The most controversial reality show, Lux Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket on 9X will witness a heated argument this week between the East Zone mentor, Shabana Azmi and contestant of Western Zone, Jai Bhanushali. 
This week saw amazing performances coming from North zone’s Sahil and Mihika Varma, Central zone’s Chetan Hansraj and Sanyogita and Western zone Jay Bhanushali and Rituka.
But the unfortunate moment came when Naman Shaw and Bindu from the Eastern Tigers along with Mihika Verma and Sahil from Central Cheetahs found themselves in the danger zone. Our well-placed source from the sets tells us, “In spite of coming up with their best performance till date, Mihika and Sahil were shown the door this week”.
Wonder what’s lined up next for the contestants as the ‘Ultimate Ticket to Bollywood’ is for grabs!!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Confrontation Galore in Bollywood Ka Ticket..
Saas V/s. Bahu - Kaun Kisse Nachayega...
It couldn’t get better than this! Truly, the stage on Indian Television is set for the biggest and the largest reality show ever. They say, Siachen is the world’s highest battlefield under extreme conditions but Saas V/S Bahu will draw a parallel war zone right on your television screens by taking the eternal arch rivalry between them to the highest domain. Keeping the fighting spirit alive and taking it to the the next level of enemity, Saas V/S Bahu promises all the Saas and Bahu’s, dead or alive that the tashan between them can cross all limits and break all barriers to finally prove their supremacy over one another. Coming out of the kitchen politics and the battle for reigning supremacy on the house, Saas and Bahu’s will now take a unusual floor test by challenging each other on the….hold your breath….a dance floor. This August 25, SaharaOne and Swastik Pictures is set to unveil some very famous television personalities who have made their mark as successful actors and are also talented dancers! Dancing is one such talent that most people wish, they command for the mere joy of expressing poetic rhythm in music! Get ready to meet some of your favorite celebrities on a show that’ll let people live this desire.
SaharaOne Television will provide a platform to artistes across the television soaps who will prove their mettle as determined dancers after being successful actors for a long time! Viewers will now be treated to performances by the popular television Saasumaa’s and Bahu’s where they get together to challenge each other on the dance floor and take the rivalry further. This reality show will offer viewers much beyond just the dance between the competing teams of Saas and Bahu’s and will engage upon identifying the best Bahu and the talented Saas of Indian Television. While most of the shows stress upon the chemistry between the Saas and Bahu, SaharaOne’s reality show Saas V/S Bahu will engross viewers in understanding the matrix of actually being a Saas and a bahu.
Commenting on her association with the first big venture, Business Head of SaharaOne Television, Ms. Nilanjana Purkayestha said, “The key to any reality show is the concept, the premise that gives the audience a reason to watch. While conceiving of a reality show we were pretty sure that it was not going to be just another of those song – and – dance shows where TV stars get together and shake a leg. The premise of Saas – Bahu conflict has become so deeply rooted in our audience’s psyche that it has become a genre of its own – “ The Saas – Bahu drama”! We thought why not take this premise, this conflict to the next level and settle the debate once and for all. Our show Saas V/S Bahu combines the best of fiction with the best of reality. While the dance floor is the ‘Karamyudh’, each team has at stake not only its reputation but is also fighting for honour of every Saas and Bahu who are rooting for them. As a show we hope to ignite passions in every living room, unite the family in debating the great Saas – Bahu divide and most of all, entertain the young and old with great dancing and drama every weeknight in the weeks to come.”
Two teams, each comprising of 15 Saas and 15 Bahu’s will be challenging each other by rolling out power-packed dance performances for five days a week and will be judged by a team of 2 juries consisting of some big names in the entertainment industry. A set resembling the ‘angaan’ of a house will allow these 2 teams of Saas and Bahu’s to call each of their on-screen family member to compete and be their saviour if they lag behind in the scores in a particular week. Saas v/s Bahu will follow a unique voting procedure and to keep the voting system totally fair and aboveboard the elimination will be the result of the judges points combined with those of the Live Studio Audience. This live studio audience in the form of real life Saas and Bahu’s will be playing a crucial role in the show by acting as the fourth jury or the third umpire as they say in cricketing terms and who’s votes combined with the team of 2 juries will finally decide the scores of the respective Saas and Bahu teams.
