News Broadcasting
HistoryTV18 tells the fascinating story of Kolkata’s grand temple and its patron Goddess in ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’
MUMBAI: HistoryTV18 presents an hour-long documentary about the fearsome, mysterious yet benevolent Goddess Kali, Her devotees, festival and great temple. According to Hindu tradition, the warrior Goddess is the personification of Shakti, the feminine divine, at its most powerful. She is all-conquering and Her wrath all-consuming. But when She is calm, then like nature She is maternal – nur-turing and protective. When most of India shines in celebration of Diwali, it is Goddess Kali who holds centre-stage in Eastern India. Kali Puja is special in Kolkata, and of its many temples, none is grander than the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Ever since it was completed and opened to the public in the mid-nineteenth century, it has been a melting pot of diverse ideologies. Dakshineswar Kali Temple remains iconic, and millions still throng here. The narrative also encompasses the fascinating stories of promi-nent historical figures. Rani Rashmani, the temple’s visionary builder, is key to the story. So is Sri Ram-krishna Parmhans, the temple’s head priest. Today, he is revered as a saint mystic, whose pluralist ideas were a life-changing influence for Swami Vivekananda. The film is rich in facts and provides insights into mythology, its powerful symbolism and present-day relevance, especially about the representation and position of women in Indian society. ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’ premieres on Friday, 25th October at 8 PM
Research, top-end production values and never-seen-before visuals, make the film a cut above the rest. Stylised animation and imagery recreate the legends and forms of Kali, from bloodthirsty demon-slayer and Goddess of Tantrics, to the beloved and divine mother of tens of millions of devotees. Indeed it is Kali’s devotees and their human stories that make the film moving and immersive. Devotees like Amruta, for whom Ma Kali makes up for the loss of her own mother. The inherent egalitarianism and inclusiveness of Goddess worship in Kolkata also finds expression in the film. Viewers are introduced to Rajib-ul-Huq, a devotee of Kali, who sees no contradiction in revering the Hindu Goddess and being Muslim. The cosmopolitan character of West Bengal’s capital city shines through in scenes of Kolkata’s China Town. Here the centuries-old Chinese community have their own Kali Temple, where devotees receive prasad of momos and noodles. The story also takes the audience to mysterious Tarapith, an important centre of Kali worship, to see Gauri, a woman tantric in the little-understood world of Tantra.
In keeping with the enigma that is Goddess Kali, the festival of Kali Puja is also a joyous fusion of tradi-tion, modernity and inclusiveness. ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’ features Kolkata-based music band, Project Maya. The band creates a soundtrack for the occasion, to strike a chord with Kali’s new generation of devotees, giving traditional Shyama Sangeet a millennial makeover.
With 'Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali,’ HistoryTV18 creates a definitive one-hour that shines a light on the mythology and mystique of the fearsome Kali. The clutter-breaking film, available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, aims to interpret and showcase the abiding faith in the ancient tradition of Shakti, in 21st Century India. In doing so, the film delves into surrounding themes of feminism, egalitarianism, inclusiveness and pluralism, as well as issues of identity and belief that bridge the gap between social and economic class, caste, religion, and gender. With genre-defining storytelling, exciting characters and expert opinion, this isn’t just a film about a Goddess and Her magnificent temple. It is the telling of the story of the cycle of creation and destruction, faith, symbolism and cultural truths.
Avinash Kaul, MD A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO Network18 says, “At HistoryTV18, we believe in telling stories that are engaging as well as relevant for our viewers. In keeping with our commitment of raising the bar with each original production, ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’ is an absolutely compelling story, told exceedingly well.”
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
