GECs
When the stars become one of us!
MUMBAI: Much as we love and admire our film and television celebrities, how would we react if we saw them as one amongst us, leading a life as mundane as ours!
Well that’s something viewers may soon find out for coming to drawing rooms in April is a show that brings together celebrities and commoners even as famous people attempt to live the life of an aam aadmi for a day.
Mission Sapne, produced by Sobo Films and slated to premiere on Colors next month, is rooted in the belief that in order to make a difference, one needs to go out there and understand the trials and tribulations of the common man. The proceeds will go towards helping the cause of the less fortunate.
10 names from showbiz will grace the show in avatars quite unlike their usual selves. Karan Johar will turn photographer at the Gateway of India; Salman Khan a barber; Varun Dhawan a coolie; Siddharth Malhotra a vegetable vendor; Ranbir Kapoor a vada-pav seller; Harbhajan Singh a namkeen seller; Mika Singh a chaiwallah; Ram Kapoor a taxi-wallah; Drashti Dhami a nimbu-mirchi vendor; and Ronit Roy a cosmetic seller. Sonali Bendre will play the host.
Says Colors CEO Raj Nayak: “With everything that our audiences have given us in making Colors a household name, Mission Sapne is our endeavour to give back to the society by bringing the life of a common man to the limelight and sharing his/her story for the world to behold. We thank all the celebrities associated with the show for extending their support and helping us lighten the burden of a tough life from some less fortunate shoulders by raising funds for their welfare.”
Each episode will feature a common man and his problems. His favourite actor/actress will step into his shoes for a day and try to solve his difficulties. For instance, Salman will extend support to Qurban Ali, a barber who lost both his legs in an accident. The money earned will be multiplied and donated to someone in need.
Apparently, Sobo Films had created a similar concept in the Marathi language called Bole to Malamaal. Realising its potential, the producers thought of adapting it into mainstream TV. “We had done this in the regional space before and it was a huge success. We thought we could take this to the Hindi GEC space and see how it worked,” says Sobo Films director, Smruti Shinde. “I think, though it hasn’t been aired yet, it has been very well received by all the celebs,” adds Shinde.
Of the 10 episodes, seven have been shot at locations such as the Gateway of India, Seven Bungalows and Crawford Market in Mumbai while the remaining three have been shot at Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Delhi.
Speaking of the actual shoot that was completed within eight days, Shinde says, “We knew what the show was all about so it did not take us much time to get it on the floor. We just had to format it in the Hindi GEC space and slight alterations were made from the Marathi space. In a month’s time, we had finished planning and shooting for the show.”
Did the celebrities take some convincing to come on-board the show? “There was no difficulty in getting the celebs on-board. When we approached them, they loved the concept and were ready to accommodate the dates. Normally, celebs perform in front of the audience, but in this show, they are one amongst the audience. They actually go on-ground and earn money for the common man,” reveals Shinde.
Ask them and media professionals will call it a PR gimmick on the part of Colors. “What will the channel show for that duration? The success of the show completely depends on the treatment. If they can make it entertaining enough, people will watch it. At the end, a viewer wants entertainment and that is what sells. If they are able to find enough entertainment footage, then it can work wonders for the channel,” opines Helios Media managing director Divya Radhakrishnan.
GECs
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
