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Tag: Sony LIV

  • Sony LIV celebrates success of UEFA Euro 2024 with 30 advertisers

    Sony LIV celebrates success of UEFA Euro 2024 with 30 advertisers

    Mumbai: Sony LIV, a streaming platform, announced a lineup of partners for the ongoing UEFA Euro 2024. Onboard 30 advertisers, including one co-presenting, one co-powered by & eight partner sponsors as the tournament progresses to the finals, Europe’s largest football tournament is set to offer some thrilling contests, with England, France, Spain, and the Netherlands going head-to-head for the crown of Champions of Europe.

    As the home of football in India, Sony LIV celebrated with partners such as Johnnie Walker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Acko, Black & White, Coinswitch, AMFI, Myntra, Disney Cruises, Rado, Amul, BMW, Redbull, Motorola, Jameson, LIC, Apple, Haier, GSK, Volvo, Apollo Tyres, Amazon, Ultratech, Seiko & Jim Beam amongst others.

    With the Finals of the Euro scheduled to take place on Monday, 15 July at 12:30 am IST, the platform will also broadcast three premium properties in the coming weeks, namely, the India Tour of Zimbabwe from 6 to 14 July 2024, India’s tour of Sri Lanka from 27 July to 7 August 2024 & Australia’s tour of England from 11 September to 29 September 2024.

    Sports enthusiasts can also revel in a lineup of top-tier sporting events like the US Open, UFC, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and more, only on SONY LIV.

    Digital Business head- sr. vice president of ad sales revenue Ranjana Mangala commented “We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to the UEFA Euro 2024 on Sony LIV. The passion & engagement of Indian football fans has been truly exceptional. We are grateful for the incredible partnerships we have been able to leverage with sponsors, who made this a truly unforgettable experience for viewers. Looking ahead, we now prepare for a thrilling sports calendar.”

  • Sony LIV achieves 560 per cent user growth with UEFA Euro 2024

    Sony LIV achieves 560 per cent user growth with UEFA Euro 2024

    Mumbai: In its 17th edition, UEFA EURO 2024 gets bigger as Sony LIV, recorded a 50 per cent increase in users, a 64 per cent increase in total views, with a 350 per cent increase in live views, as compared to the initial days of the Euro 2020 championship.

    Registering a whopping 560 per cent growth of key users in the 25 to 44 age group category, the demand for the game has been felt across India. Accounting for approx. 61.5 per cent of the user base for Sony LIV, markets of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Delhi lead the way for consumption of the game.

    The record-breaking impact on the opening match weekend comes on the back of an array of audiovisual innovations introduced by Sony LIV in the lead-up to the games. From ‘Star Cams’ to ‘Dugout Cams’, multi-language commentary etc. the initial data points to the current games already surpassing the previous edition. Additionally, there has also been a 164 per cent growth in the digitally savvy Connected TV viewership. 

  • Roland-Garros 2024: Catch the clay-court action live and exclusive only on Sony LIV!

    Roland-Garros 2024: Catch the clay-court action live and exclusive only on Sony LIV!

    Mumbai: Sony LIV, India’s premier destination for international tennis tournaments, reaffirms its commitment to delivering top-tier tennis action to Indian audiences as it now streams the highly anticipated Roland-Garros. Following the conclusion of the Australian Open, Sony LIV is poised to provide unmatched excitement starting as top players from around the globe converge on the clay courts of Paris.

    The OTT platform has established dominance in the tennis streaming realm by securing exclusive rights to major Tennis Grand Slams, capturing 83 per cent of OTT Tennis viewership in India. With a strong focus on Connected TV users, accounting for 55 per cent of its tennis viewership, Sony LIV has solidified its position as the leading platform for tennis enthusiasts. Offering unparalleled coverage of prestigious events like the Australian Open, The Roland-Garros, The U.S Open, Davis Cup and ATP Masters. Sony LIV has emerged as the top choice for tennis fans seeking high-quality streaming experiences.

