Movie Channels
Zee Cinema to premiere ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ on 18 Sept
Mumbai: Zee Cinema will telecast the direct-to-TV release of the film “Haathi Mere Saathi” followed by a streaming release on OTT platform Eros Now. The film will air on 18 September.
Written and directed by Prabu Solomon, the film stars Rana Daggubati, Pulkit Samrat, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Zoya Hussain, and Anant Mahadevan.
Adapted from a 1971 classic starring Rajesh Khanna, “Haathi Mere Saathi” explores the bonds between humans and animals. The film traces the narrative of a man fighting for the rights of elephants and the ecosystem.
“The pandemic disrupted the usual ways of presenting any work of art and led us to scout for ways to manoeuvre through the new normal. Unique initiatives like Direct-to-TV releases of films is our way of setting up a new path,” said Zee Hindi movies cluster, business head, Ruchir Tiwari. “Television is a medium of entertainment that is accessible by a majority of the people. And we always attempt to bring the latest and blockbuster films for our audiences.”
“Haathi Mere Saathi is amongst those rare projects that can educate, entertain, and inspire the viewers simultaneously. We are delighted to partner with Zee Cinema for a Direct-to-TV release. Its popularity across a diversified audience base spanning various age groups and countries will give the film the required reach,” said Eros International Media, chief operating officer, Kumar Ahuja.
“The film draws light on some serious issues faced by these communities and the thorough dedication to the cause. I feel privileged to be a part of a project like this,” said Rana Daggubati. “It is an important film and story that needs to be told and it’s great that through its Direct-to-TV release on Zee Cinema and post-release streaming on Eros Now, it will reach audiences across the nation.”
“When I first thought of this story, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to convey. I wanted to put across a germ of thought with a potential to ignite progressive conversations around the cause of protecting elephants and nature,” said Prabhu Solomon. “The film directly releasing on Zee Cinema followed by online streaming on Eros Now will help the film penetrate across different parts of the country.”
Movie Channels
Zee5 launches five free FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus India
New genre-led channels bring comedy, drama, horror, classics and South films to Smart TVs.
MUMBAI: Zee5 just turned Samsung Smart TVs into a free entertainment buffet because when premium content costs nothing, even the remote control starts smiling. Zee5 has launched five curated free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus India, making high-quality, genre-specific entertainment available subscription-free to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners across the country.
The five channels now live are:
Zee Comedy Nation – Popular comedy shows and movies
Zee Dil Se – Compelling drama series
ZEE Horror Nights – Horror and supernatural content
ZEE Cine Classic – Timeless Indian films
ZEE South Flix – High-energy South Indian films dubbed in Hindi
All content is drawn from Zee5’s extensive library and programmed in a lean-back, always-on format ideal for large-screen viewing. This launch strengthens Zee5’s Connected TV strategy at a time when 64 per cent of its premium content watch time already comes from connected devices.
Zee5 chief business officer Siju Prabhakaran said, “At Zee5, we believe accessibility and scale will define the next phase of digital entertainment growth in India. Our presence on Samsung TV Plus strengthens our Connected TV strategy, enabling viewers to discover curated, genre-led content in a seamless, free, and premium environment.”
Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta added, “Local partnerships are at the heart of how we grow Samsung TV Plus in India. Zee Entertainment is one of India’s most iconic media brands, and bringing their channels to our service means millions more Samsung Smart TV owners can enjoy premium local content, subscription-free.”
The channels are available directly through the pre-installed Samsung TV Plus app with no login or subscription required. This marks another milestone in Zee5’s CTV expansion and builds on its growing international presence, with Zee channels already available on Samsung TV Plus across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a streaming world where paywalls often block the fun, Zee5 and Samsung have quietly opened the gates, proving that sometimes the best things in life (and on your TV) really are free especially when they come with a side of comedy, drama, horror, classics and South Indian blockbuster energy.
