GECs
Zee Records goes on the overdrive
NEW DELHI: At a time when the global and Indian music industry is reeling under pressure of falling margins, what do you do? Try de-risking the business by flanking the companys strategies with innovative ideas. Zee Records, part of the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms, is attempting just that.
Of late, Zee Records has been proactive after being a part of Kagaar and Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon and the game plan is to arrest the falling margins by getting associated with commercially viable projects instead of the mega titles.
Simultaneously, DVDs and VCDs of all popular programmes of Zee channels would be launched in the domestic and international market under the home video category.
“The whole idea is to deliver good music and viewing and make money too. There is no point in making extravagant buys that dont make profits at all, a Zee Network spokesperson told indiantelevision.com.
This, perhaps, is a good strategy because even large music houses are feeling the heat on account of poor recoveries from the market.
An off-shoot of such a strategy is also to capitalise on the parent companys software library. Zee Records recently launched Zee Records Home Video, an idea not looked at before by the company or other similar media organisations.
Popular programmes, created by the Zee Network over a decade, will now be available on VCD and DVD format for exclusive home viewing purposes.
Every popular television show like Khana Khazana, Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, Live At Ras Barse, Namaste India, Akbar Aur Birbal and a host of other popular entertainment and edutainment software will soon be made available on VCDs and DVDs across the globe.
Various live concerts like those featuring Madhuri Dixit, Govinda, Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hasan and regional programs will also be launched in both the Indian and international markets. Additionally, film rights, both Indian and international, are being acquired for home video entertainment purposes.
Besides this, there will be renewed thrust in the music business, with continued focus on new releases in both the film and non-film segments. “Zee Records shall exclusively market and distribute the music and home video of six Ram Gopal Varma movies worldwide, having started with Darna Mana Hai. Besides acquiring new film music rights, there will also be sustained releases of both remake and original non film-titles,” the Zee spokesperson explained the strategy.
Zee Records Home Video will be built up as an intrinsic part of the Zee Records brand and all home video titles will be launched under this brand name only. The products will be supported by in-programme advertising and through on- air promos on the Zee Network.
Headquartered in Mumbai, Zee Records has an extensive national and international distribution network with branch offices in Kolkatta and Delhi and C&F agents in eight other metros and mini-metros. They service an estimated base of 111 wholesalers and over 40,000 retailers across the country with a good penetration level even in semi-urban India.
Over the years, the company has released a number of super-hit films and albums summing up to over 200 titles in its catalog. Notable amongst them being – Yaraana, Agnisakshi, Lahoo Ke Do Rang, Yeshwant, Naseeb, Yaron Sab Dua Karo, Woh Kaun Thi, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, Gadar – Ek Prem Katha, RD9, Haseen Lamhe, Gori Teri Aankhen, Waisa Bhi Hota Hai, Calcutta Mail, Bappi Magic – The asli Baap Mix, Bikini Lounge Mix, Mudda, Darna Mana Hai, Mai Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
