GECs
Bihar magistrate decrees temporary stay on ‘Ramkhilavaan n family’
MUMBAI: If not punitive action, Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav’s supporters have at least managed a temporary stay on the telecast of Ramkhilavaan CM n family the Sab TV spoof that the channel vociferously maintains is not intended to be a spoof on the former Bihar chief minister.
Patna’s chief judicial magistrate on Monday temporarily stayed the telecast of the controversial serial till 27 August. The order was reportedly faxed to the producers to ensure that Monday’s episode too was not telecast. The order was faxed to SAB Network chairman cum MD Gautam Adhikari, who is among the eight accused for bringing ‘bad repute’ to Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Yadav, his chief minister wife Rabri Devi and his family.
The magistrate has directed SAB to reply within a week, stating reasons why the telecast should not be permanently stopped, media reports from the Bihar capital say. The magistrate also turned down the company’s petition seeking three weeks’ time to approach the Supreme Court for hearing all petitions filed in this respect, reports say.
The magistrate however felt that the producers be given another chance to submit their side of the case so that the case, filed by one Radha Raman Pradhan, could be adjudged on its merits, the reports added. The Adhikari Brothers had failed to respond to the court’s show cause notice returnable by 17 August and have filed their own petition seeking a hearing outside Bihar. While maintaining that the serial was indeed derogatory prima facie, the court said that it would decide on ordering a permanent stay after hearing the replies from the defendants.
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.