    With Hyundai and Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer non-alcoholic onboard as the co-presenting sponsor, along with Dezerv, NoBroker.com & Ultratech as partner sponsors, and Rolex, BMW and Redbull also onboard, Sony LIV aims to enhance viewer experiences and deliver premium sports content. This collaboration reflects Sony LIV’s dedication to providing unparalleled tennis coverage.

    This is not all! Sony LIV is revolutionizing live sports coverage by offering 10 streams, including seven court feeds and two world feeds. At 8 pm, viewers can enjoy additional commentary options in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, enhancing inclusivity and engagement among fans of diverse linguistic backgrounds. This initiative sets a new standard in sports broadcasting by ensuring no action is missed and catering to a wider audience base.

    Sony LIV’s dominance in the digital landscape signifies a commitment to top-tier sports entertainment. With strategic partnerships driving excellence, viewers can now enjoy thrilling tennis matches with Djokovic, Swiatek, and more. Brace for an epic showdown like Djokovic vs. Swiatek, while India’s Bopana shines on the global platform. Stay tuned for intense battles and unforgettable moments that redefine sports streaming!

    Sony LIV head ad revenue Ranjana Mangla:

    “At Sony LIV, we’re deeply grateful for the partnership with Hyundai, Dezerv, Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer Non-alcoholic, NoBroker.com, Ultratech, Rolex, BMW and Redbull for the Roland-Garros 2024. This collaboration not only elevates the viewing experience for tennis fans worldwide but also provides our partners with unparalleled exposure to a highly engaged audience. We are glad our sponsors benefit from extensive brand visibility and association with one of the most prestigious events in tennis, enhancing their reach and engagement with their target audience. Together, we’re committed to delivering unforgettable moments and creating lasting memories for tennis fans around the globe.”

    Hyundai Motor India AVP & vertical head, marketing Virat Khullar:

    “At Hyundai, we are constantly evolving with different formats to connect and communicate with the audience. Our partnership with Sony LIV for the Roland-Garros underscores our commitment to engage with discerning audiences and deliver premium sports content through digital platforms. Tennis in India is a mass yet premium sport and Hyundai exemplifies this philosophy. This collaboration represents more than just a sponsorship; it embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and our shared vision of enhancing the sports-viewing experience for our audience. We strongly believe our partnership will yield great potential for us to engage with people across geographies and delight tennis aficionados this season.”

    Don’t miss a moment of the excitement at the Roland-Garros, streaming exclusively on Sony LIV!

  • Sukrit Gupta and Sayudh Ray are the winners of Sony LIV’s Quizzer of the Year

    Sukrit Gupta and Sayudh Ray are the winners of Sony LIV’s Quizzer of the Year

    Mumbai: After months of intense competition and intellectually stimulating quizzes, Sony LIV’s Quizzer of the Year (QOTY) finally reached its grand finale on 26 May. The show, which captured the hearts and minds of quiz enthusiasts across the country, culminated in an epic showdown that saw four teams battling for the ultimate title. From navigating through a series of challenging rounds, boasting fierce face-offs between 64 teams from over 2000 Indian schools, Sukrit Gupta and Sayudh Ray of Delhi Public School, Newtown, Rajarhat, Kolkata emerged as the champions of the first season of Quizzer of the Year securing an educational scholarship worth rupees one crore.

    Sukrit Gupta, a class ten student with a keen interest in computer science, has been an avid quizzer since his friends introduced him to the club. Having lived in Kolkata for most of his life, Sukrit enjoys topics like tech, music, history, and literature. On the other hand, Sayudh Ray, who just completed his class ten board exams, shares a passion for history and economics. With both parents being Ayurvedic doctors, Sayudh is still exploring his future career options. Together, their diverse knowledge and great teamwork led them to victory on Quizzer of the Year.

