News Broadcasting
‘Duologue with Barun Das’ brings the unseen, unheard and unknown emotions of media pioneer Dr Subhash Chandra
Mumbai: Duologue with Barun Das has recently released its latest three-part webisodes, featuring Dr. Subhash Chandra, the man who pioneered private television in India, who bares it all, no holds barred. The webisodes are divided into three parts: An Enduring Enigma, The Business of Life, and Creator & Destroyer.
Be it about his politics, business, or human resource management, Dr Chandra opens up to Barun Das as the latter probes him intently on many contentious issues, summing up the journey so far of someone who the world has hailed as a media mogul. The never-say-die entrepreneur also added that he is eyeing a 25 per cent stake in ZEEL, a company he founded but recently lost control of.
So, confiding in his former CEO, who is now TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das, Dr Chandra traverses the journey of life, noting its highs and lows since his days as a rice exporter. Duologue with Barun Das draws out the media and entertainment thought leader’s persona like never before.
For instance, when the talk is about Dr Chandra’s recent electoral loss, Duologue with Barun Das has him turn philosophical.
The insightful conversation actually draws the Haryana-bred entrepreneur into a myriad of unseen, unheard, and unknown emotions, from the sublime to the subtle, from sagacity to serendipity.
On being described as a creator and destroyer, Dr Chandra wears a grudging smile as if receiving the comment as a compliment. Duologue with Barun Das featured a review of Dr Chandra’s performance as a business leader, especially the focus on human resource management at the leadership level with top exits generating headlines for the right or wrong reasons.
Dr Chandra opens up about his date with politics, his love for the idiot box, his restlessness with some “bad hires,” and his new-found love for Japan (Sony). Or, in response to a question on the loss of control of ZEEL (which he founded as a young businessman), the chairman emeritus of the company says he has not thrown in the towel yet.
Incidentally, Dr Chandra had turned to Das during the ZEEL takeover, making a passionate plea for “saving Zee” and this did come up during the show, with Dr Chandra identifying those he wanted the company to be protected from.
Duologue with Barun Das, has Dr Chandra dwell at length on the political landscape in the country, with Das quizzing him on his love-hate relationship with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.
In response to a pointed question about how he sees Arvind Kejriwal and AAP’s future, given that he has been aspiring to be a challenger to Nerendra Modi, the Zee founder did not shy away from expressing himself openly. “I doubt that the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal will do any good for this nation.”
On the corporate takeover of media questions (in reference to the Adani-NDTV deal), Dr Chandra put up a straight bat, but not without having a swipe at the business magnate who now owns NDTV.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
