ITV

Tag: Tumhari Paakhi

  • Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    MUMBAI: Two legendary creative talents from the Indian television and film industry, writer Shashi Mittal and writer and director Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal shared a vision to create content that leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of their audience. Today their company, the Shashi Sumeet Group, is a leading name in the media and entertainment industry with Shashi Sumeet Productions Pvt. Ltd for creating content for television; Shashi Sumeet Motions Pictures Pvt. Ltd for films; Shashi Sumeet Innovations for television commercials; Qats Whiskers for brands; and online platforms.

    Started in 2009, Shashi Sumeet Productions is among the few production houses which have given some landmark shows to the television industry in India. With shows like Diya Aur Baati Hum, Punar Vivaah, Tumhari Paakhi and Tu Mera Hero the production house has set new benchmarks for content excellence in the industry.

    Shashi Sumeet Productions became the first production house to make the journey from ‘reel’ life to ‘real’ life in December 2015 at Pushkar by having a lane named ‘Hanuman Galli’ there. This was inspired by the lane of the same name in its television family drama Diya Aur Baati Hum. Further, the production house got recognition from the Limca Book of Records for having back -to – back shows on Indian general entertainment channels at prime time i.e. from 8pm – 10pm in the year 2015-2016.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal founder director of Shashi Sumeet Group shares the journey of his production house and its plans of venturing into Hindi film making, intellectual property rights (IP) for content, among other things.

    Excerpts

    Q1. Shashi Sumeet Productions has produced 16 shows in 7 years. How has been the journey so far?

    Sumeet:  The journey has been wonderful. The production house is seven years old. So far the journey has been challenging and fulfilling as well. Whatever we have done until now has been done with passion and dedication. I believe that if one’s intentions are good, one will always be successful.  In todays’ scenario if we are touching hearts and not just ears and eyeballs then it’s a bog high point for us. 

    Q2. What according to you is the most challenging genre for television production?

    Sumeet: I would say there is no specific genre which is difficult for a producer. Rather it is holding the audience’s attention that is the most challenging thing. In today’s time there are so many options available, hence holding onto audience is the big thing. If an episode is weak then you might lose the audience. So quality content is necessary.  Every genre is working these days including adventure, horror, supernatural and comedy.  

    Q3, Diya Aur Baati Hum completed 1,300 episodes recently and now there are rumours that the show is going off air. Is there any truth in those rumours?

    Sumeet: I too have heard a lot about the show going off air.  But these are just rumours. Our story was very clear – it was about a girl Sandhya who wanted to become an IPS officer but was married into an orthodox family. But still she wanted to make her dreams come true.  In a way, the story line was very thin.

    So when Sandhya became an IPS officer, people thought now that her dream was over, the show would go off air. But Diya Aur Baati Hum is not going off air and I have confirmation from the channel’s side as well. May be the rumours were spread because the TRPs of the show had reduced.  We are working hard on script making new episodes.

    Q4. What was reason for pulling off shows like Tu Mera Hero and Badi Devrani?

    Sumeet: Badi Devrani was not doing well, Tu Mera Hero ended with high ratings in the range of about1.8. Today getting that number is very difficult for an average hit show.  

    Q4: After Balaji’s Naagin on Colors, it seems that the supernatural wave has hit television screens and is proving to be successful. Will we also see Shashi Sumeet Production producing such creative content?

    Sumeet: If any show or film works, duplication of its concept, ideas is bound to be there. We have seen that trend in the case of Diya Aur Baati and Punar Vivah. We have been talking about a supernatural show since quite a long time. Our drive is to create fantasy. Believe me, even we wrote a soap named Naagin which was on Zee TV.  We are still thinking on those lines and that is not just because Naagin is a hit show. We definitely have concepts that we are proposing to channels.

    Q5: We are seeing many production houses curating content for digital platforms. Will we see you also producing for them?