    The top four finalists who made it to QOTY’s grand finale were:

    1    Sukrit Gupta and Sayudh Ray of Delhi Public School Newtown, Rajarhat, Kolkata
    2    Sreenandh Sudheesh P and Navaneeth Krishnan of Govt Model Hr. Sec. School Calicut University, Kozhikode
    3    Garvish Jain and Sarth Khandelwal of St. Anthony’s Senior Secondary School, Udaipur
    4    Ojasvit Pasricha and Aashman Tripathi of Sheiling House School, Kanpur

    While Sukit and Sayudh bagged the coveted title and huge scholarship, Sreenadh Sudheesh P and Navaneeth Krishnan emerged as the first runners-up of QOTY, winning a scholarship of 50 lakh rupees. Furthermore, the second runners-up, Garvish Jain and Sarth Khandelwal, secured a scholarship of 20 lakh rupees.

    Quizzer of the Year, presented by the legendary quizmaster of India, Siddhartha Basu, is an innovative quiz show conceptualised by Anita Kaul Basu and the team at Tree of Knowledge Digital (DIGITOK). Blending traditional learning with infotainment, the show provided students with a platform to test their knowledge beyond textbooks. The journey began with daily quizzes, followed by zonal rounds, and culminated in a high-stakes national championship. QOTY featured seasoned quizmasters Joy Bhattacharjya and Col. Vembu Shankar in the zonal rounds, alongside Siddhartha Basu himself hosting the quarterfinals, semifinals, and grand finale.

    Quizmaster Siddhartha Basu, the creator and host of QOTY, expressed, “It was terrific to quiz a pick of the smartest school students of the country for the final leg of Quizzer of the Year, which was the culmination of a year long digital engagement on the QOTY app on Sony LIV. In progressively tougher stages, qualifiers clashed in a series of exciting and closely fought zonal & national level encounters which climaxed in a grand final going to the wire ultimately streaming on the platform for the viewers. Congratulations to the worthy victors and challengers for the mental mettle with which they vied for top honours, and the most handsome rewards ever offered in India for an all-India inter-school quiz championship. I hope it acts as a spur to fuel the curiosity of young minds, expand their general knowledge, and test it in a fun way on an ongoing basis. That’s the aim of the QOTY app & contest.”

    Catch all the episodes of Quizzer of the Year streaming now exclusively on Sony LIV!

  • It’s Manchester Derby in the epic FA Cup final showdown

    It’s Manchester Derby in the epic FA Cup final showdown

    Mumbai: On 25 May 2024, the battle lines are drawn as two titans of English football, Manchester United and Manchester City, collide in the prestigious Emirates FA Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium. This titanic showdown promises to be a spectacle like no other, as these two football powerhouses fight for glory and supremacy on the grand stage.

    Manchester United, a club rich in history and tradition, is determined to reclaim their spot as English football giants, while Manchester City aims to defend their title and assert their dominance once again. The rivalry between these two fierce competitors adds an extra layer of intensity to what is already set to be a thrilling encounter.

    Last year, Manchester City emerged victorious in a dramatic final, with lkay Gündoan scoring the fastest goal ever in an FA Cup final. However, Manchester United, led by the talismanic Bruno Fernandes, is eager for revenge and eager to unlock City’s defence to secure a memorable victory.

    Football fans in India are in for a treat as they witness the intensity of this historic rivalry unfold Streaming live on Sony LIV. With stakes higher than ever, every moment will be pulsating with excitement as these two powerhouse clubs leave it all on the pitch in their quest for FA Cup supremacy.

    Don’t miss out on this historic showdown! Catch the Emirates FA Cup 2024 final live on Sony LIV on 25 May 2024, starting at 7:30 pm IST.

  • Experience UEFA EURO 2024 with exciting new features on Sony LIV

    Experience UEFA EURO 2024 with exciting new features on Sony LIV

    Mumbai: Sony LIV is back with the biggest celebration of football, UEFA EURO 2024, coming this June. Committed to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience for football enthusiasts, Sony LIV launches exciting, immersive features to give fans an enhanced viewing experience. Here is the glimpse of what awaits you:

    Multiple camera feeds:

    Break free from a single-angle with six different angles, tailor-made for you.

