GECs
Sony claims huge response as ‘Idols’ kicks off first leg in Kolkata
MUMBAI: The journey of Sony’s Indian Idol on what the network hopes will be its road to TRP riches officially kicked off today in Kolkata.
And if the number of registrations the channel claims have been received thus far, 200,000 in all, are anything to go by, the Indian avatar of the global reality hit should be off and running.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com over the phone from Kolkata, Sony’s executive vice president programming and response Tarun Katial says, “Well, in Kolkata alone we have received 50,000 entries, and the place is charged with energy. Due to auditions taking place by prior appointment, the situation is pretty much under control at the venue.”
Considering a figure of 50,000 in Kolkata alone, the question of converting every registration into an audition is not only an uphill task, but appears well nigh impossibile. Queried as to how his team was managing such huge numbers, Katial had this to say, “We have reworked our format in terms of our infrastructure, space and have pumped up our size to accommodate more people. What we have realised is that India is a different market and hence our means need to be in tandem. We’ve also extended our audition timings from 7 am – 10 pm.”
Two days (8 and 9 September) have been set aside for the auditions with an additional day (10 September) slotted as a walk-in day for people who didn’t manage to register.
Katial says all sorts of people have come in to contest, there have been sisters competing, a train driver accompanying his son, new moms. Also people from states outside West Bengal from as far away as Tripura, Jharkhand, Assam have come in to try their luck at fame, says Katial. There was even a boy from Bihar who had to be sent back as he was not carrying the appropriate papers, he added.
With the Kolkata chapter ending on 10 September, Idol’s next destination is the capital.
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.