SAAS V/S BAHU will be produced by Swastik Pictures, who has recently produced the popular fiction show ‘MATA KI CHOWKI’ on SaharaOne Television.
'Kaisi Laagi Lagan' on Sahara One...
According to our well-placed source, “This will be a college-based theme which will go on to be a cursed love story. The serial will be a daily from Monday to Friday, but the time slot has not been finalized yet”.
Speaking on the star cast, our source informs us “The cast includes a bunch of youngsters – Priyamvada Sawant who was earlier seen in Meri Doli Tere Angna, Romanchak, Mahi Vij the girl in DJ Akhil’s music video ‘Tu Hai Wohi’ and a newcomer Kaushik”.
The serial is slated to be launched in September…
Bidaai celebrates Success...
Rajan Shahi’s Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai has been raking high TRP’s and undoubtedly holds the Numero Uno position in Television!!
And to celebrate the success of Bidaai, Rajan Shahi’s Director’s Kut Productions along with Star Plus hosted a Press Conference followed by a grand bash on 20th August, Wednesday at Sangam Ball Room, J. W. Marriot.
The Press Conference was hosted by Shabaana Mullani and on the dias were present Rajan Shahi, the eldest in the Bidaai family Alok Nath, Sara Khan, Parul Chauhan, Angad Hansija and Kinshuk Mahajan. A nostalgic AV was shown which depicted the progress of Bidaai to the topmost position which was followed by Rajan Shahi addressing the entire gathering present there.
Speaking on the occasion Rajan Shahi, Head of Director's Kut Productions said, “The success of Bidaai can be attributed to the hard work, sincerity and dedication of my team, star cast, channel and the production of Bidaai has been an excellent experience". Rajan Shahi then handed over the mike to Alok Nath who introduced the cast of Bidaai to the media and everyone in the cast shared their experience working in Bidaai.
Followed by the Press Conference was the big bash which was a rocking success as it saw a galaxy of stars making it to celebrate the occasion with the entire cast of Bidaai.
Actors present from the show Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai included Veteran Alok Nath with wife, Vibha Chibber (the woman who played coach in Chak De India), the two young girls Parul Chauhan and Sara Khan, the two male leads Angad Hansija and Kinshuk Mahajan, Seema Kapoor with husband Amit, Ashita Dhawan, Naveen Saini, Amardeep Jha, Shabaana Mullani, Vimarsh Roshan, Avinash Wadhavan with his wife.
Rajan Shahi was seen in an upbeat mood as he personally welcomed all his guests and was very much grateful to see the TV fraternity congratulating him on the success of Bidaai. His fraternity friends who have worked with him, the actors who have worked under him turned up in big numbers. But Rajan Shahi got nostalgic to see Ravi Rai at the party, with who he had worked for 6 long years.
Everyone in the cast of Bidaai, starting from Sara Khan to Parul Chauhan, Alok Nath and many others gave credit to Rajan Shahi and also to the simplistic story telling.
Celebrities who graced the special occasion included Rajshree Thakur of Saat Phere fame, Mona Singh, Juhi Parmar, Rakshanda Khan, Anuj Saxena, Apoora and Shilpa Agnihotri, Amar Upadhyay, Vikas Bhalla, Renuka Shahane and Ashutosh Rana, Twinkle Bajpai, Rupali Ganguly, Kiran Karmarkar with wife Rinku, Sharad and Kirti Kelkar, Sachin Khedekar, Yatin Karyekar, Mahesh Thakur, Moulli Ganguly with boyfried Mazher Syedd, Aanchal Dwiwedi, Rakesh Bapat, Pallavi Joshi with husband Vivek Agnihotri, Vishal Singh, Ali Merchant, Rucha Gujrati, Mohan Bhandari, Rajeev and Rakesh Paul, Kartik Sabharwal, Gaurav Gera, Akshay Anand, Kshiti Jog, Tanushree Kaushal, Vineet Raina, Neeta Shetty, Uttkarsha Naik, Rajesh Khera, Ashiesh Roy, Gajendra Singh, Jayati Bhatia, Anang Desai, Gautam Rode, Shaleen Bhanot, Raju Kher, Mohit Malik, Rushali with husband, Madhura Naik, Reeta Bhaduri, Jay and Kinnari Mehta, Manish Goswami, Deeya and Tony Singh and Rajendra Chawala.
