Factual
Discovery Channel completes 20 years in India
MUMBAI: Discovery Channel, which celebrates 20 years of airing in India this Independence Day, will telecast a three-part series that will bring alive pages from history books, placing viewers at the epicenter of the story of contemporary India.
Rejoicing historic moments, Discovery Channel’s India Emerges: A Visual History will unfold archival footage to narrate the story of the birth of independent India. The channel will air the programme from 14 to 16 August every evening at 8 pm.
Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP and GM South Asia Rahul Johri said, “It’s a proud moment for us as we complete 20 glorious years in India. What further amplifies the excitement is we celebrate this day on the 69th year of our independence. Marking this momentous occasion, we are happy to bring forth a programme that will narrate the stories of India and its emergence. The special line-up will revive the many memories of independence and unveil some of the intriguing facts of India’s freedom.”
The special line-up will take viewers back into history of India’s freedom struggle, which spans the period of the British Raj in India, winding its way through tumultuous decades of the Indian freedom movement. The programme will talk about the battles of 1948, 1965 and 1971, the regime of Indira Gandhi, the period of Emergency, Operation Blue Star among others.
The footage will take viewers to the stroke of midnight and also along new borders where a devastating partition will be unfolded. Having made its way through the ages, the series will culminate on the emergence of a strong, progressive and vibrant India that came into being after many challenges.
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
