News Broadcasting
Santaan takes up cudgels for the girl child
Santaan, a weekly family soap that premieres on Sahara on 23 November, explores the biased attitude of traditional Indian families toward the male heir.
Directed by Chander Behl and scripted by Achla Nagar, the serial that will occupy the 9.30 pm slot on Thursdays, revolves around a conservative Rajasthani joint family that has a surfeit of granddaughters in the family, but no male heir to carry the family name forward. The family's elation at the discovery that the elder daughter in law is expecting a child is diminished when the male heir is born, instead, to the son and daughter in law, who have been expelled from the household.
Producer Dinesh Bansal who is known for churning out hit serials like Kurukshetra, Basera and Alvida Darling says Santaan is not only about anger built up over time over depriving the fairer sex of complete freedom, but also about a journey into how this orthodox approach affects family members. The serial doesn't aim at hurting the male ego but the idea is to uncover these charades, he says. "Santaan highlights the absurdity of the fact that often daughters turn out to be the better offspring," says Bansal.
Meteor Films has a 26 episodes contract with Sahara, of which 12 episodes have been shot in the production house owned studio at Chandivili in suburban Mumbai. According to a Sahara spokesperson, the contract will be extended for a further 26 episodes, depending on the serial's performance.
Sahara TV publicity and PR head Priya Raj says this serial will give them the scope to cater to a variety of viewers and will help the channel do its bit by touching upon a social issue presented in an entertaining manner.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
