GECs
Sony creative head Saurabh Vanzara quits
MUMBAI: It’s time for some goodbyes at Sony. Creative head Saurabh M Vanzara has called it quits. He put in his papers about a week ago and is currently on a holiday, while serving his notice period.
Vanzara has been with Sony for over seven and half years. His career credits include Heena, Saaya, Hum Sab Ek Hai, and Devi. He was also on of the key members to get Sony’s much talked about show Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin on board.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com Vanzara offered, “I needed to move on. I had been working as a director before Sony came along. I will now go back to directing. I am already working on couple of scripts and am in talks with a few people from the industry.”
Vanzara joined Sony in August 1996 as a creative head. He was in charge of developing new shows and monitoring on-air shows like Heena, Saaya, Hum Sab Ek Hai, Aahat and Bhanwar till July 2000.
“I would say that 2000-2001 was by and large the most memorable and challenging period during my stint at Sony. It was the time when Hum Sab Ek Hai, Saaya and it’s likes were launched. But since the past one and half years, one feels that there hasn’t been much freedom to do anything” he reminisced.
One of the key person, who handled projects like Jassi… right from the conceptual stages till January 2004, Vanzara has been hands on with many projects like Devi till recently. “In the past four five months the channel has undergone quite a few changes. And different looks means different outlook, so I thought I needed to change,” he says.
Vanzara holds a Diploma in Cinema (Film direction specialisation) from FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) Pune. During his stint as a director, he produced and directed a short film With Little Rhyme And No Reason, which won critical acclaim at 13 international film festivals, including Oberhaussen Film Festival, Germany. He has also worked on two Hindi films and one Canadian film as an assistant director.
From July 2000 to October 2001 he was appointed as creative head feature film production with SET Pictures, a subsidiary of SET India. Later in November 2000, he moved back to television as the creative head and has been holding the same portfolio ever since.
At SET, he has also directed various in-house projects like short fiction films, multi camera coverages of live events and studio-based shows, documentaries and various stand-alone programmes.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
