GECs
Discovery to premiere ‘Life of Buddha’ as part of Discover India series
MUMBAI: Discovery plans to take viewers on a spectacular spiritual journey of a lifetime as it premieres Life of Buddha.
The programme will be aired as a part of the popular Discover India series, and will premiere on Saturday 16 October at 8 pm and repeat on Sunday, 17 October at 1 pm.
Five hundred years before the birth of Christ, a young Indian prince set out on a spiritual journey in search of the ultimate truth. A journey that was to inspire him to establish one of the world’s oldest religions. Discovery Channel hopes to traces back that journey to present the most spectacular account yet of the Life of Buddha, says a company release.
Using computer-generated imagery, latest archaeological findings and interviews with leading experts in the field, Discovery Channel unravels in graphic detail, Prince Siddhartha’s epic journey in search of moksha – from Lumbini, his birthplace, to Bodh Gaya – the place where he attained enlightenment.
According to the release, historical accounts, rare ancient scripts and interviews with leading historians are used to reconstruct key episodes from this journey. His Holiness, The Dalai Lama himself is interviewed in the programme as he explains the significance of each new discovery that the young prince made and its role in defining the principles of the religion.
The programme also interviews the head of the Mahabodhi Temple at Gaya, who describes the moment of enlightenment as ‘a fleeting moment of a wink’, one that cannot be explained, yet one that gave birth to one of the first religions of the world, more relevant today than ever, adds the release.
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.
