GECs
Star One’s launches four new shows in ‘Fantastic Friday’ band
MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its weekend line-up, Star One has unveiled a host of new shows for Friday night. Designed and packed as Fantastic Friday, it caters to various genres.
The channel has lined up a series of shows for Fantastic Friday night including D.O.N., The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 2, Mano Ya Na Mano and Jet Set Go.
Announcing the same, Star India creative director Shailja Kejriwal says: “Star One today is recognized for its innovative and differentiated concepts. Fantastic Friday brings unique new ideas spread across a variety of genres. These shows have universal appeal.”
Although, all the four shows are part of the Fantastic Friday programming block, they will launch on different dates. All the shows will be on air and by 10 March, are slotted sequentially running from 8 pm to 11:30 pm.
On 10 February, the one-hour detective show D.O.N. (Detective Omkar Nath) will air from 9 to10 pm.
On 24 February, the channel will launch two shows. The second edition of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is slated to air from 10 to11 pm followed by Mano Ya Na Mano from 11 to11:30 pm.
Mano Ya Na Mano brings back Siddharth Kak, the man behind the show Surabhi, which aired on the national network DD. In every episode of the show, the host Irrfan Khan will narrate two stories, which are mystical and revolves around real and unbelievable stories from all corners of the country. Interestingly, Zee TV had a similarly titled programme in 1995, which was the first show from the Balaji Telefilms’ stable.
While in the month of March the channel brings in the one-hour travel show Jet Set Go! from 10 March at 8 to 9 pm. The show has four television actresses hosting the show. This travel reality show showcases the four who will try and persuade people from the general public to take an all-expense paid vacation. The interesting aspect is that the four anchors with their respective contestant will compete amongst each other to reach the airport first, as there is only one ticket. The show will also have comedian Raju Srivastava as the studio anchor who traces the progress of the four anchors.
Last month, the channel had launched a daily fitness show Figure it Out on 3 January, which airs at 7:30 am.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
