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Tag: Ashish Golwalkar

  • On Sony Entertainment Television of course

    KBC Season 13 to start on Aug 23

    By Our Staff

     

    The 13th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati is to start on August 23 on Sony Entertainment Television. Produced by StudioNext, and hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

     

    Said Ashish Golwalkar, Head – Content, Sony Entertainment Television and Digital Business: “For a show like KBC that has followed a certain creative pattern, it was time for us to break the mold and approach it differently. While digital auditions replaced the regular audition process, it didn’t deter the volume of entries. In fact, the ease of digital audition encouraged a lot more aspirants, based in the remotest areas possible to participate. We are happy with the spiritedness of each contestant, and we are hopeful that they fulfil their KBC journey.  Furthermore, while we did introduce AR (Augmented reality) in the previous seasons, this year, the use of AR is far more superior and immersive. From refurbishing the entire set with the play of lights to the graphical elements and LED panels, India is the only country to host the format with inclusion of such refined technological detailing. With distinct modifications to the game this season, we look forward to a rewarding gameplay and promise an enhanced viewing experience to the audience.”

     

  • The show is produced by the Sameer Nair-head Applause Entertainment

    SonyLIV to air Sucheta Dalal-Debashis Basu’s Harshad Mehta scam series

    By A Correspondent

     

    On Friday, October 9 SonyLIV will unveil ‘Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story’, an original around the stockmarket operator Harshad Mehta and the securities scandal of the early 1990s.

     

    The 10-episode show is produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Studio Next and is based on the bestseller book ‘The Scam’ written by journalists Debashis Basu and Sucheta Dalal.

     

    Said Indranil Chakraborty, Head, Studio Next: “We are delighted to foray into OTT with a series like ‘Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story’ that reflects on a landmark event in the Indian stock market. The incident was integral to shaping up India’s financial security systems and hence was a story waiting to be told. It’s a new storytelling format for us and we had the visionary – Hansal Mehta leading us through this process.”

     

    Added Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment: “With ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, we have raised the bar of premium series in India in terms of creativity and production. We have put together a great ensemble of actors directed by the National award winner Hansal Mehta and a team of talented writers who worked tirelessly on the show. Based on the book written by Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu, this show marks another chapter in Applause’s slate of book adaptations where we have dramatised the story while staying true to the essence of book. This is the fourth show under our partnership with SonyLIV after the successes of Your Honor, Undekhi and Avrodh.”

     

    Said Ashish Golwalkar – Head-Content SET, Digital Business, Sony Pictures Networks India: “’Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story’ is our fourth offering with Applause Entertainment and also a special one as we have Studio Next venturing into OTT with this for the first time. The story offers an apt mix of talent, storytelling and technique. We are hopeful that like our previous offerings, Scam 1992, will also open to a warm audience response and reinstate our promise of bringing ‘stories of India’ to the audiences.”

     

     

  • The show will air every Monday-Friday at 9pm on Sony Entertainment Television

    KBC Season 12 to start on September 28

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sony Entertainment Television has announced that the 12th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) will start next week – September 28, to be precise. Produced by StudioNext, and hosted by actor Amitabh Bachchan, Kaun Banega Crorepati will air every Mon-Fri at 9pm on Sony Entertainment Television.

     

    The show is co-powered by Vedantu and Tata Salt. And Associate Sponsors are IDFC FIRST Bank, LIC, Asian Paints, Ultratech Cement, QuickHeal, Sensodyne and Nissan.
    Interestingly, the Reserve Bank of India is the Special Partner on the show.

     

    Said Ashish Golwalkar, Head – Content, Sony Entertainment Television and Digital Business: “Reinvention, they say, is the key to success. And thus, we began the preparation of the 12th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, a show that has been nurtured as a brand over its 20-year history in India. Considering the current times, the interest in participation through digital registrations has been very encouraging this year. And the numbers showcase that people are readily embracing the ‘new normal’ brought on by the pandemic. This year’s theme, ‘Jo Bhi Ho Setback Ka Jawab Comeback Se Do’, reflects in the real-life stories and experiences that contestants will be seen sharing on the show, thereby serving as inspiring examples for the millions of viewers.”

     

    Added Indranil Chakraborty, Head – StudioNext: “For the 12th season of KBC we have consciously looked at re-engineering the set so that the distancing norms are met while the impact of this property is retained. Due to no studio audience, we have changed the lifeline Audience Poll to Video-A-Friend. Having said that, we are certain that Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s charisma and the interesting on-screen and off-screen journeys of contestants, will keep the audiences engrossed. The show continues to be iconic in many ways and is sure to raise the bar this season as well.”

     

    Said Siddhartha Basu, Consultant, KBC – Season 12: “KBC turns 20 in 2020, and with all the challenges of this tough year, looks to come back as strong as ever, reviving the much-loved magic of the khaas khel with the aam aadmi and the adwitiya host. While adapting to the realities of today, the show still packs a punch, reaching out to both the mind and the heart, touching lives in a very real way. Viewers can also look forward to playing along with the contestants, as they watch, with richer pickings than ever before.”

