GECs
Zee launches kiddie daily ‘Chi and me’ on Monday
MUMBAI: Zee TV is launching Chi and Me on 15 October, 2004, Monday-Friday at 7 pm.
Touted as a novel variety entertainment show for kids, Chi and Me is the story of the triumph of an underdog.
With the plot sounding eeringly similar to yesteryears Hollywood blockbuster ET or more recently to blockbuster hit of 2004 Koi Mil Gaya, rest assured that it will be crammed with fantasy element to delight the imagination of the viewers.
According to Zee TV business head Abhijeet Saxena, “Zee TV has always focused on entertaining all age group audiences with cutting edge and variety shows. Our new show Chi and Me is a fantasy driven show for kids and we firmly believe that this aspiring generation will relate to the exciting adventures of Chi and Me. With this bacha band we reiterate our commitment towards our viewers and present ourselves as the channel providing a complete television viewing.”
An adventure tale Chi and Me’s protagonist is a 12 yr old boy Sachin a fun-loving, mischievous boy who is brought up in a small town- Dalhousie by his mother, says a company release.
Meanwhile Rahul, a scientist working for a national space research institute, who stays in Mumbai with his wife and two daughters. He is Sachin’s father Avi’s best friend, who comes to Dalhousie after Avi invites him too. But by quirks of fate, Avi does not meet him and Rahul gets Sachin to Mumbai to take care of his education.
Initially Rahul’s kids don’t take to him well, they treat it as intrusion into their space well. That apart, his small town bearing proves to be a further distancing factor – ridiculed by the neighborhood kids as well, says the release.
In his life comes the alien Chi who is his only friend. Chi has remarkable powers. With the help of Chi, Sachin changes the way people feel for him and soon he wins over Rahul’s kids. The show is fun- filled and is about these kids and the emotions of Sachin, trying to cope with the big city life.
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.
