Factual
Discovery Channel to premiere ‘MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON’, a real story of a privately funded Indian start-up that aimed for the moon
MUMBAI: Discovery, the leading infotainment channel, will premiere a one-hour special show titled MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON based on the exciting journey of TeamIndus on 30th October at 9 PM. The show captures the best of this eventful and enlightening seven-year journey of a team which germinated with a group of friends coming together and went on to become TeamIndus.
It started in 2007 when The Google Lunar XPRIZE was announced—the largest incentivized space exploration challenge in human history. A small group of friends came together and coughed up personal resources to register last minute as the only Indian team in the global contest. This young enthusiast team, with no aerospace background, had the grit, the tenacity to take on the best in the world in their endeavor to win the $30 million, Google Lunar XPRIZE.
MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON has garnered huge traction from marquee advertisers. The on-air broadcast of the show is Co-Presented by Amazon Echo and Co-Powered by Levi Strauss and PUBG, Nokia as the Mobile Partner. Sony Bravia, ForeverMark, Idea 4G, Honda Motorcycles and Phillips Trimmer have come on board as Associate sponsors.
Conceived in a server room in Noida, near India’s capital, Rahul Narayan helmed the whole challenge and took the first step of deciding to participate in this global lunar race. He started looking out for people who would join him out of sheer passion unaware about the challenges the team would face as the race would progress. An inhouse robotic rover named ‘Ek Choti si Asha’ was designed with the Ackerman steering concept and a deployable masthead.
What happened next? Don’t miss to watch MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON that brings to you a spectacular journey of an aerospace startup that came together, to reach for the moon! Can they possibly meet the harsh technical demands of a lunar mission? And even so, from where will they raise the enormous amount needed to get to the moon! Pitted against several resourceful teams from across the globe, does TeamIndus stand a chance to win this race for space?
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.