    – One primary cam for the grand and staple view 
    * Two dugout cams to get exclusive insights into behind-the-scenes glimpses from the bench

    – Two star-player cam to follow your favourite player. 
    * One tactical view to get a comprehensive overview

    Key moments:

    Catch up on live stats, lineups, play-by-play updates or key incidents with the platform’s on-demand highlights feature, seamlessly integrating with the live action.

    Multilingual coverage:

    For all the fans watching across the country, we bring you the game in your preferred languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali.

    With UEFA EURO 2024 just around the corner—Sony LIV brings you an experience like never before! This June – don’t just watch the Euro, live the Euro. Love Football, LIV Football!

  • Seven must-listen, must-watch titles celebrating Ram Navami

    Seven must-listen, must-watch titles celebrating Ram Navami

    Mumbai: Ram Navami marks the birth of Lord Ram, one of the most revered deities in Hindu mythology. This auspicious festival is a way to connect with Lord Ram’s timeless story and his moral and spiritual lessons. For those looking to immerse themselves in his epic journey, there are several outstanding audiobooks, podcasts, and web series available, that you can tune into to learn more! These provide a deep dive into his life, teachings, and the impact he had on the world. Here’s a curated list of seven must-listen and must-watch titles that offer a rich exploration of the Ramayana and its legacy, perfect for rejoicing in the Ram Navami celebrations and beyond.

    Suno Ramayana

    Platform: Audible

    ‘Suno Ramayana Devdutt Pattanaik Ke Saath’ is a 12-episode podcast series that brings the timeless tale of the Ramayana to life in a modern audio format. Narrated by acclaimed mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, the series explores the epic’s complex characters and themes, exploring the birth stories and moral dilemmas of figures like Ram, Sita, and Ravan. Each episode provides fresh perspectives on dharma and karma, making it an engaging and immersive experience for listeners. In celebration of Ram Navami, this series serves as a tribute to the revered deity and his journey, offering a chance to reconnect with the cultural heritage and wisdom of the epic.

    War of Lanka

    Platform: Audible

    In War of Lanka, the fourth instalment of the Ram Chandra series by Amish Tripathi, the legendary tale of Lord Ram’s quest to rescue Sita and uphold Dharma. The ancient world of India in 3400 BCE is vividly depicted as the backdrop for a battle between darkness and light, justice and rage. Amish’s skilled storytelling breathes new life into this classic epic, creating a gripping story that honours the divine journey of Lord Ram, blending timeless themes with contemporary sensibilities. As you celebrate Ram Navami, immerse yourself in this story that mirrors the triumph of good over evil and the enduring power of love and faith.

    Rama the Steadfast

    Platform: Audible

    ‘Rama the Steadfast’ is a classic epic that transports listeners into the world of the ancient Hindu legend. Performed with precision and eloquence by Sid Sagar, this audio adaptation brings to life the saga of the warrior-prince Lord Ram. Set in the kingdom of Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s journey takes him from the heights of being the chosen successor to the throne to the depths of exile in the forest, where he faces the ultimate test of resilience. Joined by his devoted wife Sita and the valiant Hanuman, he embarks on a heroic quest to rescue Sita from the clutches of the wicked Ravana.

    The Ramayana

    Platform: Audible

    Written by Maharishi Valmiki, this epic poem explores Lord Ram’s fourteen-year exile in the forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, his struggles against the demon king Ravana, and his triumphant return to Ayodhya. Through its nearly 24,000 verses, ‘The Ramayana’ showcases the ideal qualities of a father, servant, brother, husband, and king, offering a guide to virtuous living. So, whether you’re seeking spiritual enlightenment or simply captivated by the allure of ancient lore, immerse yourself in this audiobook this Ram Navami and rediscover the essence of devotion, courage, and love.

