GECs
Zee TV’s Simply Shekhar – stirred and certainly shaken
India‘s very own Jay Leno was back where he belonged last night after a longish break. So what was the first episode of the new “Mr Movers and Shakers” shaken and stirred like? Simply Shekhar on Zee Television last night simply had you chuckling more often than not. Which was good. Some of it seemed rather forced though. Not so good. But overall there was not too much to complain about.
It was a nice touch when Shekhar began the episode by saying “Welcome to Mmmmmm…” and he grabbed his lips, did a turnaround and looked sheepish and said “Welcome to Simply Shekhar.” The fact that Shekhar had moved on and ahead of Movers & Shakers was established quite smoothly.
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A short deadline on production meant not enough promos for the show on air, not enough display in print, not enough push for viewers to realise that Shekhar is back. |
Yes, he looked older, his eyes and, surprisingly, his face were puffy (was the poor lighting playing tricks?). But the entertainer has not lost any of his gift of the gab. He mimicked Laloo Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the band was in the house, giving him the laughter support, which is much better than the canned fare. He took potshots at the “saas bahu” fare on television channels, and the ennui that most in the industry are feeling.
And above all he had the Tiger as his first guest. Suman was suitably obsequious before Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray putting the celebrated “autocrat” completely at ease. Both minced no words. The Sena boss spoke out about why he stopped cartooning. “There aren‘t enough good models available. Nehru, Indira Gandhi were great for caricature. Rajiv Gandhi was not. Then came Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda. They were great.”
| Shekhar Version 2.0 seems to be getting better. Older wine does taste better. |  |
Suman queried whether he was a messiah or a fascist. “Messiah, I am not, Fascist I am if it makes people happy,” said Thackeray. The friendly banter showed tremendous comfort levels between the two.
In all, it was an episode filled with mirth. And Shekhar Version 2.0 seems to be getting better. Older wine does taste better.
However, what stuck out like a sore thumb was the poor set design (courtesy Omung Kumar), the poor lighting. The tackiness was to be seen to be believed.
Industry professionals say the show was mounted in just a fortnight. Hence everything was rushed through. And it shows. Also, the telecast slot is at 10:30 pm, a slot which killed “M&S”. But In-House Productions (which has been sub-contracted by Suman‘s Seven Thirty Entertainment to produce the show) boss Uday Sinhwala says that the slot will do just fine. “You can complain and whine about the slot, but any time is good for a show which is good. I am confident that it will do well.”
However, a lot of marketing and promotion has to be put behind Simply Shekhar, something which Zee TV has been seen to be lacking in the past. A short deadline on production meant not enough promos for the show on air, not enough display in print, not enough push for viewers to realise that Shekhar is back. Hopefully, the channel will give enough rope to the show to find its feet.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
