Movie Channels
&pictures to premiere film ‘Sherdil – The Pilibhit Saga’
Mumbai: “Tu Sher hai, toh bhi Sherdil hoon!” adapted from a true story – Sherdil – The Pilibhit Saga follows the adventures of a fearless and courageous Jundao sarpanch who devises an absurd scheme to protect his community.
Set for its world television premiere, the film consists of an eclectic cast led by Pankaj Tripathi, and is intertwined with a hard-hitting theme and one man’s determination to bring about change.
Sherdil – The Pilibhit Saga is set to premiere on 10 December at 10 p.m. on &pictures.
Gangaram, who is prepared to sacrifice his life for his people by being murdered by a tiger, is the subject of the movie. This dramatic tale of life and death was enhanced with comedy and sympathy for the community’s condition as they were forced to take drastic measures to survive. As the clumsy Sarpanch and magnificent saviour, Pankaj Tripathi plays a part unlike any other, combining epic one-liners with traditional charm and the brave but helpless Gangaram. Neeraj Kabi and Sayani Gupta will also appear at crucial times.
In the film, we see the actor say, “Baagh ko maarne nahi gaye the jungle mein, hum toh baagh se khud ka shikar karwane gaye the!” That demonstrates his love for his people and the innocence that Gangaram professes. Neeraj Kabi and Sayani Gupta also play important roles in the film.
Written and directed by National Award winner Srijit Mukherji, Sherdil – The Pilibhit Saga perfectly balances some significant themes with unexpectedly philosophical bits rooted in everyday humour.
Talking about the world television premiere, Tripathi said, “Since I have lived in a village, I can understand the roots of Gangaram. But what took time was understanding my character’s specific behaviour. I played a very intriguing and layered character that helped me explore a different facet of myself as an actor. I always wanted to be a part of a film that shows the man-animal conflict; I was always concerned with the man-animal conflict, and Sherdil gave me that opportunity. Moreover, Sherdil helped me understand the emotions and vulnerabilities of my character. Working with talented actors like Neeraj Kabi and Sayani Gupta was a great creative experience. We intended to make a good film and thoroughly enjoyed working together and discussing the craft. Sherdil is a film that deserves to be seen by a larger, especially younger audience, and we’re thrilled that &pictures is giving this film the platform.”
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.