Throughout the party, Sara and Parul were seen together while Kinshuk Mahajan and Angad Hansija appeared together. Kinshuk was doubly thrilled for the fact that his character which was sidelined for a while after his entry is now back on track and is shaping extremely well.
The party went on till the wee hours of the night with the actors hitting the dance floor as if there was no tomorrow!!
Dance Ki Jung - Sher-O-Shayri Ke Sang!!
The stage is a la Mughal-E-Azam durbar this time!, as the feather-capped Meethi Churis and Tez Talwars, are ready to combat each other!
The ‘Lagi Bet’ round witnesses dances of contrasting genre, taking the competition a notch higher. Tez Talwar Gaurav Chopra dressed like a brawny Dravidian warrior performs a ‘tandav’ on the title track of ‘Omkara’. His remarkable performance receives lot of accolades from judges. Depicting an entirely different genre, Narayani Shastri boogies a perfect cabaret on ‘Piya tu ab to aaja’ reminiscing the yesteryear’s cabaret queen Helen. The judges were ecstatic by her act and costume.
The meanest round of the show, the ‘Khallas round’, is themed ‘DISCO’. Tez Talwar Manish re-kindles the disco mood with his smooth rendition on Super Dancer. He surely wins the applause from the judges and steals their hearts with his flawless steps. But Meethi Churi Karishma Tanna proves to be a surprise package for everybody!! Putting her tall frame to advantage, she slips on a retro style doing a Mithun Chakravorty to the tune of ‘I am a disco dancer’. Needless to say, her a la Mithunda act was an instant hit with the audience and judges alike!
Housemates suffer from insomnia...
The 3rd episode on Bigg Boss to be aired on 19th August begins with housemates having insomnia as none of them have slept the entire night as the task was to sleep in total of 100 hours till Wednesday. They all decide to sleep and wake up in some time and then continue with their task.
Debojit is frustrated that he cannot do his riyaz without his musical instrument. He keeps on pleading to Bigg Boss if he can get his musical instrument and even ensures that other housemates pleaded his case.
Further in the episode all of them are sitting together and Raja tells Aashutosh teasingly to teach Jade Hindi. He starts with A for Aloo, B for Bhaloo and further on... and amusingly Jade actually tries it...
Further the housemates come to know that Jade is constipated and has not been to the loo since four days…They all give their suggestions on what she should do to relieve herself and in the process Rahul, Debojit, Alina try to teach her the Indian style of using the loo by squatting.
After some time Jade starts crying because she is missing her children. Monika consoles her and tries to calm her down. Further in the episode Jade finds out that she is suffering from Cancer (Only yesterday, the results of Jade's test were out, conducted in UK before her departure to India), and then Bigg Boss decides to bid her good bye and wishes her that she recovers well.
Payal looks in the camera and wishes her mom "Happy Birthday".
Big boss 2
With the second episode, action begins in Bigg Boss!!There is a welcome dinner provided by the Bigg Boss which is followed by contestants pairing up. It's time for contestants to inform Bigg Boss about 2 housemates that they would like to put up for nominations, however just before they could do 
The next day begins with breakfast worries and per nominations stress for week one…Raja Chaudhary and Sanjay Nirupam were announced as the two nominated for evictions by the housemates.
