GECs
70’s rock dominates ‘Top Gear’s search for best driving song
MUMBAI: The British public have nominated their top five finalists in BBC’s car show Top Gear’s search for the greatest driving song ever. Seventies rock rules.
Coldplay may be the hot band of the moment, but when it comes to music for the open road, the UK’s favourites are a blizzard of dandruff and denim, with rockers such as Deep Purple and Steppenwolf beating off U2, The Prodigy and Nirvana to the final five. The five chosen sonmgs are Radar Love by Golden Earring Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf, Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen Highway Star by Deep Purple and Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf.
Over the next five weeks Top Gear will feature a film about each of the nominees. Each film will include a background to the song and extra information. The winner will be announced on 7 August.
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.
