GECs
Assam lad Debojit Saha wins Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge; Zee to launch new season on 16 March
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Zee TV’s much-publicised and highly rated show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005, has got its winner. And, with it surfaces another singing talent as also spin-off programming material for the channel.
In an intense and nail-biting finish, which saw a last-minute flurry of short text messages for and against participants by viewers, Assam lad Debojit Saha was chosen as the winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005, a music-based reality show.
Saha beat Vinit Singh, a capable opponent, to take home the prize money and other associated benefits.
Pointing out that the audiences have been urging the channel to show more of their favourite Challenge singers, Zee TV business head Punit Goenka said in a statement today, “We have decided to showcase our talented, but ousted, singers in a new series called Ek Main Aur Ek Tu slated to launch on 16 March, airing on Thursdays and Fridays at 10 pm”.
According to Goenka, Challenge 2005 has had a triumphant run turning out a “phenomenal performance.”
He added: “The show has redefined reality programming. We intend to continue our search for fresh talent with a new series of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.. This is not the end of the journey, but a new beginning in search of new voices”.
The winner Saha bagged a music contract with HMV and a two-year sponsored stay in Mumbai. However, almost every contestant of Challenge 2005 seems to have benefited from the exposure in the programme.
Quite a few have already bagged leading playback singing opportunities. Prominent ones being Vineet with Himesh Reshammiya for Zayed Khan starrer Rocky, Rajeev and Himani for Kalpana Lajmi’s already-released women oriented flick Chingari and Nihira Joshi and Hemachandra for Alagh.
Expressing satisfaction, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 director Gajendra Singh said that the show has proved to be a successful series since inception.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
