MxMIndia

Tag: Sur-Kshetra

  • This is not the first time an agitation has been threatened against TV shows that feature Pakistani artists. And it's not going to be the last time either

    Anil Thakraney: Sur Kshetra of commerce & politics

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Raj Thackeray’s party has announced that they will disrupt the shooting of the new musical reality show called Sur Kshetra. And the VIP juror, Ms Asha Bhosle, has sweetly turned down their demand to exit from the show. All this tamasha because some Pakistani performers will do their number on the said reality show. At the time of writing this piece over the weekend, there’s a stalemate.

     

    So then what must the channel, Colors, do? Well, they can’t alter their programming at this stage, that’s for sure. Not just because costly contracts have already been signed, am quite certain a whole lot of the shooting is already completed. Also, and the channel CEO won’t admit to this for obvious reasons, secretly they might be thrilled with Raj’s diktat. Solid, free publicity is always welcome. Especially for a super expensive entertainment TV show.

     

    Anyway, this is not the first time an agitation has been threatened against TV shows that feature Pakistani artists. And it’s not going to be the last time either. The view that the channels always take, that these shows promote peace and harmony amongst the two nations, is bunkum. If music and sports could have solved the Kashmir dispute, then it would have happened a long time ago. The only reason the Pak artists get invited here, is because they sell. We may not love our neighbour very much, but we are quite curious about them, and are keen to see more of them. So there’s only commerce behind the idea of inviting the ‘enemy’.

     

    Now, let’s assume for a second that this situation is worrisome for the channel chiefs, that they don’t really want this recurring headache. In which case, what’s the way forward? Because this issue will keep cropping up again and again. In my view, the answer is very simple: They must threaten to shift their shoot locations out of Maharashtra. Perhaps a threat of that sort would panic the ruling state government into some kind of action.

     

    And where might they choose to go? Very simple! Motabhai Narendra Modi, India’s only business-savvy CM, is waiting with open arms. He loves taking in businesses booted out by politicians in other states. Ask Mamata Didi.

     

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    PS: This one is especially for all the underpaid, overworked, harried young account executives in advertising agencies. Who are made to do all those thankless, ridiculous chores. Including putting the boss’s glitzy presentation together. 🙂

     

  • Despite threats from the MNS, Colors, Sahara and GEO set to simulcast Sur-Kshetra musical reality show from Sept 8

    Colors, Sahara brave MNS diktat, to simulcast Sur-Kshetra with Geo from Sept 8

    By A Correspondent

     

    The threat of an MNS agitation is not going to see musical frontiers being bridged. At the time of writing, MxMIndia learns that Colors and Sahara One are going ahead with the broadcast of the cross-border Indo-Pak musical reality show – Sur-Kshetra. The Chitrapat Karmachari Sena of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is said to have sent an alert to the channels to not air the show as also to noted playback singer Asha Bhosle to step back from being on its jury though. The reason: the MNS wing believes that Pakistan had banned ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ and thereby not reciprocated India’s desire to forge relationships via the arts.

     

    The press conference held at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai happened on Thursday with Ms Bhosle later making a clarion call to the MNS to call off the stir as the show attempts to promote peace and harmony between the two countries.

     

    Interestingly, while the MNS has said it would disrupt the shooting of the show, MxMIndia learns that the preliminary episodes have already been canned and only the finale – which will happen at an international destination – remains to be shot.

     

    Also being simulcast on Pakistan’s Geo TV, Sur-Kshetra starts September 8 and will air every Saturday and Sunday.

     

    Said Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors, “This is the first time ever in the history of television that a show will be simulcast across national and international networks of Colors, Sahara One and Geo TV, making it the biggest show to hit TV screens – ever. Unifying audiences across the globe, Sur-Kshetra will bring hearts closer as it builds an exciting viewing experience much like that created by an India-Pakistan cricket match.” Speaking on the timeslot, he further elaborated, “With Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa going strong on weekends, the inclusion of Sur-Kshetra will further strengthen our weekend content lineup providing our audiences with variety entertainment that appeals to them.”

     

    Sur-Kshetra’s two teams will be mentored by Indian music director-cum-singer-cum- actor Himesh Reshammiya and Pakistani music sensation Atif Aslam. Judging the musical flair of the contestants will be the three legends – Asha Bhosle (India), Abida Parveen (Pakistan), and Runa Laila (Bangladesh).

     

    Boney Kapoor – Director, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd said in a communique, “Sur-Kshetra is a mega reality music show that brings together the best of singing talents from two arch-rival nations, India & Pakistan, competing against each other.”

     

    Produced by Sahara One in association with Saaibaba Telefilms, the will be sponsored by Dabur Amla Hair Oil and Videocon. A 360-degree integrated marketing campaign will engage multiple mediums like print, television, outdoor and radio through tie-ups reaching out to target audiences across the globe.

     

  • This unique and strategic tie-up will see Sur-Kshetra being simulcast on both channels

    Indo-Pak music show to be simulcast on Colors & Sahara One

    By A Correspondent

     

    The broadcast media is going in for interesting alliances. Last year, Star and Zee tied up to forge a distribution alliance. Prior to that Viacom 18 and Sun had got together. Earlier this year, the Star Plus mega-show Satyamev Jayate tied up with Doordarshan for a simulcast. And now Sahara One’s India-Pakistan music show, Sur-Kshetra, will be aired simultaneously on younger but bigger GEC Colors.

    Colors  has announced a first-of-its-kind strategic tie-up with the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) Sahara One to simulcast the relatively new singing based reality show – Sur-Kshetra.

     

    Produced by Sahara One, in association with Gajendra ‘Antakshari’ Singh’s Saaibaba Telefilms, Sur-Kshetra will be a cross-border musical battle between the Indian Team, captained by Himesh Reshammiya and the Pakistani Team, captained by Atif Aslam. Evaluating the teams and judging the musical talent will be Asha Bhosle (India), Abida Parveen (Pakistan), and Runa Laila (Bangladesh).

     

    The show will be anchored by actor Ayesha Takia and the  episodes will also have musical stalwarts  like Ghulam Ali, Hadiqa Kiani and Sajjad Ali from Pakistan, and Suresh Wadkar, Ismail Darbar, Alka Yagnik and Sapna Mukherjee from India.

     

    Speaking about the strategic tie-up, Raj Nayak, CEO – Colors, said: “Music has the unique ability to unite people and today, it has brought two channels together. Sur-Kshetra will mark Colors’ foray into the singing non-fiction content segment and we are extremely excited about this new venture. By adding the show to our bouquet of offerings, we are working towards fulfilling our commitment to cohesive viewing, while providing our audiences with unique content keeping them engaged.”

     

    Adding to this, Suresh Mishra, Asst Director, Sahara One said: “With this legendary Indo-Pak musical grandeur, viewers from both the nations and across the globe will witness a new generation of gifted singers. We are very excited about this strategic tie-up with Colors, giving Sur-Kshetra a combination of two large platforms that does justice to the stature of the show”