Fiction
Zee TV presents unique new show ‘Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah’
Mumbai: Picture this: a newborn baby, just a day old, with tiny fingers dipped in ink, their prints recorded as criminal before they’ve even spoken. This is the harsh reality for the Chitta community, where a child’s fate is decided before they begin life.
Zee TV’s innovative audience feedback initiative, Hamara Parivar, offers a fresh perspective by highlighting an often-ignored issue. The show ‘Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah,’ set in the fictional town of Mokshgarh in Jharkhand’s Jamtara district, explores the systemic injustice faced by the Chitta community. Children in this community are labeled criminals from birth, denied education, forced into hunting, and exploited by feudal lords who dominate the region.
Produced by Guroudev Bhalla Productions, Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah follows the journey of seven-year-old Jagriti, a determined girl from the Chitta community who rejects the fate imposed on her. Intelligent and hopeful, Jagriti questions the unfair labeling of her people as criminals. Her curiosity and sense of justice often get her into trouble, but she remains committed to challenging the unjust system. Asmi Deo, who plays Jagriti, has gained attention since the show’s promo aired.
Aarya Babbar returns to television after an eight-year break, playing Kalikant Thakur, the wealthiest and most powerful man in the village. Kalikant is corrupt and misogynistic, bribing local officials to protect his illegal activities. When his smuggling operations are disrupted, he frames innocent members of the Chitta community. Kalikant’s rule highlights the harsh world that Jagriti is determined to fight against.
Zee TV chief channel officer Mangesh Kulkarni said, “Having actively listened to our viewers via our innovative audience feedback mechanism – ‘Hamara Parivar’, we are taking them into a very different world rarely seen on television with our upcoming show Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah. The story strikes at the heart of systemic injustice through the lens of a young child belonging to an oppressed community branded as criminals at birth. Her innocent questions demanding only her basic rights will tug at viewers’ heartstrings, making them root for her. As Jagriti gradually evolves into a powerful voice of resistance, the show invites viewers to join her on a journey of hope, empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. With a gripping storyline and standout performances, the show adds an interesting new flavour to Zee TV’s vibrant content mix.”
Producer Guroudev Bhalla said, “I’m thrilled to team up with the team at Zee TV yet again on Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah. This gripping narrative delves into a world where a community is unjustly labeled as criminals from birth. Deprived of education and oppressed under Kalikant Thakur’s tyranny, the Chitta people face systemic discrimination. To bring their plight to light, we have some really strong actors on board and they’re packing in impressive performances. If the show sparks conversations about social inequality and its lasting impact on real lives, we will feel truly validated.”
Aarya Babbar said, “I’m excited to return to television with Jagriti: Ek Nayi Subah after an eight-year break. Working with this talented team has been a joy. I deeply immersed myself in my role, perfecting the dialect and body language. Playing Kalikant Thakur has been my most complex and compelling negative role yet. I’m eager for audiences to experience our powerful story.”
Asmi Deo said, “Playing Jagriti has been a dream come true. This show stands out, and working with such a talented team has been a rewarding challenge. Jagriti is a girl of my age, but to see her being deprived of all the rights that I enjoy; makes me understand the unfortunate social discrimination in our society. It makes me value the opportunities that education provides. I’ve poured my heart into my character and can’t wait for everyone to see the magic we’ve created.”
Jagriti – Ek Nayi Subah premieres on 16 September, airing every day at 8:30 pm on Zee TV.
Fiction
Banijay merges with All3Media in $6.65 billion deal
Marco Bassetti will lead the combined company as CEO
PARIS: Six years after acquiring Endemol Shine at the height of the pandemic, Banijay has struck again. The European production heavyweight is merging with All3Media in a deal that will create a television titan with $6.65 billion in revenue and redraw the contours of a fast-consolidating market.
The combined company will trade under the Banijay name and be owned 50 per cent each by Banijay Group and RedBird IMI, which acquired All3Media in 2024. The transaction is expected to close by autumn, subject to regulatory approvals.
Banijay Entertainment CEO Marco Bassetti, will take the top job at the enlarged group. All3Media CEO Jane Turton becomes deputy CEO. RedBird IMI CEO Jeff Zucker will serve as chairman.
The logic is scale. Broadcasters are commissioning less, streamers are tightening budgets and global buyers are fewer but bigger. Against that backdrop, heft matters. The merged entity will generate roughly $6.65 billion in revenues based on 2024 figures, giving it sharper elbows in rights negotiations and deeper pockets for franchise-building.
“Entrepreneurialism, ambition and creativity” remain core to Banijay’s DNA, Bassetti said, flagging plans to invest more heavily in new intellectual property, live events and emerging platforms. Turton struck a similarly bullish note, pointing to All3Media’s journey from a 2003 start-up to a global supplier of hit formats and high-end drama.
Between them, the two groups control a formidable slate. Banijay’s catalogue spans MasterChef, Big Brother, Survivor, Black Mirror, Peaky Blinders and Deal or No Deal. All3Media’s labels include Studio Lambert, producer of The Traitors and Squid Game: The Challenge; Two Brothers, behind The Tourist; and Neal Street, currently producing the forthcoming Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes for Sony.
The back catalogue is equally muscular. Banijay Rights holds some 220,000 hours, while All3Media International adds around 35,000 hours, forming one of the industry’s largest libraries.
Banijay, controlled by French entrepreneur Stéphane Courbit and listed in Amsterdam, counts more than 130 production companies across 25 territories. All3Media operates over 40 labels, with strong positions in the UK, US and Germany. The enlarged group will also lean into live entertainment, building on Banijay’s Balich Wonder Studio, which produced the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, and the Independents.
The deal marks a shift in tone. As recently as October, Bassetti suggested that mergers and acquisitions were not a priority. But the drumbeat of consolidation has grown louder. Mediawan has moved for Peter Chernin’s North Road. David Ellison’s Paramount has agreed to a $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros, with plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount plus. ITV has explored selling its media and entertainment arm to Comcast-owned Sky, though talks have reportedly slowed.
