iWorld
Viu partners Morris Street to launch Hollywood Squares India adaptation
MUMBAI: Viu has collaborated with Morris Street Advisors to bring successful global format Hollywood Squares to India. Morris Street Advisors has acquired the format rights to Hollywood Squares from CBS Studios International for India. This collaboration will present the Indian version, titled Tollywood Squares, of the multiple Emmy-award-winning and internationally successful CBS show format for the Telugu audience. Viu has joined hands with Star Maa and GroupM’s Motion Content Group to deliver the content cross-platform as the show will be available on a digital platform and a television channel simultaneously.
The 26-episode weekend show, created in Telugu, is set to go live on 27 January 2018 on the Viu app website and Star Maa simultaneously. One episode will release every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30pm. Hosted by television personality Navdeep Pallapolu, the series will be based on Tic-Tac-Toe, a universally popular game and will showcase nine new celebrities and two new contestants in each episode. Hollywood Squares is the first major game show format from CBS to be produced in India.
Elaborating on the show and partnership, Viu India country head Vishal Maheshwari said, “We are thrilled to bring the most sought-after celebrity game show of Hollywood Squares regionalised for our Telugu audience. Our insights gave us the belief that a format like this, which is iconic in its own right globally, would be a timely new addition to our bouquet of differentiated content. We are happy to partner with StarMaa and Motion Content group to bring this internationally recognised show format for our audiences. The content can be viewed on the digital platform and main screen television.”
Morris Street Advisors CEO Rohit Tiwari said, “This is a milestone moment for Morris Street Advisors. As an entertainment content provider, we are now placing more focus on producing popular programming that captivates Indian viewers. We are super excited to team up with CBS Studios International and our Indian partners to produce the show in India.”
The launch of Tollywood Squares is aligned to Star Maa’s promise of delivering compelling content that appeals to the masses by breaking conventional boundaries of language. This show is in line with Viu’s continued focus on original regional content since launching in 2016.
Commenting on this occasion Star Maa business head Alok Jain said, “We are pleased to now bring Hollywood Squares in India for the Telugu people. I am confident that this show will take our viewers across all age groups back to the memory lanes and the concept of this show will transform the TV viewers’ experience. We are extremely pleased to partner with Viu and together this show will entertain our viewers.”
“Hollywood Squares has had success in many countries around the world, and we’re convinced it will appeal to viewers in India,” CBS Studios International VP (international sales and production) Roxanne Lettman Pompa said.
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iWorld
Prime Video and Hrithik Roshan reunite for quirky heist comedy Mess
HRX Films expands pact with quirky heist comedy set for production
MUMBAI: Prime Video is doubling down on its partnership with Hrithik Roshan, announcing a new comedy film Mess that promises chaos, chuckles and a clever twist on the classic heist.
Produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under HRX Films, a division of FilmKraft Productions, the film is being made in association with Soda Films Lab. Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Mess marks the second collaboration between the streaming platform and HRX Films after the upcoming thriller Storm.
At the heart of Mess lies an unusual premise. A group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD, only to find themselves outmatched in a night-long standoff that flips the script on who is really in control. It is a set-up that blends tension with humour, turning a break-in into a breakdown of expectations.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said, “A good story should surprise and entertain, and Mess does both with ease. It brings together a unique premise, memorable characters and a tone that keeps you laughing throughout.”
He added that the collaboration with HRX Films continues to grow stronger, with the new film reflecting a shared appetite for bold and original storytelling.
Hrithik Roshan said, “After Storm, Mess feels like a natural next step in our journey with Prime Video. The film captures the kind of unconventional storytelling we want to champion, with Rajesh bringing a distinctive voice to the narrative.”
Director Rajesh A Krishnan said, “The world of Mess is a mix of comedy and chaos, unusual enough to keep audiences on edge while still delivering humour. It has been a deeply collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience.”
The original screenplay comes from Paul Soter, with adaptation and dialogues by Kapil Sawant, adding another layer of craft to the film’s offbeat narrative.
As production gears up, Mess looks ready to live up to its name, serving up a delightful tangle of mayhem, mischief and movie magic for audiences in India and beyond.
