GECs
Yamraj back on being the TV favourite
MUMBAI: The god we all dread has been the butt of many jokes on Indian television. The god of death aka Yamraj has appeared on a number of shows and in return has made the audiences laugh.
Once again, Yamraj is back in the television industry with two shows being aired on him.
Epic, the latest entrant in the Hindi entertainment space, airs Yam Kissi se Kam Nahi, a sitcom which takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the life of Yamraj as he tries, often unsuccessfully, to overcome various hurdles in his daily life.
Produced by David Polycarp and Vasant under the banner Trouble Makers Studios/The Company Productions, Rajesh Kumar plays the role of Yamraj in the sitcom. The channel usually airs weekly, but the sitcom is an exception. The programme, which shows Yamraj leading a life of an aam aadmi with his nagging wife, a troublesome brother-in-law, a disgruntled assistant, jealous neighbours, grumpy in-laws, an over-bearing boss and many other ordinary problems make up the daily life, is aired Monday-Friday at 8:30 pm.
Why a channel focusing on mythology and folklore chose to do a comedy revolving around the god of death? Says the channel’s MD Mahesh Samat, “We have an emotional connect with our past which has a spectrum of emotions. We wanted to encompass all aspects of history, including action, drama, romance and even comedy. If we are truly trying to capture Indian history, then we cannot ignore the Navras. ‘Yam Kisi Se Kam Nahin’ is a great example of taking a lighter look at history and mythology. It’s a sit-com that offers us a fictional look at Yamraj, viewed through a very different lens. It aligns with our approach of offering content that is meaningful and engaging.”
On the similar lines, Sab, a comedy channel from the Multi Screen media (MSM) stable, will soon replace Chandrakant Chiplunkar Seedi Bambawala with Yam Hai Hum. The show produced by Swastik Productions is said to be based on the famous movie Taqdeerwala featuring actors Daggubati Venkatesh, Kader Khan and Asrani.
The show will see Manav Gohil playing the lead character of Yamraj and air Monday-Friday at 10 pm.
What is intriguing is that two channels will air shows revolving around the somewhat same characters. One will only have to wait and see which one will be able to make a connect with the viewers.
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.
