Film Production
Synpronize enters into multiple key African content deals in Ghana, South Africa, and for pan-Africa
MUMBAI: Nitin Michael and Hasnaa Descuns, co-founders of Synpronize, a Dubai-based content distribution and production company, announced that multiple program deals were entered into for Africa with eTV, Onua TV, and StarTimes.
Drama series Cello was licensed to Onua TV in Ghana. This intriguing tale explores an indecent proposal, following what happens when compelling circumstances prevent a cellist and her pianist husband from starting their life-long dream business project, an unscrupulous businessman steps in with an unscrupulous offer, and the couple find themselves torn between integrity and their desire for money. Cello is originally an Arabic production that aired on MBC which is the Middle East’s leading broadcast network.
eTV licensed romantic drama series Piya Naam Ka Diya (aka All for Love) that talks about a simple girl who falls in love with the wrong man without seeing true love that was right in front of her. It takes us on her journey of discovering her feelings, her goals and finding a balance in life.
A deal was done with major African Pay TV platform, StarTimes for two drama series — Swaragini (aka A Tale of Two Sisters), a tale about the life of two half-sisters bought up witnessing the fierce rivalry of their family, especially their grandparents; and Gathbandhan (aka The Odd Couple) – a gripping story of two opposites: a gangster and a police officer and how their lives intertwine. These programs were originally in Hindi and telecast on one of India’s top-rated TV channels Colors.
Hasnaa Descuns stated: “ Synpronize is thrilled to have such a great reception for our premium dramas in several African countries with great partners such as eTV, StarTimes, and Onua TV. Synpronize is expanding further into Africa and these partnerships are indicative of the great relationships that help us build our company reach and the high-production and compelling dramas will delight and engage audiences everywhere.
Media General GH LTD, Ghana programs head Joel Hammond stated: “We are grateful to Nitin and Hasnaa for bringing us Cello for Onua TV. Synpronize is a trusted partner in the region and we look forward to a long and fruitful association. Our audiences are sure to enjoy this superbly produced drama series.”
eTV content specialist Marli Schulze added, “We are continuously scouring the globe in search of uplifting stories that will resonate with our discerning viewers. We are excited to test Piya Naam Ka Diya as a fine example of Pakistani-produced content.”
Film Production
Priyanka Kaur Dhillon joins SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution
A seasoned content dealmaker with 16 years in digital and satellite media joins the Bengali entertainment powerhouse as it pushes into the pan-India music market
Mumbai: Priyanka Kaur Dhillon has made her move. The content acquisitions and commercials veteran, most recently commercial manager at Sony Pictures Networks India, has joined SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution, stepping into one of the more interesting briefs in regional entertainment right now.
SVF is no ordinary regional label. Over 30 years it has built a formidable legacy in Bengali cinema and music, driven by culturally resonant storytelling and a catalogue that consistently punches above its weight. Its recent success with Chiraiya underlines the point. But the Kolkata-based powerhouse now has its sights firmly set beyond Bengal, most visibly through Legacy, a rap reality series produced in collaboration with hip-hop label Kalamkaar that signals a deliberate push into the pan-India music ecosystem.
Dhillon brings precisely the kind of muscle SVF needs for that expansion. At Sony Pictures Networks India, she led film acquisition and commercials and handled music licensing across the entire satellite network. Before that, she spent nearly 15 years at Hungama, rising to assistant general manager and leading strategic content licensing for the platform’s digital entertainment business, with a particular focus on international markets. Her label relationships span the full roster: Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, Believe International, Tunecore, The Orchard and a clutch of smaller aggregators. She has negotiated and closed deals with Hollywood studios, Bollywood production houses and regional content players alike, building pricing models and deal structures off data analysis rather than instinct.
Announcing the appointment, Dhillon said she was “thrilled to begin this journey with an iconic Bengali music label and content powerhouse,” adding that SVF’s “constant drive to push boundaries” was what drew her to the role.
SVF has spent three decades proving that regional does not mean limited. With a sharp commercial operator now steering its music distribution, its bid to go national just got a good deal more serious.
