GECs
Chopra’s threat delays KFPA plans for blocking patrons of non-Kannada films
BANGALORE: Id, Monday,15 November, was a tumultuous day and the start of a tumultuous week at Cauvery theater in Bangalore. Plans to release Veer Zara were temporarily put on the back burner for the morning show due to protests from activists sent by the Kannada film lobby.
Many of them landed up in police custody to join some of their brethren who had been arrested a day before.
Of the three theaters, which had decided to release Veer Zara on Monday, Cauvery was the only one that went ahead with the release. The morning show had to canceled because of the protests. The theater later went ahead with the screening of the evening and the night shows, but, only balcony tickets were sold to prevent damage to the screen if any miscreants filtered thorough the body search carried out on every patron who wanted to see the movie by the police.
The other two theaters backed out from screening the movie on Monday because the police chief said he did not have sufficient policemen to deploy to all the theaters in view of the Id celebrations. Since Tuesday, Vaibhav and Swagth have started screening the film amidst tight police security. The film has been distributed directly by Yash Chopra.
Tuesday afternoon saw serpentine queues outside Cauvery theater in spite of a self-immolation bid by some activists of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike, 12 of whom were arrested.
The KFPA had plans to take to the streets from last Thursday onwards to protest the defying of the ‘self-imposed’ three-week moratorium forced on the exhibitors during a meeting called for by the government formed Pandey committee on 20 October. This meeting was chaired by the Deputy CM of the state.
However, following Chopra’s threat to approach the Supreme Court against the government and the police commissioner for contempt of Court, chief minister Dharam Singh intervened late last evening and averted what could possibly have been a violent showdown between the exhibitors and the KFPA activists. The KFPA has decided to put on hold their plans to take to the streets.
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.
