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Tag: Sujay Reu

  • Shrimad Ramayan to now air on Sony SAB from 12 August

    Shrimad Ramayan to now air on Sony SAB from 12 August

    Mumbai: Shrimad Ramayan transitions to Sony SAB, a family entertainment channel from 12 August, as the story enters a new chapter. The anticipated climax and an action-filled episode of Lord Ram culminating in one of the most legendary battles with Raavan is set to air on Sony SAB on August 12 at 7.30 PM. With this battle unfolding, Sony SAB will now bring to focus the mostly unfamiliar story of what happens after Lord Ram and Sita unite and return to Ayodhya.

    The new chapter of the divine tale of Shrimad Ramayan explores the joys and trials of Lord Ram and Sita’s life after their return to Ayodhya and the birth of their twins Luv and Kush. This new phase of the show will beautifully encapsulate the many untold stories and deep meaning of the journey that Lord Ram and Sita’s life takes after their return to Ayodhya.

    Sony SAB business head Neeraj Vyas said, “We are delighted to present the next phase of Shrimad Ramayan exclusively to our audiences on Sony SAB. The show’s impactful storytelling and portrayal of strong family values resonate harmoniously with our channel’s values. We are confident that this remarkable show will not only entertain but also inspire our audience, providing a truly enriching viewing experience.”

    Sujay Reu as Lord Ram said, “Sony SAB has been entertaining audiences with shows that resonate with every member of the family and stories that are meaningful and full life insights. It’s surreal to be part of the channel’s legacy now. I’m excited for viewers to witness a fresh chapter of Ramayan – a show that is timeless. Playing Lord Ram has been a truly humbling experience, and I can’t wait to share these new chapters with our audience.”

    Prachi Bansal as Sita said, “I am excited the show will now air on Sony SAB, a channel my family and I spend most of our time watching together and hence holds great nostalgia for me. I hope just like our family, a lot of families across the country will watch the show with their loved ones and continue to shower us with their generous love and affection. I am inspired by Sita’s grace, resilience, and unwavering devotion, and I am looking forward to playing the role in the upcoming episodes that explore new depths of her character.”

    Stay tuned and watch Shrimad Ramayan, from August 12th Mon-Sat at 7.30 pm only on Sony SAB

  • Sony’s Shrimad Ramayan and the future of cable TV

    Sony’s Shrimad Ramayan and the future of cable TV

    MUMBAI: Can the recently launched Shrimad Ramayan give a shot in the arm to the struggling pay TV sector, especially cable TV? The jury is out and opinions are mixed, but there’s some movement afoot. One cannot forget that the earlier Ramyan on Doordarshan in the eighties resulted in India’s streets being deserted and during its rerun during the pandemic it attracted 76 million viewers on DD on 16 April 2020.

    According to some cable TV operators, the signs are positive.

    “I am glad that the show has launched as it has,” says Nagpur-based MSO UCN director Ajay Khamankar. “Shrimad Ramayan is only showing on TV which is good. I see a lot of potential in it slowing down the cord-cutting that has been plaguing the pay-TV sector.”

    Mumbai-based MSO and OTT aggregator Sabot promoter  Atul Saraf, however, disagrees. “We are getting some calls, but it’s not ground shifting. One show can’t change the fortunes of the cable TV sector. “

    Khamankar contradicts this by saying that his company’s helplines have seen a lot of traction since 1 January when Shrimad Ramayan premiered with viewers asking for their cable TV connection to be restored. “We have been getting an unusual number of calls from subscribers who had earlier cancelled their subscriptions. It cuts across age groups, which is a good sign,” he highlights.

    Saraf points out that he would like to monitor the situation for a few more weeks before concluding on Shrimad Ramayan being a standout for the cable TV sector. “Normally, we are seeing disconnections daily,” he reveals. “We will have to see whether the signups are more than the sign-outs over time.”

    Shrimad Ramayan has been produced by the Siddharth Kumar Tewary-run Swastik Productions and airs at the premium 9 pm slot Monday to Friday. It stars Sujay Reu as Shri Ram, Prachi Bansal as Sita, and Basant Bhatt as Lakshman.  It premiered on 1 January to rave reviews about its quality of production as well as story-telling. This is why it has been enamouring TV viewers at home. In just its first week, it zoomed up to No. 2 on the Sony ratings chart just behind Wagle Ki Duniya (1.1 TVR, TSV 15 minutes) and on the same rank as Pushpa Impossible (0.9 TVR; TSV: 18 minutes) with a TVR of 0.9  and TSV of 31 minutes.  

    “Obviously, the content is keeping viewers engaged and it can only grow from here,” says a media observer.

    Shrimad Ramayan has also got an IMDB rating of 9.3 which shows a high audience approval. Critics too have given it a thumbs up with some like Tellychakkar mentioning “that the deep commitment to authenticity, cultural reverence and a contemporary sensibility is what makes the show a must-watch. “

    Will the audience reciprocate as the show builds up in the coming weeks?