GECs
Vasanth TV and Vasanth & Co founder H. Vasanthkumar dies of Covid2019
MUMBAI: The dreaded SARSCOV2 virus claimed another victim from the television and political firmament today. 70-year-old Harikrishnan. Vasanthakumar, the founder of Tamil TV channel Vasanth TV, and Tamil Nadu’s biggest electronics retail chain Vasanth & Co succumbed to Covid2019 today in Chennai’a Apollo Hospital. Vasnathakumar was also a member of parliament representing the Kanyakumari constituency, a seat he successfully won in the 2019 elections.
The veteran Congress leader was admitted to Apollo Hospital on 10 August after showing symptoms of Covid2019. He was battling the virus since then was put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment as well as a ventilator. But the once-upon-a-time salesman-turned entrepreneur-turned politician gave up the fight on Friday when he succumbed to the disease.
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.
