GECs
Sony goes the activist way with the launch of ‘Rihhaee’
MUMBAI: Star Movies has renewed the live and exclusive broadcast rights to The Annual Academy Awards for India and Taiwan from 2005 to 2010.
NEW DELHI: In a true Marlon Brando style (the Godfather did not want to do the role of Don Corleone as he didnt want to glorify the mafia), SET India EVP Tarun Katial explained that his company was not glorifying crime, but just highlighting the ills in the society through programmes like Rihhaee as already reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com..
The BAG-produced serial, which goes on air at a late night slot of 10.30 pm from 9 February, is based on crimes against women. No wonder, the press conference to announce the series launch on Sony was attended by Delhi CM Shiela Dixit, social activist Nafisa Ali and activist lawyer Indira Jaisingh, all of whom pointed out how crimes against women is on the rise in the Indian society and need to be tackled urgently, but delicately because of the sensitivities involved.
Television with cause,is how BAG Films MD Anurradha Prasad described the series, which is in line with Sonys social responsibility as a corporate house.
Pointing out that Sony has always supported programmes like Bhanvar (based on real life legal cases) Missing (hosted by film actor Jackie Shroff) and Crime Files to highlight the seedy sides of society and also help in justice being carried out in some way or other, Katial said,At one time, we were even trying to call Rihhaee (freedom) Bhanvar II.
Sony and BAG are also looking at roping in other activist women personalities like Member of Parliament Shabana Azmi and some non-governmental organisations to endorse the new bi-weekly series.This would be part of a marketing strategy for Rihhaee, which would also include the other normal avenues that we adopt for promoting a new programme, Katial said.
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.
