GECs
TV channels celebrate the colourful festival
MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year when you say, ‘Bura na maano, holi hai’ and smear your friends’ faces with vibrant colours. It’s that time of the year when you drop your inhibitions and get drenched in the colours of the season.
TV channels, over the years, have been a reflection of the type of content the audiences can relate to. From the popular saas-bahu on Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) to your cartoon characters, all have celebrated festivals in tandem with Indian audiences.
On Holi, several channels in the entertainment space have rolled out special shows to spread the festive vibe.
One of the leaders in the GEC market, Zee TV celebrated the colourful festival this year with Holi Bemisaal- Jamai Raja Special. Bringing together the entire Zee family, the Holi special showcased television’s favorite on-screen couples frolicking in the spirit of Holi on 1 March at 5 pm.
Amidst the dramatic twists and turns and action, television’s favorite couples enthralled the audiences as they performed to some memorable Holi numbers in this entertainment extravaganza.
As for Colors, it was a double treat for the viewers as the channel showcased an hour long holi special maha sangam episode of Shastri Sisters and Sasural Simar Ka on 2 March at 7 pm.
On the other hand, Star Plus’ sister channel Life OK will showcase an evening filled with extravagant celebration. Adding a sprinkle of stardust to the viewers celebration this year, Life Ok’s Holi Hai… Life OK hai brings you breathtaking performances by actor Arjun Kapoor and the Baby Doll singer Kanika Singh. The duo along with the star studded cast of Life OK will be seen burning the dance floor.
Hosting the festival of colours along with a dash of music, dance and comedy, will be Karan Veer Grover. The stage will be set on fire by Elli Avram and her special water act. The event will air on 6 March at 8 pm.
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) too is integrating the festival of colours in one of its popular show – Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyar.
Kids channels are also not shying away from the festival. With Holi around the corner, Pogo is showering kids with loads of colour, prizes, movies and excitement. The channel has lined-up the Filmy Holi Aayi Re stunt from 5 to 8 March featuring the best of Chhota Bheem movies and specials to entertain kids throughout the festive weekend.
The celebrations begin with a four-day line-up featuring Chhota Bheem with Bollywood celebrities. Tune-in to Bang Bang with Bheem, Dholakpur ka Singham, Bade Dilwale Bheem aur Indiawale and Bheem aur Salman ki Kick from 5 to 8 March at 11 am.
Last but not the least, kids stand a chance to win exciting Holi-themed prizes like Inflatable Pools, Water Sprayers, Digital Cameras and much more by participating in the Filmy Holi Aayi Re contest.
To top it all, Zoom celebrates Holi with the stars. The channel will be hosting the annual festivities on the day itself (6 March), in the presence of well-known television celebrities and Sunny Leone.
In an on-going contest, viewers are encouraged to tune in to the channel between 9 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 7 pm daily and ‘Guess the Celeb’ to win exclusive passes for Zoom’s Holi Party 2015.
Moreover, viewers will need to keep a close eye on the channel during the timeslots and identify the celebrities which will be shown on the screen. The face of the celebrity will be coloured and a new face will be shown every 15 – 20 minutes.
Once identified, participants will have to give a missed call on 088205 88205. Participants with the highest number of correct answers get a chance to win passes to the Zoom Holi Party 2015. Hundred such lucky winners will be able to celebrate one of the biggest festivals in India with their favourite celebrities.
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.
