GECs
BBC World to launch ‘India Business Report: Bollywood Inc’ on 3 July
MUMBAI: Bollywood is coming to BBC! BBC World will feature a show India Business Report: Bollywood Inc, which will examines the business of Bollywood world. The show will air from 3 July onwards at 11 am.
The series India Business Report: Bollywood Inc. will take an in-depth look at significant facets of this fascinating industry, and will speak to Bollywood’s leading film personalities, financial firms and cinema analysts about modes of financing, in-film branding, the advent of new age technology, fancy multiplexes, international marketing and overseas sales, informs an official communiqué.
The series will explore one of the most important phases of the Indian film industry, its corporatisation.
The series begins this weekend with an overview of Bollywood, talking to filmmakers and film historians such as Shyam Benegal, Suresh Chabaria and Manmohan Shetty.
According to the release India produces more than 800 feature films every year in almost a dozen languages. However Anindya Roychowdhury, an analyst at KPMG, comments: “Indian film industry revenues are around US$1.3 billion and Bollywood is, say, only 40 per cent of that, which is around US$600-700 million. But in reality it’s Bollywood, which actually controls the psyche, has a large influence on every Indian psyche.”
In the following weeks, Bollywood Inc would showcase a look at film financing and analyses sources of funding such as individuals, institutions and corporate entities. The series also highlights the key elements in Bollywood’s value chain, from distribution networks, multiplexes, international film marts such as IIFA.
The programme brings viewers face to face with Bollywood’s new age directors, and charts the evolution of an actor into a superstar, examining the association between actors and advertising. Another episode explores the relationship between Bollywood’s famous song and dance routines and the brand-building exercise behind some of the greatest blockbusters.
Finally, the programme explores the challenges faced in marketing a movie and the concept of integrated selling using multiple media vehicles.
India Business Report: Bollywood Inc is sponsored by Skoda and LG, and produced for BBC World by UTV.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
