GECs
MTV and MTV Beats launch digital innovations amidst lockdown
MUMBAI: MTV and MTV Beats are here to ensure that the audiences are in for daily dose of entertainment during lockdown. Be it on TV or on social media, there is a host of content to offer that will surely keep the young guns engaged and entertained.
Viacom18 youth, music and English entertainment marketing head Navin Shenoy said: “We have always believed in a hybrid approach i.e. inclusive of TV and digital when it comes to our young audiences. Therefore, amidst this lockdown, we have created a strong proposition on both these platforms. Television consumption for youth in India has risen by 12 per cent* while there is an 87 per cent* surge in social media usage. Our content, therefore, is reflective of this paradigm shift and designed to pique consumer intrigue and interest.” He further added, “While on TV we are bringing back some of the most popular seasons of our tentpole properties, on social media we have created content capsules such as MTV Adda and Lockdown Stars that cater to the varying interests of our fans and curate a more personalized interface for them with their favourite celebs while being at home. Music From Home on MTV Beats is an apt offering to make social distancing an entertaining experience.”
MTV Adda comes as the ultimate recipe to kill quarantine boredom. To help the audience get the best out of social distancing, this initiative lets the fans get up, close and personal with their favorite celebrities from the house of MTV. From the OG Roadie Rannvijay Singha and beauty with brains Neha Dhupia, to the ever-gorgeous Anusha Dandekar, designer Masaba Gupta, the very witty Vikas Gupta and the suave Nikhil Chinappa, MTV Adda has the most loved celebs give away easy home workouts and beauty tips, dance lessons, culinary guidelines and much more only on Instagram. Some lucky fans will also get a chance to be a part of the LIVE and interact with their favourite celeb while showing off their in-home skills.
Catering to its whopping following of over 25 million on social media, MTV has also introduced a one of a kind offering to tap into the diverse talents of its fans and help them be the next social media sensation. Hosted by the super gorgeous VJ Gaelyn Mendonca, MTV Lockdown Stars is an innovative talent hunt show that gives MTV fans a chance to impress everyone with their talent but in less than a minute. All they need to do is upload a video of a performance on Instagram, tagging @MTVIndia with the hashtag, #MTVLockdownStars. From dancing, singing, cooking to mimicking and even standup comedy, MTV Lockdown Stars has a place for everyone to excel. The best entries shortlisted by Gaelyn along with MTV will get a chance to perform their acts in an hour-long LIVE event on Instagram as part of the final artist line-up, curated by the channel.
Tapping the popularity of gaming amongst the youth, MTV also brings MTV After Hours, a unique initiative that lets the users interact with the MTV squad in an innovative format, every Friday at 11 pm. For the first time, MTV will step into the world of popular online games and dabble with the players. As part of the property, MTV will reach out to the superstars of digital cult games and bring together novices and pros alike, engaging them on MTV’s buzzing social media.
And there's more to indulge in. Hustle from Home is yet another exciting initiative to get up and close with some aspirational rappers on how they’re honing their skills amidst the lockdown. On the Instagram page of @mtvhustle, top contenders of the first season will go live and interact with budding rappers, every day at 6PM to discuss how they are utilizing this phase to improve their writing and composing skills.
To add a splash of music to the monotony, MTV Beats has launched Music from Home to make ‘work from home’ more musically +VE. As a part of this, fans can log into the Instagram page of MTV Beats and witness a stellar line up of artists like Darshan Raval, Kailash Kher, Shreya Ghosal, Papon, Dr. Palash Sen, Shalmali, Jonita Gandhi and many more go live from their homes and jam to their most popular tracks. Fans can also dedicate songs to their loved ones with MTV Beats Farmaaish, where the artists will perform to the song requests during the LIVE and also call out their endearing dedications. Not just that, fans will also get a chance to do a Social-Distancing Chat and interact with the artist during the LIVE using the dual video feature on Instagram. The channel has also curated a special Work From Home and a House Party playlist to dabble through the never ending work tasks with some fine soulful Bollywood melodies and refreshing upbeat music.
On television, amidst the lockdown, MTV and MTV Beats has brought back some of its highly rated shows to let its audience relive the drama and excitement. Some of the most loved shows like Ace of Space S1, Love School S3, MTV Hustle and Splitsvilla X along with Roadies Revolution are back on MTV, FitStop with Sunny Leone, Dil Beats with Darshan Raval on MTV Beats are there to ensure there isn’t a dull moment for its fans.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
