e., SonyLIV a year later. Golwalker is also a passionate foodie and amateur chef who is deeply interested in sustainable farming.

    On 15 August, SPN India concluded the 12th season of its singing reality show ‘Indian Idol’ with a grand finale the likes of which have never been seen before on Indian television. The finale aired from noon to midnight featuring as many as 40 acts led by music industry’s most celebrated talent. Indiantelevision.com’s Varun Markande caught up with Sony Pictures Networks India, head content – Sony Entertainment Television and digital business, Ashish Golwalkar to understand the incredible task of putting together a 12-hour episode, discovering talent via digital auditions and the growing appeal of the show at the end of its 12th season.

    Edited excerpts

    On pulling off a 12-hour long grand finale episode.

    I would credit it to the team effort and the positive attitude of everyone. All the teams worked hard churn amid various safety protocols to wrap up this season with great splendour and fanfare. It was the biggest finale ever! For us, it was all about breaking the clutter and creating a disruption. It was a huge task in front of us. One episode is 1.5 hours long, so a 12-hours programming was equal to packaging 5-6 episodes for one finale. You have one day and you need to fill it up with 12 hours of content, there’s editing, music, musicians, there’s practice that happens, costumes and everything else. It’s taxing, but also very exciting.

    12 years and counting. On the continued success of ‘Indian Idol’ franchise.

    ‘Indian Idol’ has been an exceptionally popular show and a hugely successful format for Sony (Pictures Networks India). It has introduced us to several musical talents from across the country over the years and undoubtedly changed the future of many contestants and made them stars overnight.  And one of the biggest reasons for its success is its approach. While the earlier music reality shows were more focused on following traditional norms of singing, ‘Indian Idol’ accepted and adopted the changing times and made it essential for a singer to not only sing well but also perform well as an artist.

    On unearthing the finest singing talent brought in front of Indian audiences.

    Our focus has always been singing and incredible vocal performance. Even though, we conducted digital auditions this year, we saw massive participation. A lot of young contestants came forward and I must say that all of them have immense potential. ‘Indian Idol’ cultivates and promotes outstanding untapped talent among the youth of India by nurturing them and providing a national platform to showcase their talent.

    On building a connection with the audiences.

    At Sony Entertainment Television, we have reserved the weekends for the talent. If you see, most of our shows talk about the common man, their talent and celebrate that – be it ‘Indian Idol’, ‘Super Dancer’, ‘India’s Best Dancer’, or ‘Superstar Singer’ – our kids singing show. Very soon we will launch ‘Shark Tank’ too which will give an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs, and then there’s Kaun Banega Crorepati as well. KBC is not about talent but more about knowledge which the common man can again connect and seek knowledge. So, all the shows that we’ve developed celebrate the common man through their talent or their knowledge and I think that has been our main USP and something that is working for us and we want to continue to be invested in it.

    On successfully conducting digital auditions.

    During the pandemic the world has learnt how to adapt to difficult and different situations. In fact, ‘Indian Idol’ was our first show where we adopted digital auditions. The response was great, however unfortunately we could not digitalise the entire show and had to package it physically. I think we identify this as a hybrid model that was created post which we did ‘Super Dancer 4’ and recently ‘India’s Best Dancer’ and ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ auditions too. There were a lot of learnings from ‘Indian Idol’ which gave us the opportunity to improvise it for other shows. Subsequently, it’s a hybrid model where there will be digital auditions and then people will have to bundle episodes physically in order to witness the talent. We’ve been both elated and lucky that we have identified some incredible talent through ‘Indian Idol’ and other shows. The audiences are already witnessing this on ‘Super Dancer 4’ and I am sure they are enjoying it as well.

  • What can viewers expect from Indian Idol’s 12-hour grand finale?

    What can viewers expect from Indian Idol’s 12-hour grand finale?

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television is all set to host the grand finale of Indian Idol season 12 on this Independence Day. The gala event is expected to showcase over 40 acts spanning 12 hours, from noon till midnight.

    There are six contestants – Pawandeep Rajan, Arunita Kanjilal, Sayli Kamble, Shanmukhpriya, Nihal Tauro, and Mohd Danish who have come this far to lift the coveted Indian Idol trophy.

    Popular musical maestros from the Indian music industry will come together to encourage the finalists. “There will be scintillating performances not just by the top six contestants of this season, but also some of India’s top-rated singers. Aditya Narayan will be joined by Jay Bhanushali as co-anchor for the finale,” the channel said in a statement.  

    The event will commemorate the occasion of the country’s Independence Day with a tribute to the armed forces. Himesh Reshammiya and Sonu Kakkar will be seen performing on stage. As the evening progresses, a special host will make the contestants play a trivia game, according to the channel.

    “At Sony Entertainment Television, we are delighted with how this season of Indian Idol has kept the audience engaged and entertained during trying times. Celebrating the legacy of the show with a power-packed grand finale seemed like a perfect fit,” said Sony Entertainment Television and digital business, head – content, Ashish Golwalkar. “We are delighted to flag the celebrations of the 75th year of our country’s Independence with this musical extravaganza. First, we will be showcasing a 12-hour star-studded finale with highly entertaining and engaging performances and we are looking forward to maximising viewer engagement. The top six finalists have had an incredible journey through the season and we want this last mile to be a memorable one – not just for the contestants but for the audience alike.”

    “The 12-hour ‘greatest grand finale’ of Indian Idol season 12 is a testament to celebrating music in the most entertaining manner,” said Himesh Reshammiya. “It’s a tough choice between the top six finalists and I can’t wait to see who finally lifts the trophy this season.”

    “I have been a contestant myself on a reality show in my early days and I can relate to the struggle and the anticipation that comes with it,” said Sonu Kakkar. “Watching some of the contestants standing strong through their tough life yet aiming to fulfill their singing dreams from such close quarters, has been most heart-warming for me.”