    Legends of the Ramayana with Amish

    Platform: Amazon Prime Video

    As Amish Tripathi travels 5,000 kilometres tracing the legendary path of Lord Ram, he seamlessly merges myth, geography, and cultural traditions to paint a vivid picture of Lord Ram’s epic journey. Listeners will be drawn into the rich tapestry of India’s spiritual heritage as Tripathi’s deep insights and eloquent storytelling bring the legends of Lord Ram to life. This series is the perfect one to watch this Ram Navami, providing a profound and enriching experience for those seeking to celebrate the birth of Lord Ram.

    Shrimad Ramayan

    Platform: Sony LIV

    Experience the tale of Lord Ram, in this series that beautifully depicts his life and the trials he faced, serving as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come. His epic journey to rescue his beloved wife, Sita, from the clutches of the rakshasa king Ravana is a story of courage, devotion, and righteousness. The author’s masterful storytelling breathes new life into this ancient legend, bringing the vibrant world of the Ramayana to life with vivid descriptions and emotional depth.

    Siya Ke Ram

    Platform: Disney + Hotstar

    It is a gripping narrative that retells the ancient tale of Lord Ram and Sita’s journey through exile, fraught with challenges and tests of faith. Following their marriage, the couple is banished from their kingdom due to Queen Kaikeyi’s desire for her son Bharata to ascend the throne. In the midst of their struggle, Sita is tragically kidnapped by Ravana, pushing Lord Ram to set on a daring quest to rescue his beloved. This immersive retelling brings the epic story to life with compelling character development and deep emotional resonance!

  • Siddhartha Basu’s ‘Quizzer Of The Year’ to air its championship rounds from 15 April only on Sony LIV

    Siddhartha Basu’s ‘Quizzer Of The Year’ to air its championship rounds from 15 April only on Sony LIV

    Mumbai: Get ready for the ultimate quiz championship of the year! Sony LIV’s Quizzer Of The Year (QOTY), a nationwide challenge is all set to air and capture the imagination of quiz enthusiasts across the country. As the competition heats up, the platform is excited to announce the launch of its final rounds, promising edge-of-your-seat excitement, and fierce competition like never before! Presented by India’s grand quizmaster, Siddhartha Basu, the show is conceptualised by Anita Kaul Basu and the team at Tree of Knowledge Digital (Digitok).

    Quizzer Of The Year aims to give an exciting twist to traditional learning and explores the format of infotainment in India. In today’s world, students are not just focused on academic excellence; they also crave new experiences and knowledge beyond their textbooks, from the world around them. QOTY provides students of class IX to XII a platform to test their abilities and knowledge against peers from across the country.

    QOTY is divided into three phases, with phase one of daily quizzes already concluded. 64 teams, progressed to represent each zone, that emerged from a pool of over 2000 schools, spanning across more than 300 cities. Later, top teams from each zone will eventually move ahead and fight to win the National Championship, ‘Quizzer Of The Year’ title and stand a chance to win an educational scholarship of rupees 1 crore. The team that comes second and third will also stand a chance to win an educational scholarship of rupees 50 lakhs and 20 lakhs respectively.

    QOTY will begin streaming exclusively on Sony LIV from 15 April, kick-starting with episodes from the Zonal rounds hosted by seasoned quizmasters Joy Bhattacharjya and Col Vembu Shankar, Indian Army veteran. Winning teams will advance to the quarterfinals, semi-finals, finals hosted by Siddhartha Basu, with the ultimate winner being crowned the Quizzer Of The Year.

    Presenter and creator Siddhartha Basu, “For the past year, our team at Tree of Knowledge Digital (Digitok) has diligently worked to engage with the top high school quizzers from across India to select teams for the national play-offs. We aimed to make QOTY inclusive, allowing everyone to play, test, and expand their knowledge through quizzing. Even those who didn’t qualify for further rounds can continue playing on the app round the year. With my four decades-long involvement in infotainment, I am excited to venture into the world of OTT with Sony LIV to reach students beyond all barriers. We hope QOTY becomes a tool for fostering a factual culture and building a strong knowledgeable community among young minds.”

