News Broadcasting
Spate of new shows on Star from July
Don’t look, it’s changing.
In another fortnight, Star Plus is all set to roll out some fresh programming, calculated to lull the devout and hook the soap addict, and tickle the couch potato’s curiosity with a re-packaged comedy.
A still from Gurukul
In a marked departure from the usual mytho fare, the channel has decided to devote Sunday mornings to religion, mythology and culture, with three new shows from 7 July. Jai Mata Ki at 9 am brings Hema Malini back to the small screen as Mata Bhubaneshwari donning various avatars including those of Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi, Gauri and Jagdamba.
Yatra, up next at 10 am, has model-actor Deepti Bhatnagar donning the role of producer, director and anchor as she takes viewers to various pilgrim centers in India and even allows them a view of the sanctum, where prayers and rituals are regularly performed. Star has managed to get melody queen Lata Mangeshkar to sing the title song of Yatra, which has been penned by Manoj Muntashir and composed by Roop
A still from Kehta Hai Dil
Kumar. Gurukul, the third of the Sunday package, is a show that is ‘packed with inspiring tales of ancient Indian civilization, told through Upanishads, Vedas, palmistry and the Gita’.the series will shed light on little know aspects of Indian civilization, age old temples, saints and parables and myths, says the channel.
According to Star Plus senior VP programming Tarun Katial, the shows are designed to bring solace to jaded souls bogged down by stress, fatigue and deadlines during the week gone by.
A still from Kumkum…Asoka, the series that winds up end June, will be replaced by Kehta Hai Dil, a weekly show from the UTV stable that will address different issues like dowry, teenage infatuation and bigamy at a social and emotional level. The cast of this show that probes the ‘mindset of the majority’, includes current small screen icons Aman Verma, Ram Kapoor and Gautami Gadgil and will air every Tuesday at 9 m.
And for those who thought the lather on the soap was wearing thin, Star is working up a fresh one. Kumkum – Pyara sa bandhan, a new mondays to Thursdays afternoon show, has all
the hit ingredients of popular soaps distilled into
one. It’s all about a close knit family, the
Deepti Bhatnagar in Yatra
favourite daughter in law, emotional conflict, business tangles, illegitimate children and terminal illness – all rolled into one. With not a single element of the classic Indian soap opera left out, this one should score bull’s eye with viewers. Directed by Sanjay Upadhyay and Neelima Bajpai and produced by Anuradha Prasad, Kumkum, starring Juhi Parmar (who played the lead in Shaheen), Hussain ( Chirag in Kyunkii) and others will go on air from 3.30 pm on 15 July.
Hema Malini in Jai Mata Ki..
Krishna Sharma c.a, the weekly comedy on Star Plus too is readying for change. Commening with a change in name – its now Krishna Arjun, the show comes in a new format – concept, packaging and cast. Krishna (Shraddha Nigam) is now to be joined by Arjun (Hussain) to make up a savvy investigative team, a la Remington Steele. The channel says the new series is racier and highly stylished, with each story broken up into two or three episodes.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
