Movie Channels
Ajay Devgn to promote indie films with a US production house
MUMBAI: Usually made on a shoestring budget and with limited resources, independent films have to grapple a lot to find their place among the right audience. But it seems there’s some help at hand for the indie filmmakers now.
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and Brillstein Entertainment Partners (BEP) have announced a partnership to form LA-based Shivalaya Entertainment. The development and financing outfit will focus on independent films that will aim for broad appeal.
Shivalaya has given a go ahead to its first film, Parched, that is centered on the bitter-sweet journey of women in the parched rural landscape of India. It was written and is to be directed by Leena Yadav who has directed Teen Patti, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley.
“At one end, traditional films continue to entertain and make business sense. At the other, there is a resounding presence of some new forms and voices making a mark in this ever expanding medium. I am keen to be a part of that growth, that change,” said Devgn in a release.
“I am coming forth to support the independent film process where we can share important stories that need to be told — global stories that will resonate with international audiences. Our collaboration with Brillstein is an important step in that direction, to ensure we have the best resources from the west to engage a wider audience,” he added.
BEP executive Jai Khanna said that the production house has projects in the pipeline targeted for an international appeal. “We will also be looking at working on projects with a diversity of talent, American or otherwise, with an aim to reach out to wider audiences,” he said Khanna in a release.
“The stories could be from any culture but with a universal appeal. We at Brillstein are perfectly positioned to bring these kinds of films to the table while packaging the appropriate talent that such stories merit.”
Movie Channels
Zee5 launches five free FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus India
New genre-led channels bring comedy, drama, horror, classics and South films to Smart TVs.
MUMBAI: Zee5 just turned Samsung Smart TVs into a free entertainment buffet because when premium content costs nothing, even the remote control starts smiling. Zee5 has launched five curated free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus India, making high-quality, genre-specific entertainment available subscription-free to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners across the country.
The five channels now live are:
Zee Comedy Nation – Popular comedy shows and movies
Zee Dil Se – Compelling drama series
ZEE Horror Nights – Horror and supernatural content
ZEE Cine Classic – Timeless Indian films
ZEE South Flix – High-energy South Indian films dubbed in Hindi
All content is drawn from Zee5’s extensive library and programmed in a lean-back, always-on format ideal for large-screen viewing. This launch strengthens Zee5’s Connected TV strategy at a time when 64 per cent of its premium content watch time already comes from connected devices.
Zee5 chief business officer Siju Prabhakaran said, “At Zee5, we believe accessibility and scale will define the next phase of digital entertainment growth in India. Our presence on Samsung TV Plus strengthens our Connected TV strategy, enabling viewers to discover curated, genre-led content in a seamless, free, and premium environment.”
Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta added, “Local partnerships are at the heart of how we grow Samsung TV Plus in India. Zee Entertainment is one of India’s most iconic media brands, and bringing their channels to our service means millions more Samsung Smart TV owners can enjoy premium local content, subscription-free.”
The channels are available directly through the pre-installed Samsung TV Plus app with no login or subscription required. This marks another milestone in Zee5’s CTV expansion and builds on its growing international presence, with Zee channels already available on Samsung TV Plus across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a streaming world where paywalls often block the fun, Zee5 and Samsung have quietly opened the gates, proving that sometimes the best things in life (and on your TV) really are free especially when they come with a side of comedy, drama, horror, classics and South Indian blockbuster energy.
