GECs
First ever Kiwi Indian comedy series airs on Triangle Television
MUMBAI: This is an initiative that targets NRIs living in New Zealand. The 60,000 or so members of Auckland’s Indian community and all who enjoy a good laugh, are in for a treat.
The first-ever locally-made Kiwi Indian comedy series Desi Jamura Videshi Khel which translates as ‘Caught in a Foreign Web’ debuts on Triangle Television on 10 March at 8.30 pm and will have a 13 week run every Thursday.
The migrant tale, produced by Dr Rachel Singh of Dreamz Productions, will be in Hindi, with English subtitles. It deals with an Indian immigrant student, Akshat, whose life is full of challenges and quirky twists. Akshat quickly learns that the way he deals with the predicaments thrown his way can influence the direction his life takes.
Mandeep Singh was spotted for the lead role of Akshat while dancing at a wedding. He has made the unusual transition from flipping burgers to becoming the first Indo-Fijian actor to take the lead in a New Zealand television series.
Dr. Rachel Singh says, “We filmed on two locations a day, and did lots of night scenes. So we worked for about 18 hours each day. We gave the timing to the cast in advance so they could be available.” The 20 odd cast and crew members are all Indians living in Kiwi land.
Preparation for filming took about six months beginning in March 2004. Then, with a tight plan in place and a cast of 11 actors, the Dreamz team launched into filming the first series of 13 half-hour episodes in just seven days.
Triangle Television is Auckland’s only regional, non-commercial television station. It has operated as a public broadcaster to Greater Auckland since 1 August 1998. The channel screens a mix of regional-access television with international news and information programmes.
GECs
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
