Movie Channels
Max to telecast film dedicated to R D Burman on his 75th birth anniversary
NEW DELHI: The genius maestro and singer Rahul Dev Burman aka Pancham Da, son of the veteran maestro Sachin Dev Burman, is being remembered by most radio and television channels this week to mark his 75th birth anniversary.
While Big FM has already announced a concert, ‘Yaadon mein Pancham’ and is devoting some time to his films, other channels have planned similar programmes.
One of the most creative music directors of Bollywood, ‘Pancham Da’ is being featured on special programmes on Sony Max on 27 June at 9.00 pm, Sony Mix on 28 June at 9.00 pm and Max 2 on 29 June at 7.00 pm.
The programme ‘Pancham – Mujhey Chaltey Jaana Hai’ attempts to bring out hitherto never seen before nuggets.
R D Burman, probably the only composer who could play all the musical instruments available during that time; brought with him the colour of modern sound unlocking a path to new and original sounds which created history in Bollywood, despite the fact that his father Sachin Dev was steeped in folk music.
The film will feature celebrities from the Bollywood industry who were an intrinsic part and had the opportunity to be up close and personal with the enigmatic Pancham Da. Stalwarts sharing the intricacies of what went into making a genius called RD Burman and will feature in the film are Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Pyarelal, Asha Bhosle, Shantanu Moitra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Manna Dey.
The film will give viewers an insight into Pancham Da’s inner being through an incisive look into his genius artistry.
“R.D Burman was a legend who still rules the hearts of millions all across the globe. It is our honour to salute a man of such stature by showcasing his classic work and his journey to become an idol through the distinctive film ‘Puncham – Mujhey Chaltey Jaana Hai. I am certain that the visuals and anecdotes of the mega star will inspire audiences of all age groups,” said Sony Max senior EVP and business head Neeraj Vyas.
Rahul Dev Burman (27 June 1939 – 4 January 1994) composed musical scores for 331 films between the 1960s and the 1990s. The best songs of Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, were composed by Pancham Da.
Perhaps Pancham Da is the only music director whose songs and music inspired the making two Hindi feature films, both following in quick succession.
While Dil Vil Pyar Vyar directed by actor-filmmaker Anant Mahadevan came in 2002, Jhankaar Beats directed by Sujoy Ghosh came a year later. Both films are about aspiring musicians who owe their inspiration to Pancham Da and even gain fame singing his songs.
Movie Channels
Zee5 launches five free FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus India
New genre-led channels bring comedy, drama, horror, classics and South films to Smart TVs.
MUMBAI: Zee5 just turned Samsung Smart TVs into a free entertainment buffet because when premium content costs nothing, even the remote control starts smiling. Zee5 has launched five curated free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus India, making high-quality, genre-specific entertainment available subscription-free to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners across the country.
The five channels now live are:
Zee Comedy Nation – Popular comedy shows and movies
Zee Dil Se – Compelling drama series
ZEE Horror Nights – Horror and supernatural content
ZEE Cine Classic – Timeless Indian films
ZEE South Flix – High-energy South Indian films dubbed in Hindi
All content is drawn from Zee5’s extensive library and programmed in a lean-back, always-on format ideal for large-screen viewing. This launch strengthens Zee5’s Connected TV strategy at a time when 64 per cent of its premium content watch time already comes from connected devices.
Zee5 chief business officer Siju Prabhakaran said, “At Zee5, we believe accessibility and scale will define the next phase of digital entertainment growth in India. Our presence on Samsung TV Plus strengthens our Connected TV strategy, enabling viewers to discover curated, genre-led content in a seamless, free, and premium environment.”
Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta added, “Local partnerships are at the heart of how we grow Samsung TV Plus in India. Zee Entertainment is one of India’s most iconic media brands, and bringing their channels to our service means millions more Samsung Smart TV owners can enjoy premium local content, subscription-free.”
The channels are available directly through the pre-installed Samsung TV Plus app with no login or subscription required. This marks another milestone in Zee5’s CTV expansion and builds on its growing international presence, with Zee channels already available on Samsung TV Plus across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a streaming world where paywalls often block the fun, Zee5 and Samsung have quietly opened the gates, proving that sometimes the best things in life (and on your TV) really are free especially when they come with a side of comedy, drama, horror, classics and South Indian blockbuster energy.
