Factual
Animal Planet to premiere ‘Rann Bhoomi’
MUMBAI: The eternal conflict between predator and prey plays out on a series of diverse backdrops around the world and often the changing nature of the environment can tip the odds in favour of either the hunter or the hunted. Airing every night at 10 pm in February-March, Animal Planet’s new programming line-up Rann Bhoomi spans the globe in search of exciting stories illustrating the dramatic effect environmental surroundings can have on this battle between predator and prey. The series takes a look at the unforgiving battles for survival that take place in the natural world all around the globe every single day.
In the animal kingdom, it’s kill or be killed on a daily basis, as creatures struggle to survive. Animal Planet’s Rann Bhoomi chronicles the different yet lethal techniques used in this dance of death, from animals that work in well-organized gangs to craft loners that capture prey using camouflage and the element of surprise.
The series heads to Alaska’s frozen rivers where a titanic struggle between migrating salmon and opportunistic grizzly bears takes place yearly, while in the Amazon River the piranha hunts its prey. Meanwhile, in Arctic seas, determined polar bears hunt the ringed seal, penguins fall prey to leopard seals, and starving arctic foxes pick off vulnerable seabirds. In every habitat there are predators and their prey, inevitably leading to a series of unrelenting animal battlegrounds or the Rann Bhoomi.
Viewers will watch how ice and snow influence the outcome of the battles fought in the frozen seas of the Arctic and the Antarctic; animal duels in grasslands include cheetahs vs. gazelles in East Africa’s savanna; anteaters vs. termites in South America’s pampas; wolves vs. bison in the Canadian prairies; foxes vs. rabbits in Wiltshire, England. An examination of wetland environments includes Africa, where flamingos play into the hands of hungry baboons, archerfish shoot down prey from trees above them; alligators manipulate their environment to trap fish; black egrets create shadows to catch fish. Some other environments or battlefields include deserts, air, rivers, wetlands and plains of Serengeti.
The episode line-up includes Pride in the Battle that follows the Xakanaxa pride of lions as they struggle for survival against combative prey and unforgiving surroundings through one of the Okavango’s harshest summers. Gangland Killerstrails a mongoose gang in the Okavango Delta in Botswana that works as a team to protect their new litter of pups from the very real danger of determined predators. Cheetah – Price of Speed chases a young family of cheetahs on the harsh, exposed plains of the southern Serengeti.
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