    Watch Quizzer Of The Year exclusively from 15 April, Mon-Sun at 11 am only on Sony LIV!

  • “India is the biggest cricket market on the planet”: Scott Weenink & Rajesh Kaul

    “India is the biggest cricket market on the planet”: Scott Weenink & Rajesh Kaul

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has secured the exclusive television and digital rights to broadcast and stream all New Zealand Cricket matches, featuring BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS, in India and associated territories for the next seven years. This agreement, spanning from 1 May 2024, to 30 April 2031, encompasses India’s tours of New Zealand in the 2026-27 and 2030-31 seasons, as well as all bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20Is held in New Zealand during this period.

    As per media reports, the deal is estimated to be valued between $90 million to $100 million (equivalent to approximately Rs 749 crore to Rs 833 crore). All matches will be telecast and streamed live across SPNI’s sports channels and will be livestreamed on Sony LIV. Additionally, SPNI’s digital rights in India will be co-exclusive with Amazon Prime for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

    New Zealand have enjoyed major success in the recent years, with the inaugural World Test Championship title win in 2021 highlighting their accolades. The men’s team also finished runners-up in the previous T20 World Cup, winning millions of hearts with their spirited display.

    Subsequently, cricket fans in the Indian subcontinent can look forward to watching the BLACKCAPS in action against India, Australia, England and Pakistan among others until the end of the 2031 season.

    Indiantelevision.com had a delightful conversation with SPNI’s chief revenue officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business, Rajesh Kaul and New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott Weenink, where each shared their take on the significance of this deal, evolution of digital platforms & streaming services and much more…

    Edited excerpts

    On Sony Pictures Networks India leveraging this partnership to enhance its sports content offerings

    Kaul: We are a global multi-sports arena and the premier destination for sports fans. Our aim has been to strengthen our sports portfolio not only with cricket offerings but also in Tennis, Football, WWE, Fight sports, motorsports, domestic leagues and multi-sporting events among others.   We have been acquiring prestigious marquee properties at regular intervals and our sports acquisition strategy has always been guided by rational decisions. With the current media rights scenario in India, we feel that NZC cricket rights is something which adds significant value to our portfolio which currently comprises England and Wales Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket.  Apart from Team India’s series in these nations, we will also broadcast the high-octane non-India cricket series hosted by these countries. We are also the home to the next two editions of the UEFA EUROs as well as home to three out of four Grand Slams on our network with Australian Open, Roland Garros & US Open. Recently, we announced the extension of broadcast rights for the UEFA Club competitions for an additional three years. Our objective has always been very clear, i.e., to serve sports fans with premium content in the form of diverse global and local properties and we will continue the momentum in the future.

    On this collaboration contributing to the development of cricket in New Zealand

    Weenink: Well, it’s obvious. India is the biggest cricket market on the planet. This is a big deal, which will help service the game of cricket in New Zealand from the grassroots up, men and women, and juniors. Also, by increasing the exposure of NZC and NZC Players to the Indian market, we are increasing both the commercial value of NZC and the individual intellectual property value of NZC Players.

    On the role of digital platforms and streaming services evolving in the broadcasting of cricket matches, particularly in the context of this partnership

    Weenink: AT NZC we’ve long held that digital and streaming is the future. I don’t think there’s much doubt about that.

    However, it’s also true that linear is still massive in terms of the present day – representing more than half the consumer market in India.

    Having an arrangement in which we can provide our games on both linear and digital is very important to us.

    On some other strategies you have in place to maximize the success of this partnership and some innovative plans Sony Pictures Networks India has for enhancing the viewer experience during New Zealand cricket matches

    Kaul: Cricket is the most popular sport in India and bilateral cricket series rights provide a broadcaster with access to regular high-quality cricket. The New Zealand Black Caps & Silver Ferns enjoy a strong following in India due to their highly competitive spirit and good sporting behaviour. Stars like Kane Williamson & Trent Boult are among the top followed international stars among cricket fans. Cricket rights for New Zealand helps in providing around the clock offering for sports fans. The addition of NZC to our cricket portfolio, which already includes ECB and SLC, helps engage the cricket fan with our network regularly through the year.

