Movie Channels
Star Movies launching ‘Made in India’ Sunday prime time block 6 April
MUMBAI: “Come home to the Indian movies”. That tag line will not be too far off the rails when Star Movies gets that “Desi” touch to its movie titles come April.
From 6 April, Star Movies introduces a Sunday 9 pm prime time block branded “Made in India”, Tarun Katial, senior V-P programming content & communication, Star India, tells indiantelevision.com. Kicking off (literally) the proceedings will be Gurindher Chadha’s celebrated international sleeper hit Bend it like Bekham.
“We’ve acquired 18 to 20 such movies which we will be showcasing in the coming months,” says Katial. “English movies addressing the Indian Diaspora are becoming increasingly sophisticated and now Indian-origin movie makers are making films that go beyond the merely exotic and reach out to a much wider audience, says Katial, on why he is convinced this initiative will be a hit with Indian TV viewers. “While most of these films have had limited theatrical releases, the exposure they will get through the telecasts will also encourage more such ventures down the line, says Katial.
Chadha, Meera Nair, Aparna Sen, all A-list directors of Indian origin who’re making a name for themselves internationally, are behind three of the main films in the current lot of acquisitions that Star has made. Chadha’s Bend it like Bekham, Nair’s Monsoon Wedding and Sen’s Mr and Mrs Iyer are the movies that will be telecast, says Katial.
Among the other films that will be showcased include Bollywood Calling, Sam and Me, Mystic Masseur, Such a Long Journey, Wings of Hope, Perfect Murder, Freaky Chakra, Everybody Says I’m Fine and Inscrutable Americans.
Katial says the Star team is developing a series of promos that capture the emotional feel of these movies. There will also be a major marketing push launched leading up to the Bekham telecast planned over the next few weeks, he reveals.
But before that it is Oscar Fever Month that is taking up mind space on the channel. It climaxes with the exclusive live telecast of Hollywood’s big night on the 24 March at 6:30 am (repeat telecast at 9 pm).
“Immediately after the Oscars we will be premiering Jurassic Park III,” says Katial. This is the third film in a franchise that has delivered to the channel some of its highest ratings (with the honorable exception of Titanic of course).
Star Movies is clearly hoping that this initiative will propel it well ahead of main rival HBO in the movie title race. What HBO comes up with as a riposte should make for interesting watching.
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