    Sumeet: Of course, we will produce content for the digital platforms!. We are working on it, but we are not in a hurry.

    Q6: What sets the Shashi Sumeet Group apart from the other content producers in the industry?

    Sumeet: The Shashi Sumeet Group by itself has an identity that sets it apart from other content production houses. We work with the one mantra that we want to create content for every platform. We didn’t want to restrict ourselves to daily soaps. We are making stories for brands. We might also do some fiction series with overseas partners. We are planning to go into movies. Quality content on different platforms is what we intend to create. At present we are working on two shows – one is a home grown show and other is a format show that we are producing here in India.

    Q7: What is your opinion on Intellectual Property staying with the channel? Do you think it should be remain with the production house?  

    Sumeet: I think it’s the biggest and the hottest topic of discussion in our country. Things are different here as compared to other countries. I doubt the scenario will change overnight, but I believe that IP can be shared between the channel and the production house on an immediate basis as they both share the risk. IP ratio can depend on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer.  We are looking at that very aggressively. We have signed one of our IP’s with a Brazilian producer, this is our own home grown IP, our own content.

    Q8: According to you, what is lacking in the television content production space in India? And how does Shashi Sumeet aim to fill that void?

    Sumeet: We always talk about differentiated content but we should genuinely try making different shows by putting an ‘x’ budget for a particular show.  We should be crisp and concise in storytelling.

    Q9: What are Shashi Sumeet Production’s plans going forward? What’s in store from your production house in 2016 in terms of fiction and non-fiction?

    Sumeet: We are focusing very much on content right now. One year down the line, our production house will come out with different shows. We have a few shows in the pipeline and we will soon announce our venture into Hindi movies. 

  • Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    MUMBAI: Two legendary creative talents from the Indian television and film industry, writer Shashi Mittal and writer and director Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal shared a vision to create content that leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of their audience. Today their company, the Shashi Sumeet Group, is a leading name in the media and entertainment industry with Shashi Sumeet Productions Pvt. Ltd for creating content for television; Shashi Sumeet Motions Pictures Pvt. Ltd for films; Shashi Sumeet Innovations for television commercials; Qats Whiskers for brands; and online platforms.

    Started in 2009, Shashi Sumeet Productions is among the few production houses which have given some landmark shows to the television industry in India. With shows like Diya Aur Baati Hum, Punar Vivaah, Tumhari Paakhi and Tu Mera Hero the production house has set new benchmarks for content excellence in the industry.

    Shashi Sumeet Productions became the first production house to make the journey from ‘reel’ life to ‘real’ life in December 2015 at Pushkar by having a lane named ‘Hanuman Galli’ there. This was inspired by the lane of the same name in its television family drama Diya Aur Baati Hum. Further, the production house got recognition from the Limca Book of Records for having back -to – back shows on Indian general entertainment channels at prime time i.e. from 8pm – 10pm in the year 2015-2016.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal founder director of Shashi Sumeet Group shares the journey of his production house and its plans of venturing into Hindi film making, intellectual property rights (IP) for content, among other things.

    Excerpts

    Q1. Shashi Sumeet Productions has produced 16 shows in 7 years. How has been the journey so far?

    Sumeet:  The journey has been wonderful. The production house is seven years old. So far the journey has been challenging and fulfilling as well. Whatever we have done until now has been done with passion and dedication. I believe that if one’s intentions are good, one will always be successful.  In todays’ scenario if we are touching hearts and not just ears and eyeballs then it’s a bog high point for us. 

    Q2. What according to you is the most challenging genre for television production?

    Sumeet: I would say there is no specific genre which is difficult for a producer. Rather it is holding the audience’s attention that is the most challenging thing. In today’s time there are so many options available, hence holding onto audience is the big thing. If an episode is weak then you might lose the audience. So quality content is necessary.  Every genre is working these days including adventure, horror, supernatural and comedy.  