Further in the episode Jade Goody learns the bollywood style dancing from Sambhavna Seth as they perform to the hit number ' Mehooba Mehooba', Ehsan Quershi croons the song for them.
The Bigg Boss gives them a task for day 1 that is to be handcuffed with their partners. The Bigg Boss has instructed all the house mates to converse in Hindi the only exception being Payal and Jade Goody. Payal has been instructed to teach Jade Hindi. Where she teaches Jade how to say hr name in hindi.
Everyone comes up and takes upon themselves the various tasks, like cooking, cleaning, washing etc…Rahul says that I can't cook so I will take the task of keeping the toilets clean. He takes a broom and starts cleaning the bath room.
While all the house mates are sitting and talking, Jade comes running in the living room, saying there is some crisis in the bathroom and the water tap is broken. Rahul tries to fix the crisis.
Manish Goel's Electrifying Act...
Creating a perfect ambience for this number, Manish performed this solo set in a garage with loads of pyros and fireworks in the rights sense!! The judges were stunned by this electrifying act where Manish adorned a cool ‘Dhoom 2 look’…
But the highlight of the performance was the manner in which Manish set the stage on fire and that too, in real!! As he was performing, one side of the stage caught fire due to the pyro works that were part of the act. Everyone on the sets was taken aback and the situation got chaotic, but normalcy prevailed quickly as the necessary precautionary steps were taken by the crew. However, the amazing part was that Manish was unfazed and managed the entire condition quite well and chose to continue with his performance..
And this is what we actually call ‘Set the stage on fire’ act!! Kudos to Manish!!
Rahul Mahajan gets first warning..
Rahul Mahajan’s addiction for cigarettes can now screw things for him!! It is heard that Rahul tried to instigate all other contestants to demand for cigarettes and asked them to revolt against Bigg Boss by simply removing their microphones.
The provocative behavior of Rahul Mahajan has not been appreciated by Bigg Boss who is said to have warned Rahul that if he continues to do so, he might get evicted from the contest…
Well, is the sword of eviction hanging around Rahul’s head is the big question now!!
Jade Goody bids farewell to Bigg Boss...
Jade Goody, the celebrity from UK's reality show Big Brother, made an entry into the Bigg Boss house as one of the 14 participants on premiered on August 17th 2008, as 'Bigg Boss Season 2'COLORS.
According to Deepak Dhar, Country Head, Endemol India, "We are shocked to hear this unfortunate news. Jade has been very brave in the face of such a difficult situation and we are extending all possible support that she requires at this stage. Our prayers are with her."
Commenting on the development, Rajesh Kamat, Chief Executive Officer – COLORS, said, "It is indeed an unfortunate development and we extend full support to Jade in this hour of testing times. Jade is a strong-willed woman who's emerged victorious from many a battles. We sincerely hope that she wins this time as well."
Shilpa Shetty, the host of Bigg Boss Season2, said, "It is unbelievable, how life is so unpredictable and finds a way to distract and derail you from your plans. My prayers are with Jade, her family in this hour, when they face one of the biggest tests of their life, in times ahead. I pray she comes out of this, soon and, stronger. Hope that she is going back with happy memories from this country."
The first episode of Bigg Boss 2 showed Jade making successful attempts to interact and make friends with all the Bigg Boss housemates and show the real her to the world. Being a bubbly individual, she was accepted by the housemates and gelled well with them.
First Eviction in Bigg Boss...
or the first time in any reality show, a politician made an entry to capture the hearts of the audience and prove that even a politician is amongst the common man. And this step was taken by Sanjay Nirupam, the ex Member of Rajya Sabha as he came ahead to be part of the 14-member contestant list for Bigg Boss Season 2 aired on COLORS.
In few days of entry into the house, he got into controversial ground with Sambhavna Seth after commenting on her profession. Within two days of getting into the show, the house mates nominated him for eviction and now he happens to be the first contestant to get evicted from Bigg Boss house..
