GECs
Zee brings first English-language South Asian reality show to U.S, ropes in Lexus & Wells Fargo
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL), a worldwide content company, is breaking new boundaries globally by making a tremendous impact in the U.S. The organisation’s leading Hindi channel, Zee TV, which was the first Hindi channel to be launched in the U.S. in 1998, is now making its presence felt in Hollywood.
‘Made In America’ has attracted some of the respected brands such as Lexus, All State Insurance, and Wells Fargo bank as sponsors.
As of August 2017, Zee TV Americas launched the first English-language South Asian reality show, ‘Made In America.’ The show is entirely produced and filmed in the U.S.A. and marks the first time that a channel of Indian origin is producing content at a global scale for international audience.
The show centers around six South Asian millennial women who were chosen from a nationwide search in the United States, which drew in over 6,000 applicants. Hosted by Nina Davuluri, the first-ever Indian American woman to be crowned Miss America, the six women are mentored by Nina as they are pushed to their limits for over a period of 10 weeks in various types of training, while competing to win the coveted title of ‘Made In America.’
Zee TV Americas CEO Sameer Targe states, “We realised that there was a need in the marketplace to reach a younger South Asian audience who have an enormous desire to be in the glamour world. Zee TV, being the flagship television network for south Asians in the United States, we decided to launch ‘Made In America’ to fulfill their Hollywood dreams, and create a platform for them to be able to showcase their talents.”
As each episode focuses on one specific challenge ranging from an array of categories, at the end of each episode a winner is chosen, leading to a final single winner in the season finale of the show, which will air on 12 October, 2017.
Zee TV Americas is the first South Asian network to indigenously create such original content, both developed & produced in Hollywood. Viewers can expect an array of new programs produced in the U.S. by Zee, which will air on the channel throughout 2017 and 2018.
The newly developed shows will center around a variety of genres and topics. From a reality series where professional matchmakers will seek suitable matches for the participants, leading to a possible wedding in the finale, to a biographical series based on successful Indian American entrepreneurs and philanthropists in which their journey to success stories are shared. The channel will also be airing a first of its kind business show and game show. The business show will give hopeful entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their products and ideas to a panel of expert investors for a chance to have their product invested in, whereas the game show will give families across America a platform to compete with one another in various subjects to win the title of, ‘America’s Smartest Family.’
As Zee TV Americas broadens its footprint in programming catered towards its current subscribers as well as millennials, the network has assured that the highly anticipated content that it has created will be like nothing that its viewers have seen before on any other South Asian channel.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
