GECs
Sony pulls off ‘Pehredaar Piya Ki’, aims at developing viewer interest in upcoming shows
MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment, after facing flak for its show ‘Pehredaar Piya Ki’ and Broadcasting Council’s fiat to shift it, has pulled off the show altogether. The council had also earlier asked the channel to run it with a scroll, reading that it does not promote child marriage.
After being shrouded in controversies and days after Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) directed it to shift the show in late night slot from prime time, Sony has finally taken the call to discontinue it.
Launched on 17 July, the show attracted the audience’s ire over its content, which showed a nine-year old boy into a marriage with an 18- year-old woman. The show was slammed for being “regressive”, with many viewers accusing it for “promoting child marriage.”
Two weeks ago, the BCCC directed the channel to move the show from 8.30 pm to the 10 pm slot but now, effective from 28 August, 2017, the channel has stopped telecasting the show.
In an official statement, channel stated: “We are pulling off our programme, Pehredaar Piye Ki, from television. While we understand that the decision to end this serial will be disappointing to those whose creative energies are vested in it, namely, its crew and cast, we (as a channel) are convinced that we will be better served by focusing instead on developing viewer interest in our upcoming, new shows.”
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.
