Movie Channels
&pictures’ ‘Saturday Premiere Nights’, brings the 21st century rendition of the classic love story Laila Majnu on 14th September at 8PM
MUMBAI: Set against the picturesque backdrop of Kashmir, Laila Majnu is a new age representation of the ancient Middle Eastern folklore of Majnu and Laila. Belonging to two feuding families, Laila and Majnu incidentally cross paths one night, and a deep passionate love story unravels between them. Known for mesmerizing the audience with romance dramas, renowned filmmaker, Imtiaz Ali has written this eternal love saga leaving the viewers enchanted. Directed by Imtiaz Ali’s brother, Sajid Ali, Laila Majnu features debutantes Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri in the lead. The film makes its World Television Premiere this Saturday, 14th September on &pictures – Naye India ka Blockbuster Movie Channel, under the property ‘Saturday Premiere Nights’.
Debutant Avinash Tiwary said, “Laila Majnu has been an iconic love story since time immemorial, and it makes me immensely proud to be the face of our generation’s Majnu. The story is not only relevant in today’s time but also relatable and hence portraying this character was special. When I decided to play the part, all I had in mind was making Majnu a character that stayed true to the story and wanted to be liberated from the clutches of society. I hope the audience watches the World Television Premiere on &pictures and loves my rendition of Majnu.”
Talking about her debut film, Tripti Dimri who essays the role of Laila said, “Laila Majnu holds a special place in my heart, not because it’s my debut film but because it taught me that love is something that cannot be defined or explained, one has to just embrace it. Bringing alive this eternal love saga was overwhelming for me since I have grown up hearing about Laila Majnu and have been awestruck with it. While our rendition of the movie is slightly different from the actual one with a modern day twist to it. Playing the role of Laila was challenging but an enriching experience as well for me. In the movie, Laila is a carefree and flamboyant girl who enjoys the attention she gets whereas in real life I am a complete opposite. It took me some time to open up but with the help of Imitiaz and Sajid sir I was able to get into the skin of my character. While I enjoyed recreating this epic love story, I hope the viewers also enjoy the World Television Premiere of Laila Majnu on &pictures"
While there are many adaptations of Laila Majnu’s classic love story, the team of brothers Sajid and Imitiaz Ali give it a modern and contemporary spin. Laila (Tripti Dimri) lives in her own sweet world, dreaming of ‘the special one' who will love her till death. On a quest to find the right one, she meets the handsome hunk, Qais (Avinash Tiwary). The story proceeds to a romantic intimacy developing between the two, against the age-old contention between their families. Their crazy romance soon becomes the talk of the town, which eventually causes problems between Qais and Laila’s family leading to them getting separated.
Will Qais fight for his one true love, or will the star-crossed lovers be separated forever?
Movie Channels
Zee5 launches five free FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus India
New genre-led channels bring comedy, drama, horror, classics and South films to Smart TVs.
MUMBAI: Zee5 just turned Samsung Smart TVs into a free entertainment buffet because when premium content costs nothing, even the remote control starts smiling. Zee5 has launched five curated free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus India, making high-quality, genre-specific entertainment available subscription-free to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners across the country.
The five channels now live are:
Zee Comedy Nation – Popular comedy shows and movies
Zee Dil Se – Compelling drama series
ZEE Horror Nights – Horror and supernatural content
ZEE Cine Classic – Timeless Indian films
ZEE South Flix – High-energy South Indian films dubbed in Hindi
All content is drawn from Zee5’s extensive library and programmed in a lean-back, always-on format ideal for large-screen viewing. This launch strengthens Zee5’s Connected TV strategy at a time when 64 per cent of its premium content watch time already comes from connected devices.
Zee5 chief business officer Siju Prabhakaran said, “At Zee5, we believe accessibility and scale will define the next phase of digital entertainment growth in India. Our presence on Samsung TV Plus strengthens our Connected TV strategy, enabling viewers to discover curated, genre-led content in a seamless, free, and premium environment.”
Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta added, “Local partnerships are at the heart of how we grow Samsung TV Plus in India. Zee Entertainment is one of India’s most iconic media brands, and bringing their channels to our service means millions more Samsung Smart TV owners can enjoy premium local content, subscription-free.”
The channels are available directly through the pre-installed Samsung TV Plus app with no login or subscription required. This marks another milestone in Zee5’s CTV expansion and builds on its growing international presence, with Zee channels already available on Samsung TV Plus across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a streaming world where paywalls often block the fun, Zee5 and Samsung have quietly opened the gates, proving that sometimes the best things in life (and on your TV) really are free especially when they come with a side of comedy, drama, horror, classics and South Indian blockbuster energy.
