Movie Channels
NFDC’s Raja Chhinal passes on
MUMBAI: The National Film Development Corp of India lost one of its flag bearers on 17 May. Deputy general manager Raja Chhinal died in BLK Hospital in New Delhi where he was undergoing treatment after suffering from a brain abscess and undergoing surgery for the infection. He had been ailing for a while. He was only 47 and leaves behind his wife and twin daughters.
The reason why indiantelevision.com is writing about his is because he was the man who worked on a lot of the Indian independent film maker delegations that made their way to the Cannes Film Festival, Berlinale and MIPCOM and MIPTV, Hongkong Filmart and many other markets. And he was key to the pavilions that were set up there.
A mild and unassuming professional he was a hardcore long-term NFDC executive and played an important role – along with the then managing director Nina Lath Gupta – in transforming the film funding corporation into the outfit that it is today. For her, he was the go-to man for international markets. And for Film Bazaar, held in Goa, which has become the annual event for the independent film making community the world over.
Social media was full of expressions of shock and condolences to Raja.
“So sad to hear. A good soul,” wrote Lunchbox director Ritesh Batra.
“Very, Very Tragic,” expressed film maker Onir.
Said Indo German Films founder Stephen Ottenbruch: “ “We will miss you Raja. Rest in peace.”
“God bless his soul with eternal peace. A luvly human being…gone too soon.
Heartfelt condolences to his family. Sad,” opined VR Films joint managing director Krishi Dutt.
“Dear Raja, There's so much to write and say on the little ways in which you made a difference to the Indian indie scene and to NFDC! All I can say here is thank you, god bless & you will be missed. Rest in Power! And in Peace,” penned MovieSaints India head Anupama Bose, who worked with him closely at NFDC some time back.
We at indiantelevision.com also offer our condolences to his family and to his colleagues – former and current – at NFDC.
Picture courtesy: Svetlana on twitter
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.