Stating his experience of being in the Bigg Boss house for 7 days as memorable, the politician says, “It is tough for a person like me to stay without his mobile, newspaper, away from interaction with outside world and his party workers. I am glad that I made this journey”. Ask him about the reaction of his party workers when he notified to them about his stay in the Bigg Boss house, and Sanjayji quickly says, “Frankly speaking, I got a mixed reaction. While few said you should take this move, many discouraged me saying the people there might not be good”.
So was there any learning curve for Sanjay Nirupam, the person here? “Well, I found that all the contestants irrespective of the profession they came from were rooted to their culture and it showed in the manner in which they interacted in the house”. When asked whether he got an opportunity to deliver his usual speeches and advise contestants, Sanjayji quipped, “Yes, there were a couple of housemates who went against the rules of Bigg Boss. I was constantly telling them that they knew about the rules before making it here, so they need to abide to the rules now”.
Ask him about the tragedy that has stuck Jade Goody and he says, “She was full of life, always energetic and a nice person by heart. Her health issue was a big shock for all”.
Sanjayji made quite number of friends in the house, but Ehsaan Qureshi is his favorite. “Ehsaan was fantastic and I will cherish the time I spent with him”, says he.
As a parting note, Sanjay Nirupam says, “I took up the challenge and interacted well with the commoners. I conveyed to the people that we politicians too, lead the same life that the masses do. Now the second challenge for me will be to see how people react after seeing me in Bigg Boss. I am waiting eagerly to know whether they accepted me and my decision”.
Aathvaan Vachan... saath vachano se badhkar on Sony..
Aathvaan Vachan… saath vachano se badkar, the new daily soap on Sony Entertainment Television, starting from September 1, Monday to Thursday, at 9.00 p.m. is a poignant yet heartwarming story of young Urmi and the challenges she has to face in life. Urmi who is bubbly, cute, innocent, energetic and curious and is all of 18 with the mental ability of an 8 year-old!
Urmi is a problem child and a huge worry to her parents, a burden to her brother, a menace to her sister-in-law and everyone around... except her sister Manali. Manali and Urmi are sisters who seem to be joined by an umbilical cord… a cord that cannot be severed off. It is this bond that forced Manali not to pursue a career and refuse marriage proposals… her priority is Urmi and she takes care of her day-to-day needs. This unusual bond only confirms that they are there for each other.
In a society like ours where marriage means marrying not only the person but his family also, will Urmi’s mental status be a hindrance in Manali’s happiness? The simple narrative takes an unusual twist when Aadesh meets Manali marries her and promises to look after Urmi. Aadesh turns out to be a man in this situation as he decides to marry Manali. The family is shocked with Aadesh’s decision but he goes a step further by renewing his promise to Manali, while taking his marriage vows. While life for Urmi continues to be fun and games at her sister’s sasural, fate has other plans for her. Manali dies leaving Urmi in Aadesh’s care. Urmi and Aadesh find themselves in an unusual situation. How they face life is what Aathvaan Vachan… saath vachano se badkar is all about. What would Urmi’s fate be when she loses her soul support of her sister? Will Aadesh be able to live upto his promise to Manali?
Talking about the show Sanjay Upadhyay, Head of Fiction of Sony Entertainment Television said, “Marriage vows are sacrosanct for the bride and groom and all present there. In this case it is to ensure Urmi a place in his family and life that Aadesh takes the vow. But what happens when this promise becomes a commitment leaving Aadesh with no choice but an entire lifetime to deal with? The unique situation that Aadesh and Urmi find themselves in, forms the main crux of the story.”
Rose Audio Visuals and Shrishti Arya produces Aathvaan Vachan… saath vachano se badkar. The interesting star cast includes Paintal, Sulbha Arya, Vishal Singh, Mouli Ganguly, Dimple Inamder and others. Vinny Israni plays the protagonist Urmi in this poignant and heartwarming family drama.
Stay tuned to Aathvaan Vachan… saath vachano se badkar, starting from September 1 from Monday to Thursday at 9.00 p.m. only on Sony Entertainment Television.
