Movie Channels
Zee TV goes the HBO way, to make original movies
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Ltd is producing feature films in line with the “HBO Originals” concept, to be telecast at a dedicated slot on its Hindi general entertainment channel Zee TV.
Zee TV, which had earlier experimented with telefilms, plans to have 52 original movies in the first year of screening from January 2005. The company has already lined up production of 13 movies at an investment of around Rs 80 million, says Zee TV creative consultant Sudhir Mishra.
A majority of these movies will be made under the commissioned category. For the first 13 movies, Zee has commissioned six directors. Zee will also directly produce a few films while some will be through the acquisition route, says Mishra.
Zee TV is developing Sunday 8 pm as the “Premiere” movie slot. The commercial movies, which are currently being aired on the channel, will move to Zee Cinema. “We are positioning the slot along the `HBO Orginals’ line. The Zee Premiere brand will have movies made by noted directors primarily for the television channel,” says Zee TV business head Abhijit Saxena.
The directors on board for the 13 finalised projects are Kundan Shah, Saurabh Shukla, Karan Shah, Nagesh Kukoonur, Somnath Sen, Vipul Shah, Parvati, Shivam Nair, Sandeep Verma, Nupur Asthana and Manjul Sinha, among others. “These are not telefilms. They are made in a complete feature film format. We are using noted directors who have good stories to tell. They will be in different genres. They will not be like the commercial blockbuster movies that are launched in theatres,” says Saxena. The emphasis will be on good scripts, without getting caught in heavy marketing expenses and expensive stars.
Adds Mishra: “The idea is not to have the fix of making low-budget standardised movies for television. The stress will be on good script-based movies.”
Kundan Shah’s movie, tentatively titled Three Sisters, is being produced by Zee at a budget of Rs 70-80 lakh. “The budget will vary, depending on the kind of movies being made,” says Mishra.
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