     

     

  • Effective immediately, Ashish Golwalkar will manage content for both SET and SonyLIV as Head – Content, SET & Digital Business

    Sony Pictures announces key leadership changes

    By A Correspondent

     

    The digital business of Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) will be led by Danish Khan. Well, we know that already.

     

    Ashish Golwalkar

    But on Wednesday, it was announced that Ashish Golwalkar, who has led the content portfolio for SET, has been given additional responsibility of SonyLIV. Effective immediately, he will manage content for both SET and SonyLIV as Head – Content, SET & Digital Business.

     

     

     

    Aman Srivastava

    Meanwhile, Aman Srivastava will move to SonyLIV as Head – Marketing, Digital Business and Amogh Dusad as Head – Programming and New Initiatives, Digital Business will handle Strategic Planning, Operations, Viewership Management and Analytics for SonyLIV.

     

     

    Also, Amit Raisinghani has been elevated to Head – Business Planning and Communications, SET. In this new role, reporting to Danish Khan, Raisinghani will be responsible for Marketing, On Air Promotions and the Communications portfolio along with Programming Strategy, Insights and Operations.

     

     

  • The show will premiere on Nov 27 and will air every Mon-Fri at 9:30pm

    Sony launches new primetime show ‘Ladies Special’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sony Entertainment Television’s has announced the launch of its new show ‘Ladies Special’ that brings forth the journey of three starkly different personalities, belonging to different socio-economic backgrounds. Produced by Vipul D. Shah’s Optimystix Entertainment, Ladies Special will premiere on Nov 27 and will air every Mon-Fri at 9:30pm.

     

    Said Ashish Golwalkar, Senior Creative Director – Programming, Sony Entertainment Television: “Ladies Special applauds the hopes and aspirations of today’s women and we are certain that women will identify themselves with the main characters and their stories. Vipul has kept the narrative and the look of the show very real and we are confident that this show will strike a chord with the audience.”

     

     

  • August 24 will be the last day at the channel for the head of non-fiction at Zee TV, who put in his papers recently

    DID creator Ashish Golwalkar to leave Zee

    By Ananya Saha

     

    A journey that began in April 2001 for Ashish Golwalkar is drawing to a close. The head of non-fiction at Zee TV put in his papers recently. He is currently serving out his notice period, and August 24 will be his last day at the channel.

     

    He is credited with the creation of Dance India Dance, the popular property at the channel. Mr Golwalkar said, “It has been 12 years at Zee. I have worked at various roles and positions at Zee. I have worked as a sales person, programming head, brand manager. It was a great learning experience. I was responsible for DID. Nothing can be as big as DID. Zee was acted as a university for me.

     

    “Once you do something, it becomes difficult to outdo yourself at the same place. One needs to look for challenges and the challenges need to change constantly,” he said.

     

    Mr Golwalkar has not decided on his next destination yet. “I will be on leave and will evaluate things after a month.”

     

  • The second season of DID L’il Masters premiered on April 28 with an opening of 5.8 TVR, as per the TAM figures

    ‘Content not big celebs get in numbers’

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    Ashish Golwalkar

    Zee TV danced its way to the #2 slot amongst Hindi GECs as its Dance India Dance Little Masters (DID L’il Masters) leapfrogged to ratings of 6.2. Commenting on the reason why kiddie reality shows work, Ashish Golwalkar, Non Fiction Head, Zee TV, said: “The kids’ versionsof both Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and DID have done well. Kids bring out the universal emotion that connects with all; and with the holiday season on, the show makes for great television viewing for families. The talent that has auditioned for the show is superlative and watching them makes it aspirational for the kids and emotional for the parents.”

     

    The network which has various non-fictional shows to its credit believes in focusing on different genres. “We’re the pioneers of shows like Saanp Seedi, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Antakshari, Khana Khazana, and others and our non-fiction has always delivered. The feeling that only big celebrities garner high ratings is not true. It’s the content that connects with the audience and that’s what gets in the numbers,” added Mr Golwalkar.

     

    Akash Chawla

    The channel has done extensive marketing for the show. “Understanding the power of dance as an audio-visual treat, we wanted to promote DID L’il Masters through various audio visual means and hence, strategically focused on television and active online engagement. Through this, the extreme talent, skills, intrigue and the innocent attitude of the kids was highlighted which made the promos entertaining and endearing. The ‘Dance ke baap’ philosophy from the first season was further extended to ‘Yeh Badon Ke Bas Ki Baat Nahin’,” said Akash Chawla, ZEEL – Marketing Head, National Channels.

     

    Exclusive dance acts were showcased on the DID Youtube channel and also promoted across active social communities of DID 3. Glimpses of the show were integrated into DID 3 and other fiction shows on Zee TV creating high anticipation for the show. Talking about retaining the same ratings for the show in the coming episodes, Mr Golwalkar said: “Due to its nature, the audition episodes always rate higher, but we will try to maintain/sustain these ratings after the Top 16 are announced.”

     

    The channel also has plans to launch a few more new non-fictional and fictional shows for weekdays and weekend slots. Talk shows being one of the genres which the channel doesn’t mind exploring in the near future. “The television landscape has changed since the first season with more time bands, more shows and varied reality genres,” added Mr Golwalkar.