News Broadcasting
‘Ramkhilavaan’ is not Laloo, says show producer
MUMBAI: Contrary to popular perception that Raamkhilavaan C.M. n Family is inspired by Laloo Prasad Yadav and his family, Vineet Kumar, who plays Raamkhilavaan, Sushmita Mukherjee, who plays Imarti Devi and the writer- producer Aswani Dheer, all strongly refute suggestions that the shown is inspired by the maverick former chief minister of Bihar.
“Basically we wanted to make a political satire. It’s sheer coincidence that the characters are similar to his family members,” says Aswani. Probed further, he says rather exasperatedly: “Just because the hairstyle of Raamkhilavaan and Lalooji is similar, one shouldn’t jump to conclusions that the character is inspired by Laloo. Tomorrow, if I show a politician with a French beard, you will say the character is inspired by IK Gujral.”
One understands that this kind of a sharp rebuttal is a conscious attempt by the producer to steer clear of possible controversies his satire might generate. After all, the similarities are far too striking to escape people’s attention.
Both Vineet Kumar and Sushmita Mukherjee also denied they had in mind Laloo’s or Rabri’s character while enacting the role. Sushmita says the brief that was given to her was to play a loud mouth ignorant “chammak challo” kind of Bihari housewife and that that was the only instruction she had in mind in preparing for her role.
Whether Ramkhilavaan is inspired by Laloo or not, one welcomes this bold political satire as a refreshing change from the same “formula” sitcoms that other channels have churning out. One just hopes it meets the success of Office Office.
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.
