Movie Channels
AXN to create buzz in real time courtesy ’24’
MUMBAI: AXN is going about its mission of providing thrills through the critically acclaimed espionage drama 24. Kiefer Sutherland plays a counter terrorism unit agent trying to prevent an assassination of a senator running for the office of US President. The title indicates both the time span of an entire day as well as the number of episodes.
Speaking on the programme strategy, AXN Asia MD Todd Miller said that in the competitive Indian television market AXN stood out on account of its single minded focus on action and adventure.”Our business is all about the buzz and we work hard to live up to the expectations as a channel that constantly provides an adrenaline rush. We launched 47 new shows last year and this year we will continue at that level,” he said.
Miller also said that with the launch of 24 from 8 April, every Tuesday at 10 pm, the Prime Zone will shift from 8 to 10 pm. The change came about as a result of analysing television viewing trends in the country, he said.
“For us the primetime peak occurs late in the evening. This could be due to the fact that people work late and so take that much extra time to reach home or due to familial obligations. On Prime Zone you will see different series each night, which have both pedigree and buzz,” states Miller.
“Another shift is that all movies will air over the weekends. The film every Sunday at 8 pm will be designated AXN Action Theatre. While these changes are being made what does not change is our aim of offering viewers a potent mixture of action, reality, escapism, daring and irreverence which went put together gives an electrifying buzz,” he adds.
Asked about the delay in introducing 24 Miller said that this year the channel had deliberately been quiet so far on account of the cricket World Cup. Now the April-June period will see the launch of 11 shows including the third season of Crime Scene Investigation, the fourth season of Pacific Blue which has been described as Baywatch on wheels in the Prime Zone. CSI will air every Wednesday at 10 pm from 9 April. Pacific Blue will air every Monday from 7 April. In addition Tia Carriere returns as the Relic Hunter for the third time on Thursday’s.
Later on in the year the channel will introduce The Shield with Michael Chiklis, which has won a Golden Globe. Who Dares Wins India Special will be back for another round. AXN will also introduce a show from the NBC stable Boomtown.
Elaborating on the first hot attraction of the year 24 , Miller said,”The show deals with counter terrorism unit agent Jack Bauer facing the longest day of his life. Not only is a senator about to be assassinated but his daughter has been kidnapped and there is a mole within the CTU. Since launching in the US 24 like many of our shows has won many awards including a Golden Globe for Kiefer Sutherland, an Emmy for the writing. Every hourly episode reflects an hour spent in real time and this makes the show very realistic. In the US in fact it has attained cult like status.”
The show cleverly uses the split screen technique to give viewers a view of different things going on at the same time. A ticking clock shown at regular intervals adds to the intensity of the situation. The ad campaign has cleverly taken a few prominent figures of today’s political world namely George Bush and Osama Bin Laden. One ad picture has Bin Laden saying, “I have nothing to do with this.OK.”
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.