Uncut.. Unheard..Unseen on Star One..
Viewers till date have seen mind blowing performances, witty wisecracks and harsh comments from the judges… but there is a lot more that goes on behind all the drama. Star One now brings you exciting off stage action. ‘Reality Episodes’ of the biggest battle of the sexes – Zara Nachke Dikha- Andar ki baat & the biggest laughter riot - The Laughter Challenge Special, will make audiences privy to all the happenings that have not been aired on television screens before.
The reality episodes promise to be upfront, with edge-of-the-seat content, loaded with fights, banter, laughter, tears and all the toil that goes on behind the scenes. From fights during the rehearsals over the strategies failed, team work issues, to the nervousness of the contestants preparing for their gags, you are bound to ask for more.
Be a part of all the inside masala in the uncut version of Zara Nachke Dikha-Andar Ki Baat & The Laughter Challenge Special ‘Reality Episodes’, every Wednesday & Thursday beginning August 20th, 9 :30 pm onwards, only on Star One.
It encapsulates the journey of the contestants since the last 6 weeks, their feelings, achievements and emotional turmoil. The episode also captures some of the wonderful experiences they had while rehearsing, shooting the dance sequences and their actual thoughts towards their opponents… This and lots more action!! 
Join hands with Bharati as she prepares her gags for the character Lalli. Also get ready to appreciate the women’s sense of humor with a special episode that showcases the gags performed by the mighty women of the Great Indian Laughter Challenge 4.
9X launches 'Rubi' and 'Ajeeb'..
9X, the mega Hindi GEC and flagship channel of the INX Network launches 2 unique fiction shows at 9.30 pm Mondays to Thursdays in its weekly prime time slot. 
Duniya ke har lambe raaste ka 'shortcut' jaanti hai…Rubi.. as She aspires to lead the good life and believes in doing whatever it takes to get it. With new comer Swasthi Sinha, the serial will have Ali Merchant, Gautam Rode and Chahat Khanna in the main roles.
Adding to the kitty of fiction shows is Bonnie Jain Productions’ Ajeeb, a mysterious love story set in a hospital where something strange is going on. Starting 27th August, every Wednesday and Thursday at 9.30 pm this show with the right blend of mystery, suspense and romance will feature new faces Vishal Watwani and new face Aarti Thakur along with mega stars like Tanaaz and Bakhtiyar Irani, Sakshi Tanwar, Shweta Tiwari, Varun Badola, Shruti Seth, and others.
Talking about Ajeeb, Bonnie Jain, Managing Director, Bonnie Jain Productions says, “The story is about a girl Anjali, who joins the Medical Institute witnesses’ unexpected happenings around her. There will be various characters coming in and going out which will include a galaxy of big stars Shweta Tiwari, Varun Badola, Sakshi Tanwar etc”.
Get ready to watch the two unique fiction shows on 9X, at 9.30 PM.
'Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries' on NDTV Imagine...
11 international cities, 5 superstars, 3 special celebrity guest performers, a talented music director duo and choreographer, loads of dancers and musicians… it promises to be an Unforgettable experience. Starting 7th August for the first time ever, watch all the behind-the-scene action of the Unforgettable Tour with Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwariya Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Ritiesh Deshmukh only on the Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries every night at 11.pm only on NDTV Imagine..
The opening capsules of the Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries will bring together all the preparations by the big Stars staring from Aishwariya falling ill at the rehearsals or costume trials with the designers. Watch how Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Ritiesh Deshmukh, sweat it out and perfect their dance moves with Shaimak's troupe just before they leave for the biggest world tour. Catch the excitement of the musical duo Vishal & Shekhar as Big B raps to his favourite number "Rang Barse" during the rehearsals to surprise his global fans. Tune in to watch how the Bachchan family has a truly "Unforgettable" experience as their 18 bags get misplaced by British Airways once they reach Toronto. Not just this, tour Diaries will bring forth all the anxiety from the green room and back stage before and after the show.