    Q3, Diya Aur Baati Hum completed 1,300 episodes recently and now there are rumours that the show is going off air. Is there any truth in those rumours?

    Sumeet: I too have heard a lot about the show going off air.  But these are just rumours. Our story was very clear – it was about a girl Sandhya who wanted to become an IPS officer but was married into an orthodox family. But still she wanted to make her dreams come true.  In a way, the story line was very thin.

    So when Sandhya became an IPS officer, people thought now that her dream was over, the show would go off air. But Diya Aur Baati Hum is not going off air and I have confirmation from the channel’s side as well. May be the rumours were spread because the TRPs of the show had reduced.  We are working hard on script making new episodes.

    Q4. What was reason for pulling off shows like Tu Mera Hero and Badi Devrani?

    Sumeet: Badi Devrani was not doing well, Tu Mera Hero ended with high ratings in the range of about1.8. Today getting that number is very difficult for an average hit show.  

    Q4: After Balaji’s Naagin on Colors, it seems that the supernatural wave has hit television screens and is proving to be successful. Will we also see Shashi Sumeet Production producing such creative content?

    Sumeet: If any show or film works, duplication of its concept, ideas is bound to be there. We have seen that trend in the case of Diya Aur Baati and Punar Vivah. We have been talking about a supernatural show since quite a long time. Our drive is to create fantasy. Believe me, even we wrote a soap named Naagin which was on Zee TV.  We are still thinking on those lines and that is not just because Naagin is a hit show. We definitely have concepts that we are proposing to channels.

    Q5: We are seeing many production houses curating content for digital platforms. Will we see you also producing for them?

    Sumeet: Of course, we will produce content for the digital platforms!. We are working on it, but we are not in a hurry.

    Q6: What sets the Shashi Sumeet Group apart from the other content producers in the industry?

    Sumeet: The Shashi Sumeet Group by itself has an identity that sets it apart from other content production houses. We work with the one mantra that we want to create content for every platform. We didn’t want to restrict ourselves to daily soaps. We are making stories for brands. We might also do some fiction series with overseas partners. We are planning to go into movies. Quality content on different platforms is what we intend to create. At present we are working on two shows – one is a home grown show and other is a format show that we are producing here in India.

    Q7: What is your opinion on Intellectual Property staying with the channel? Do you think it should be remain with the production house?  

    Sumeet: I think it’s the biggest and the hottest topic of discussion in our country. Things are different here as compared to other countries. I doubt the scenario will change overnight, but I believe that IP can be shared between the channel and the production house on an immediate basis as they both share the risk. IP ratio can depend on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer.  We are looking at that very aggressively. We have signed one of our IP’s with a Brazilian producer, this is our own home grown IP, our own content.

    Q8: According to you, what is lacking in the television content production space in India? And how does Shashi Sumeet aim to fill that void?

    Sumeet: We always talk about differentiated content but we should genuinely try making different shows by putting an ‘x’ budget for a particular show.  We should be crisp and concise in storytelling.

    Q9: What are Shashi Sumeet Production’s plans going forward? What’s in store from your production house in 2016 in terms of fiction and non-fiction?

    Sumeet: We are focusing very much on content right now. One year down the line, our production house will come out with different shows. We have a few shows in the pipeline and we will soon announce our venture into Hindi movies. 

  • Life OK gets bolder with action series ‘Pukaar – Call for the Hero’

    Life OK gets bolder with action series ‘Pukaar – Call for the Hero’

    MUMBAI: Off lately, Life OK, has been on an experimenting mode. After experimenting with different genres, the channel is set to introduce an action thriller series christened Pukaar – Call for the Hero.

    A tribute to the Indian army, viewers will get to see a different style of action rarely explored on small screen. Produced by the one who masters in the genre, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who has made films like Force, Commando and Holiday, which were based on ‘Men in Uniform’.

