GECs
Sony looking to hook women with 2 divergent shows
MUMBAI: Ask anyone in Indian television land, and you will be told that it is only the woman viewer who can unlock the door to the TRP treasure trove. Following that logic, Sony Entertainment Television’s programming strategy is clear-cut! Strengthen women loyalty and build the viewership base by offering shows that progress beyond mere stereotypes.
Towards that end SET India business head Sunil Lulla announced today the launch of two new shows which promise to do just that. One, a soap titled Devi with heavy dollops of religiosity thrown in and the other, a comedy with elements of fantasy called Meri Biwi Wonderful. The latter show is the Indian version of the popular sitcom Bewitched from Columbia Tristar International Television.
SET’s NEW SLOGAN ‘AB AAYEGA MAZZAA’
Said Lulla: “In late July SET unveiled a slew of programme initiatives under the banner “Hot N Fresh”. Now our new programmes are being promoted by the slogan “Ab Aayega Mazzaa” (now the fun will start). This is to tell the viewer that the channel is the place not just for the serious viewer but also where you can have a lot of fun. With K3H we introduced interactivity and with Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqueeqat we looked to strengthen our weekend programming line-up. One of the shows that we are launching – Devi – is a step in that direction. We are looking to strengthen our weekend franchise which also includes thrillers like Achanak. To usher in the new season we have brought in a golden yellow colour look to the background.”
‘KKUSUM’ TO AIR 4 DAYS A WEEK
Devi will air every Friday at 9 pm from 20 September and revolves around Gayatri played by Saakshi Tanwar of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki fame. An astrologer predicts that this vulnerable woman orphaned at an early age will die at the hands of her husband played by Mohnish Behl who also hosts Bachke Rehnaa on the channel. Lulla said: “Devi is a woman-centric story dealing with oppression, relationships and human faith in divinity.” The launch of Devi will also mark the conversion of Sony’s top soap Kkusum into a from five episodes per week to four a week. Kkusum currently airs Mondays through to Fridays at 9 pm.
‘DEVI’ 1st TV SHOW OF AJAY DEVGAN’S PRODUCTION HOUSE
The show marks the first foray of Devgan Software and Television Footprints Production into the realm of television production. Film star promoter Ajay Devgan said: “In India everyone be he/she educated or uneducated, believes in some kind of supernatural power. We pray to many gods and goddesses and I thought that this was an interesting theme to explore in a modern and contemporary setting. What is unique about the show is that it shows the conflict between faith and destiny. Will Gayatri’s faith in Goddess Durga prevent what fate has in store for her is the question that will intrigue audiences.”
Also present was Head of Creative SET Saurabh M Vanzara. He said: “With Devi Sony is looking to mix the popular genres of the soap and the mythological. We want to demystify the concept of God by bringing it to a more down to earth level so that it doesn’t merely exist in a vacuum. Mohnish Behl is very effective in conveying a man who in the beginning is seen in a negative light. He is struggling to come to terms with himself and the rapidly changing circumstances. Although good must eventually prevail the audience is constantly unsure of the direction that he is coming from and I admire the commitment he has given to the role. Our future programmes will include a healthy mix of weeklies and dailies. With a daily one tends to focus more on the character. With a weekly one concentrates on the story to give the audience a broader perspective. We will focus on the woman through shows, which go beyond her role as a housewife and as a family member. We will look at her role as an individual and place in modern day society.”
The director of Devi is Anant Mahadevan whose resume includes The Sword of Tipu Sultan, Chingari. He said: “Veterans like us have seen the direction in which television has progressed from 1984 till now. I remember the days when we could take three days to shoot one episode. Now we have just one day. I would say that Devi is love in the time of cholera, a weekly in the time of dailies. The frequency of dailies became too hot for some of us to handle. That is why I took a break from television for a year. However, with Devi we have been able to improve the quality of programming by taking the television out of the drawing room and into the outdoors.”
SITCOM ‘MERI BIWI WONDERFUL’ INDIAN VERSION OF ‘BEWITCHED’
The second show that SET announced mixes comedy with elements of fantasy. Meri Biwi Wonderful is also a weekly starting on 19 September at 8 pm and will air every Thursday. It is the Indian version of the popular sitcom Bewitched. Three years ago a Mexican version of the show came out.
The story deals with Raj who falls for Angela not knowing that she has magical powers. He takes a promise from her that she will stop practicing magic completely. Needless to say she finds the temptation of using magic to settle awkward situations irresistible. Speaking on the initiative Lulla said: “A light hearted comedy Meri Biwi Wonderful aims at tugging the heartstrings of people across all age groups. With this show we have added a new dimension towards our goal of providing wholesome family entertainment to viewers.”
The producer is Asit Modi who formed Neela Telefillms. He said: “It is a situational comedy in which elements of love and affection have been highlighted. Most sitcoms are limited to dialogue or stand up routines. This show has elements of happiness and sadness. The trick for us is to find the magic in between.”
Also present was actress Tanaaz Currim. She said, “My last serial was Kal Bhi tho Milenge. Laughter has been missing on the television for a year. To be a wife who spreads happiness to all those who surround her is a refreshing change from the current scenario. Too often one sees women depressed, deprived, crying. We have done our best to stick with the original format. Of course the jokes have been tailored to suit Indian tastes.” .
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
