GECs
Sanjivani lives to be 100
MUMBAI:Hospital drama turned romantic soap Sanjivani – A Medical Boon will be completing its 100 episodes on 17 December. What started as the story revolving around the lives of four medicos beginning their internship at Sanjivani hospital, turned into the complicated love triangle of Dr Rahul, Dr Juhi and Dr Simran and now into one of the most popular weekly Indian serials, guided of course by the TRPs.
Come February 2004, some fresh interns and a ‘refreshing change’ in the storyline are lined up to perk up some more interest in the show.
The man behind Sanjivani, Cinevistaas’ creative head Siddharth Malhotra comments, “It is unlike any other show on TV. Although, it is not hospital-oriented as we meant it to be at the start, it still has elements which regular shows don’t offer. It is a young love story and its selling point is its freshness. The credit of its success goes to the entire team involved in making this show. It works because even after 100 episodes, every person on that team puts as much effort now as they did on the first episode.”
Star Plus’ Neerav Vaidya, creative head for Sanjivani agrees. He believes that the credit of its success lies in the unique mix of romance and medical issues. “Even the glamour we do is understated and does not resemble the typically loud saas bahu dramas. Rahul and Juhi have become icons in their own way. Viewers return every Wednesday because they identify with the characters,” he says.
So what’s on the cards for Sanjivani now? A 20-year leap with Rahul and Juhi’s children becoming doctors with the same ideals? Malhotra answers, “We are trying to get new interns into the show but we are finalising things with Star Plus. Whatever we do, the basic plot involving Rahul and Juhi will not change. Their love story will mature into something different. But when that will happen I can disclose only after a short while.”
Without revealing much, Vaidya also briefly outlines his vision for Sanjivani. “We are planning a refreshing change. You can watch out for it maybe around end of February next year.”
GECs
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