    With this show, Shah intends to raise the bar of action ever experienced on the small screen. According to him, viewers can expect a 70mm big screen feel while watching the show.

    The show has many firsts. It marks the debut of Rannvijay Singh and Adah Sharma in fictional space. The comedian actor, Devan Bhojani, enters the action genre as the co-director and legendary actor Raj Babaar returns to the television. Talking about action, the show gets its might right from Allan Amin, who is the action director.

    Currently the channel runs Tumhari Paakhi at 8.30 pm and Laut Aao Trisha at 9pm. With the new series on-board, the channel for the first time is putting a male centric show on weekdays (Mon and Tues). The hour-long show will see curtains down on Tumahri Paakhi.

    Life OK EVP and general manager Ajit Thakur say, “We were actually thinking of doing it on Saturdays and Sundays till three weeks back, but then we thought it will be lost somewhere as on weekends there are too many things happening.”

    Thakur states the decision of putting it up on Monday-Tuesday’s might stand out or fail, but it will not be lost. “Women may still not sample it all. That’s a risk. Weekends would not have been as much of novelty.”

    Talking about the theme, Thakur says that the channel wanted to create larger than life heroes which it started with Mahadev and Hatim, and it wanted to get Bollywood creative talent on television.

    Shah and Thakur met five months and after brainstorming, the duo locked on the final concept for two reasons. “If we talk about home grown action series there are shows like Shapath and CID. 24 was more of a thriller. We wanted something which was far more on local issues,” reasons Thakur.

    Also, the channel wanted to explore a new relationship between a father and a son. “While for me action is the main USP of the show, the bigger USP of the show is the father and son relationship that has been rarely been exploded on TV.”

    Isn’t it going in the same lines of Everest where the show talks about a father-daughter relationship? Thakur denies the fact and says that Everest is still centred around Star Plus’s belief on the female protagonist and her journey. “We wanted to continue doing more male centric shows and from that point of view it is his journey and in the context of to win over his father’s love. To that level there is a similarity and of course these are both very proficient Bollywood movie talent, but the similarity ends there.”

    The story is of a soldier (Singh) whose responsibility does not only limit to his country and his family but also to the common man, for it is he who rises above all odds to be recognised as people’s hero and a saviour against a tyrant ruling a city.

    One of the things that Thakur was very keen on doing was that can it not be just chases and explosions, but more than it. Shah completely agreed and came up with hand comb act. The show has used the best of technicians, cameras gadgets and locations for the show.

    Almost 10 episodes have been canned in various locales like Manali and Mumbai. Talking about the marketing strategies, Thakur believes the PR of the show is most interesting. The channel along with the cast will be travelling to the Lucknow and Kanpur Army cantonment and will be showing previews there. Moreover, the channel is aiming at putting longer promos and not restricted to 10-20 seconds. “It is very different type of content, so people will take time to get used to it.”

    The show has got LIC as its powered by sponsor and the channel is hunting for two presenting sponsors for the show.

     

  • Shutters down on Life OK’s ‘Do Dil Ek Jaan’

    Shutters down on Life OK’s ‘Do Dil Ek Jaan’

    MUMBAI: Recently, Star Plus announced that it will be extending its weekday programming till Saturday.

     

    The team at Life OK, the second GEC from the Star Network, seems to be following suit. The channel plans to increase the telecast time of two of its popular fiction shows – Gustakh Dil and Tumhari Paakhi – to one hour. The move comes after the channel’s decision to pull the curtains down on Nautanki Films’ Do Dil Ek Jaan on 24 January.

     

    The producer of the show, Saurabh Tewari confirmed the news to indiantelevision.com and said: “May be, the characters of the show did not click with the audiences and it resulted in poor TVTs and thus we had no option but to pull the curtains down.”

     

    However, the two shows that will fill the void have been doing really well and thus they will now air for an hour each. Gustakh Dil which airs at 7.30 pm will now be telecast from 7-8 pm; and Tumhari Paakhi which currently airs at 9.30 pm, will be telecast from 9-10 pm from 27 January onwards.

