GECs
Zee to release ‘Bhagmati’ in June
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms is finally unveiling its 2D animation film Bhagmati mid June this year. Zee has plans to tap the international market by going for a global release.
In Bhagmati, `live’ actors interact with animated characters. The Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) studio has taken care of the animation part.
Essel Group VP corporate communications and brand development group Ashish Kaul told indiantelevision.com that Bhagmati had over seven million hand-drawn frames and this process took some time to complete.
Kaul, who has also been entrusted with the responsbility of marketing and distributing Bhagmati, India’s first live and animation film, said the stress would be on the novelty of the movie and the campaign would be a simple one.
Zee is planning to use a mix of outdoors and other media to create the buzz. Definitely, Zee Network will also play its role in the communication.
The network is also releasing the film in international territories, including France, Russia and the UK. Kaul says the effort is to get audiences from places where the Indian art and culture are immensely popular.
“These are huge territories as far as film business is concerned. Since we are stressing on the heritage of India in the film, we expect it to have a good run in these places. Also, the film will give an idea to the international audiences about what India can do in animation,” he says.
Bhagmati is about the making of Hyderabad and as part of its marketing and communicaton strategy, Zee would use a lot of reality components in the campaign.
Bhagmati – the queen of fortunes is a legendary love story between price Mohd.Quili Qutub Shah and his ardent love, and the beauteous Bhagmati. History says, the fourth Qutb Shahi ruler built the city of Hyderabad at the behest of his lady love. Directed by national award winner Ashok Kaul, the movies has Tabu and Milind Soman playing the lead roles. Hema Malini is giving a special appearance in the movie by delivering a classical dance performance.
This film is of two hours and 40 minutes duration with about half of it in animation and six songs by renowned writers and music composers like Bashir Badr, Abbas Tyrewala, Nida Fazli, Ravindra Jain and Ashok Kaul. Asha Bhonsle, Sadna Sargam, Suresh Wadekar, Roop Kumar Rathod have lent their voices to the music of Vishal Bhardwaj. The film also has a quawalli by the popular Sabri brothers.
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.
