News Broadcasting
‘Kittie Party’s success is a victory for women: Shobhaa De
MUMBAI: Women from smaller towns have reacted favourably to Kittie Party’s theme of female bonding! This statement by celebrity novelist, script writer, journalist and socialite Shobhaa De said it all on the occasion of the celebration bash of Kittie Party’s century of episodes on air.
Sidhant Cinevision organised a get together at Mumbai’s Onyx resto pub for the entire unit of the serial which is aired on Zee TV in the prime time night slot. Spotted were the likes of Shobhaa De, Shveta Salve, Poonam Dhillon, Kavita Kapoor, Deepshikha, Kunika, Kiran Kumar, Raza Murad and several others adding to the glam appeal.
Zee had launched Kittie Party on Monday, 19 August 2002. It revolves around the lives of eight women who meet every month. The serial explores their individual lives through these meetings. It is not just about bored rich hausfraus splurging their excess cash on the phenomenon called the ‘kitty party’.
Shobhaa De with the cast of Kittie Party Writer Shobhaa De has sensitively brought out their honesty even as she brutally exposes their frailties, their obsession with class and their weakness for the rich life.
While speaking to indiantelevision.com, writer De says: “People have reacted in a favourable manner and this response has come from metros as well as smaller towns such as Indore, Nagpur and Coimbatore. I have been surprised by the response from people in different walks of life. This proves that the premise of female bonding and women meeting one another to discuss their lives is being accepted in several places in the country.”
Actress Poonam Dhillon echoes this sentiment and says that her role has been appreciated by women audiences including her near and dear ones. “Kittie Party reflects the aspirations and dreams of today’s Indian women,” she adds.
Manish Goswami’s Sidhant Cinevision has left no stone unturned to give the show top notch production values. The look as well as the background score is of a uniformly high quality and certainly seems to have done justice to the estimated Rs 450,000 per episode cost of the series. Sidhant also hired a special art director to bring in the required element of gloss.
“In this age when viewers tastes are changing rapidly, it was a challenge for us to create and sustain interest. Kittie Party is a unique serial and its characters are refreshingly bold, convincing and comfortable with their selves,” adds Goswami.
“Since the situations are from every day life, audiences are able to identify the characters and the conflicts they deal with,” says a Zee spokesperson.
De also took a swipe at the kind of fare that dominates prime time television, saying that the story was about issues relevant to today’s women and not the “saas-bahu sagas where the protagonists’ mindsets were 50 years behind the times.”
Actor Kiran Kumar who plays the character of Manoviraj in Kittie Party adds: “It was dream come true to be associated with Shobha De as I am a great admirer of her work. My character is that of a progressive male who gives space to his women without being too dominating.”
“As far as Kittie Party is concerned, the eight women appealed to me. Their characters are very identifiable. It’s like we see these women around us especially in urban society,” director Tamara Nedungudi.
“No, I won’t say it has a limited appeal. I would say that every household will be able to strongly relate with at least one of the main characters in the show. That is what makes it appealing overall,” Nedungudi adds.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
