GECs
Sahara packs in movie punch for October
MUMBAI: Whether movies are the flavour of the month or not is a different story all together. But Sahara sure is packing in some good old ‘masala’ punch this October.
In a bid to fortify the content, Subrato Roy’s flagship channel has adopted a new stance — package the new launches with movies.
While big screen stars continue to waltz with Sahara, what with Hema Malini’s long in-making Kamini Damini finally debuting on the channel, the channel is all geared to launch Raja Mukerji’s Prratima. In what seems like a strategy to hook the viewers, Sahara will be preceding Prratima’s relaunch by week long Amitabh Bachchan movie fest.
In addition to the mass entertainment shows, the channel has already premiered its kiddie fare, Contiloe production’s Aavishkar. A superman tale has a half man-half robot as its protagonist, complete with a gizmo laden world and evil villians.
The channel will be premiering two of Bachchan’s recent releases Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan starrer Dev and Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi starrer Kyon Ho Gaya Na.
The next launch – Kuch Love Kuch Masti is preceded by Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan starrer Khushi and Vivek Oberoi and Ajay Devgan starrer gangster flick Company.
In addition to premiering Dev and Kyun Ho Gaya Na, Sahara is looking at buttering its weekend movie slots with premieres of latest movies like Dhoop, Saaya, Sheen, Run and Gayab.
Movies seem to be the safe bet for the festivals and others holidays as well, with the channel lining Dhoop, Lajja, Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, Company and Khushi. But the channel is playing slow on Sundays owing to cricket series between India and Australia and has placed older movies in afternoon slot on Saturdays and Sundays.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
