iWorld
ZEE5 brightens Diwali with Manoranjan festival & special premium subscription discounts
Mumbai: ZEE5, India and Bharat’s largest home-grown video streaming platform, the multi-lingual storyteller and the OTT arm of ZEEL, announced the Manoranjan Festival and exclusive festive discounts on premium subscriptions for ZEE5 viewers. Starting from 4 – 14 November 2023, ZEE5 is streaming 18 premium SVOD titles across 6 languages at zero cost. The platform has announced a 30 per cent discount on premium HD subscription at Rs 699 from 3 to 15 November. Along with this, consumers can avail a 40 per cent discount on 4K subscription at Rs 1199/- from 3 to 9 November and a 50 per cent discount from 10 to 15 November at Rs 999.
The slate of free-to-watch festive entertainers includes marquee titles across thrillers, fiction, romance like Padman, Kaagaz, Jhund in Hindi; Bangarraju, Varudu Kaavalenu, Rang De in Telugu; Bommai Nayagi, Captain, Valimai in Tamil; Bhajarangi 2, Ek Love Ya, Arjun Gowda in Kannada; Thattassery Koottam, Vedikkettu, Prakashan Parakkatte in Malayalam; and Har Har Mahadev, De Dhakka 2, Zombivli in Marathi. Further, prominent TV shows across languages will celebrate ‘Ghar-wali Diwali’ with ZEE5 viewers on the platform.
ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, “For the festive season 2023, our focus was on expanding the offerings on the platform for both the formats to ensure the wider audience is benefitted. On AVOD, in the last quarter we have launched unique content through campaigns every month alongside releasing top blockbusters for premium users. Audience response has been positive with an increase in engagement on the platform through our family entertainers. I hope audiences will enjoy the Diwali offerings as we assure to continue creating quality entertainment for ZEE5 viewers.”
ZEE5 is one of the fastest-growing OTT platforms in India as per latest industry reports, with a significant presence in regional markets. The platform is known for its diversified content across over 100 taste clusters and its focus on real, relevant, and resonant storytelling. In 2023, the platform had announced a massive slate of 111 titles spanning across genres and formats. Today, ZEE5 is present in over 190 countries and is home to over 5 lakhs+ hours of on-demand content, over 160 Live TV channels and a strong library of 4000+ titles in 12 Indian languages. With a seamless user interface and amazing user experience, the platform is the highest rated OTT platform on both Android PlayStore and iOS App Store with a rating of 4.5/5 on the Android Play Store and 4.8/5 on the iOS App Store.
Tune in for a Mega Entertaining Festive Period from 4 Nov- 14 Nov only on ZEE5!
iWorld
Asha Bhosle, the unforgettable voice that sang a thousand emotions
The melody that defined generations has fallen silent, but her songs will echo forever.
MUMBAI: The voice that once lit up countless silver screens and brought rhythm to millions of hearts has stilled. Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, one of the most versatile and prolific vocalists in Indian film music, passed away at the age of 92 in Mumbai on Sunday. She was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday night after suffering cardiac and respiratory issues and had reportedly been unwell for several months.
Her son, Anand Bhosle, confirmed the news on Sunday afternoon. The last rites will be performed on Monday.
Born in 1933 into the illustrious Mangeshkar musical family, Asha began her journey in the golden era of Hindi cinema. She recorded her first film song at the age of nine in 1943 and, by the 1950s, had already carved a distinct space for herself in Bollywood. While her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar often took the more melodic, heroine-centric numbers, Asha quickly became the go-to voice for energetic cabaret tracks, dance numbers, and later, the full spectrum of emotional expression.
The 1950s–60s: Rise of the Cabaret Queen In the early decades, Asha was frequently typecast for “item songs” and Western-style numbers. Yet even within those constraints, she delivered unforgettable hits such as “Aaja Aaja” from Teesri Manzil and “O Haseena Zulfon Wali” from the same film. Her playful, sassy delivery gave these tracks a magnetic energy that still feels fresh today.
The 1970s: Peak Versatility This was the decade that cemented her legendary status. Songs like “Dum Maro Dum” (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” (Caravan), “Chura Liya Hai Tumne” (Yaadon Ki Baaraat), and “Yeh Mera Dil” (Don) became cultural touchstones. Asha proved she could swing from seductive to soulful with equal ease, working with almost every major composer of the era.
The 1980s: Emotional Depth and Ghazals After marrying composer R.D. Burman in 1980, Asha explored more nuanced, introspective territory. Her National Award-winning performances in Umrao Jaan (“Dil Cheez Kya Hai”) and Ijaazat (“Mera Kuch Saamaan”) showcased a matured, velvety voice capable of profound emotion. These tracks remain among the most cherished ghazals in Indian cinema.
The 1990s–2000s: Global Collaborations and Reinvention Even as newer voices emerged, Asha refused to fade. She collaborated internationally with the Kronos Quartet and released experimental albums. Later in her career, she lent her voice to younger composers and continued performing live, often sharing the stage with her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle.
A Life Beyond the Microphone Asha’s personal journey was as dramatic as her filmography. At 16, she eloped with Ganpatrao Bhosle, her personal secretary. The marriage ended in separation in 1960 after they had three children. In 1980, she married R.D. Burman in a union that faced family opposition but brought creative synergy. RD passed away in 1994.
Throughout her life, Asha remained grounded, often crediting classical music and ghazals for keeping her voice sharp. In a 2023 interview, she admitted she rarely listened to contemporary film songs, preferring the timeless works of Bhimsen Joshi and classic ghazals to stay inspired.
Her seven Filmfare Awards and two National Film Awards are merely numbers; the true measure of her legacy lies in the thousands of songs that still play in homes, cars, and hearts across generations. From the foot-tapping energy of “Dum Maro Dum” to the haunting beauty of “Mera Kuch Saamaan”, Asha Bhosle gave Indian cinema a voice that was simultaneously bold, tender, playful, and profound.
The golden era has lost one of its brightest stars, but the music she created will continue to refresh souls for decades to come. As the final notes of her extraordinary journey fade, India bids farewell to a voice that truly defined an era.
