Movie Channels
HBO snags rights for XXX: Return of Xander Cage in South Asia
MUMBAI: Two targets with one arrow – that’s how HBO views its new acquisition. The channel and its HD counterpart will be premiering XXX: The Return of Xander Cage on 15 October 2017 at 1 pm and 9 pm to engage existing audiences and acquire new ones.
Xander Cage is just one of the several premieres as part of HBO’s multi-year output deal with Paramount Pictures. Brands associating with the movie include TUV300 as the powered-by partner while Oppo is the presenting partner and Suzuki Gixxer, Canon and LG OLED TV are associate partners.
The American action film, directed by D. J. Caruso and written by F. Scott Frazier, also marks the debut of the talented actress, Deepika Padukone in Hollywood, as the svelte and tough Serena. Special promos shot with Padukone will be aired till the television premiere.
The movie being the blockbuster of the year for HBO, the channel is using both traditional and digital media for marketing. Turner India senior director and network head – English entertainment Rohit Bhandari says, “For traditional media, we use mediums like outdoor hoardings, print and radio to promote the film, while in digital we use the HBO India Facebook page to engage with our audiences along with some paid ads especially for the digital medium, with mobile being a key medium.”
HBO has the satellite rights for South Asian markets including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives for the movie telecast.
Fans of the espionage and high-octane combat are in for a treat, as Vin Diesel reprises his role of the daredevil, Xander Cage. Agency chief, Jane Marke, enlists Xander to help retrieve the mysterious Pandora’s Box that is destined to spell doom for mankind when in the hands of the ruthless antagonist, Xiang. Cage sets off on a deadly trajectory with his team of accomplices and renegades, replete with motorbikes, guns, jet skis and submarines.
The cast also features Donnie Yen, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, and Academy Award nominees Toni Collette and Samuel L. Jackson in pivotal roles.
For those who love spy games, brilliant gadgetry and spectacular feats, the much-anticipated return of Cage makes for a heady cocktail!
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