     

    The two shows have registered 1,930 and 2,130 TVTs respectively in the Week 3 of TAM TV ratings.

     

    However, when we contacted the producers of the two shows, they were unavailable to comment.

     

    But a source from the channel reveals that the decision has been taken as the channel doesn’t plan to launch any new shows for the next two to three months. Says the source: “The shows are doing really well and I hope the viewers won’t be complaining.”

     

    Even media planners think this to be a good move, not just for the channel but also the advertisers. However, some feel that there are chances of people switching to other programmes during the telecast of the show as they would not like to miss the shows they are used to watching during that time slot.

  • ‘Tumhari Paakhi’ to replace ‘The Bachelorette’

    ‘Tumhari Paakhi’ to replace ‘The Bachelorette’

    MUMBAI: Life OK is all set to add a new show to its kitty – a differentiated love story called Tumhari Paakhi.

    Slated to premiere on Star Plus’s sister channel at 9.30pm on 11 November, the new series will replace the much-hyped Mallika Sherawat-starrer The Bachelorette India.

    Produced by Shashi-Sumeet Mittal Productions, Tumhari Paakhi is based on legendary Bengali author Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Navvidhan.

    About the show, Life OK general manager Ajit Thakur says: “With this show, we are innovating and venturing into a whole new genre of general entertainment; book-inspired fiction. It is inspired from the novel, and we are going to bring it alive in viewers’ drawing rooms.”

    Yuvraj Bhattacharya, programming team, Life OK, reveals the show has only four characters, and is the story of handsome but self-centred Shimla-based businessman Anshuman (Iqbal Khan) and pretty but unassuming Chittor-based guide Paakhi (Shraddha Arya).

    Married off as children, a grown-up Paakhi waits for Anshuman to acknowledge their relationship even as Anshuman seems unaware of it.

    Explaining how it is different from run-of-the-mill love stories, Bhattacharya says: “Paakhi has waited 18 years for an answer, to close the pages of their story. She stands strong, undeterred and hopeful. This is not a show, but it is only about these two characters.”

    At the time of writing this article, 12 episodes had already been canned; shot at various locations including Udaipur, Shimla, Chittaur and Panchgani, with the basic set located at Film City in Mumbai.

    The channel always needs to be experimentative in nature believes Yuvraj Bhattacharya

    Isn’t the choice of prime time a bit dangerous, considering there would be viewers hooked on to other soaps on different channels? “The channel always needs to be experimentative in nature. On other GECs, this slot is occupied with mostly soaps and saas-bahu content. So we came up with the concept, breaking all the common factors. People always want to watch new content on television, and Life OK is the perfect destination for a change. It depends on us how better we engage with the audiences and give them some freshness,” reasons Bhattacharya.

    That said, the show still faces tough competition from the likes of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata hai on Star Plus, Big Boss season seven on Colors, Qubool Hai on Zee TV, Jeanie Aur Juju on Sab, and Jee Le Zara on Sony.

    Marketing wise, the channel has an official Facebook page which has not so convincing around 800 likes. On Twitter, the channel is constantly updating with news, polls and promo links using #TumhariPaakhi hashtag. The promos are already on air and lot of hoardings can also be seen across cities.

    So, will Tumhari Paakhi do for Life OK’s prime time slot what The Bachelorette was obviously unable to do?

    “The channel has definitely created out-of-the-box content, but it has never worked for them. Apart from shows like Mahadev and Shapat, which are the channel’s flagship properties, which it is known for, Life OK has experimented a lot in the past but it hasn’t really worked. People want to see something different and spicy. So taking that into consideration, I don’t think people can ever leave Big Boss and switch to this new show. Different would have been the case if the channel would have aired it during early prime time. Maybe channel loyalty could work for them,” says a highly-placed media planner.