    Our programming initiatives also play an integral role in attracting new audiences and we will continue the momentum with New Zealand Cricket matches. Sony Sports Network (SSN) broadcasts all the India matches in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. For an enhanced viewing experience, we have virtual reality sets and augmented reality graphics. Our live studio show for cricket, Extraaa Innings, is an iconic SSN show since 2003. It has a relaxed, conversational manner of cricket coverage which eases into Indian homes like a member of their family and presents cricket from a unique human-interest angle which focuses on the emotions rather than over-analysis or microstats. In addition to this, we have always reached out to our cricket fans through our iconic campaigns like Love for Cricket knows no Boundaries, Ashes – Platinum Standard of Cricket among others and will also continue to do so with NZC series.

  • Five reasons why you should watch ‘Family Aaj Kal’

    Five reasons why you should watch ‘Family Aaj Kal’

    Mumbai: Remember the first time you wanted to introduce your partner to your parents? It can be the most nerve-wracking thing to do! And even if you feel your family is quite modern or open-minded, how quickly would that approach go out the window if they found out that the love of your life is a cab driver?!

    The latest dramedy by Civic Studios, “Family Aaj Kal,” explores a similar dilemma faced by Meher, a 20-something girl who decides to introduce her boyfriend, Gaurav, who is also a cab driver, to her family. A hilarious yet relatable portrayal of the generation gaps in every family, and a mirror to the class biases that any progressive middle-class family can fall victim to, “Family Aaj Kal” explores the quirky, wholesome world of the Kashyaps.

    Created by producer and Civic Studios founder Anushka Shah, along with director Parikshit Joshi and writer Manoj Kalwani, the five-episode show is streaming now on Sony LIV. Here are five reasons why you should watch this sweet dramedy with a big heart!

    Modern love with aaj kal ki family: What counts as modern love in today’s time? Meher’s parents have survived an interfaith marriage against their family’s wishes. So they’re sure they won’t let their children go through the same, like their ‘gaye-guzre’ elders. But when Meher falls in love with someone who is considered to be from a different class background, her family can’t see eye to eye due to their own concerns for their daughter’s future. Who will win in this battle of love vs class bias?

    Stellar ensemble cast led by Apoorva Arora: Fans of Apoorva Arora will be excited to see her in a brand new avatar for this family dramedy. After hit youth shows like College Romance and Firsts, her character Meher will strike a relatable chord in all youngsters caught between independence and family. She is joined by the extremely talented Sonali Sachdev as her mother. The entire cast was privileged to share screen with the late Nitesh Pandey as her father. Both parents light up the screen with their comic timing. Not to mention, fresh faces Prakhar Singh and Aakarshan Singh, and veteran Masood Akhtar.

    Dignity in every job: If we were to take a step back and notice, we would find a general distaste for blue-collar jobs among our friends and families. “Family Aaj Kal” takes a mirror to society to extend empathy, respect and dignity to professions like drivers. It also sheds a light to the struggles of Indian youth who, like Gaurav, Meher’s boyfriend, have graduated with esteemed degrees only to either be unemployed or work in a job where they’re overqualified.

    Beyond fairy tales: Usually, most movies end with people from two religions fighting against all odds to get married. But what happens when they are settled into their lives? We rarely ever see the happily-ever-after or just the regular lives of these couples. To see what her parents Faiza and Shekhar Kashyap have built for themselves is not only heartwarming but also gives hope for the future!

    Bridging the generation gap: Parents and children often have differing opinions on relationships, marriage, class, and everything in between. The journey of the Kashyaps is sweet, wholesome one where they figure how to bridge of these gaps with thoda empathy, forgiveness and acceptance by both sides!

    So don’t forget to tune into ‘Family Aaj Kal’, live on Sony LIV from 3 April onwards!