For the first time ever watch the magic of India's Biggest superstars on the world's Biggest Tour only on Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries starting 7th August everyday at 11.pm only on NDTV Imagine. It's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all bollywood fans to experience the stars up close and personal!
NDTV Imagine presents KS Oil’s Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam
This August, NDTV Imagine presents a unique musical event that promises to connect today’s audience with a collection of superlative bhajans. NDTV Imagine presents KS Oils ‘Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam’, a special musical devotional event that promises to attain the highest level of spirituality with a host of talented artists including Anup Jalota, Anuradha Paudwal, Jaspinder Narula. Don’t miss this special presentation of KS Oil’s Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam on Sunday, August 17th at 8.30 pm only on NDTV Imagine.
Soothe your nerves and purify your mind with the spiritual vibrations produced by The Passion of Radha-Krishna, the Legend of Shree Ram and the Devotion of Maa Sherowali.
Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam will treat you to soul-stirring Bhajans by the likes of Anup Jalota who will take you to a different world with his energy and enthusiasm as he sings Jay Ganesh Deva, Payo ji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram. Anuradha Paudwal will recite Om Jai Jagdish Hare, Krishnam Sharanam, Yashomati Maiyya Se, and Maa Shero Wali Jag Se Bada Tera Naam. Catch Jaspinder Narula’s heart-rending performance of bhajans like Chhap Tilak, Allah Hoo, and O Maa, O Maa.
The young generation is not too far behind with Harsdeep Kaur and Abbas keeping the traditions and culture alive as they perform spiritually moving songs like Ek omkar, Rahiman re, Bulla Ki Jana Mein Kaun, Tune Deewana Banaya, Dumadum Mast Kalander, and Tere Ishq Mein.
Rejuvenate your soul and uplift your spirit as you tune in to Ks Oils’ Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam on Sunday, 17th August at 8:30pm only on NDTV Imagine.
Nautanki and Tamasha Unlimited in Aajaa Mahi Vay..
To indulge in some extreme entertainment, grab your remote control and tune in to the upcoming masti packed ‘Circus/Tamasha Special’ episode of Reliance Mobile Aajaa Mahi Vay on Friday, August 22, 8 pm only on STAR Plus.
Much to the dismay of the judges, hit jodi Kabir-Sajal fall short of their earlier performances with a performance on the song ‘Its magic’ from Koi Mil Gaya but Kabir more than makes up for this with an impromptu mimicry of host Vineet!
An extraordinary performance by jodi, Manav-Rashmi on ‘Aja Gufaon Mein Aa’ leaves the judges asking for more! Overwhelmed by Ronit’s gesture of accepting Rashmi as his younger sister, she reciprocates by tying him a Rakhi and strengthening the bond of a brother and sister.
Making their best attempt to impress Greesha’s mother, Dhawal and Greesha try to appease her with a shocking performance on the song Bam Lahiri and win praises and admiration from the judges for their performance.
Closing the episode on a lighter note, the contestants even go to the extent of mimicking the styles of the judges…
Rock fever Grips Star Voice of India...
The Rock fever empowers Amul Star Voice of India this Saturday as the ‘Rock On’ team –Farhaan Akhtar and Purab Kohli grace the ‘Scoring Saturday’s’ performance round on the show.
With Farhaan and Purab talking about the film Rock On, Shaan introduced the theme for the episode as ROCK MUSIC. All the contestants had prepared Rock songs to impress the judges. The first contestant to present his claim to TOP 9 was Ryan Dias, the Voice of Andhra Pradesh who sang Rishtey. Farhan thought that this was a fantastic performance and said that Ryan held the promise of lasting for long in the show. Purab really liked Ryan’s performance and his hairstyle too! Sukhi felt that Ryan delivered more than what was expected. With an incredible headstart, the stage saw each performance being far superior than the previous one as Saptaparna the Voice of 7 sister states, sang Johnny Gaddar.
Just before Zakir’s performance there was tension as Ismail Received a note from Zakir’s family. Ismail said that Zakir’s family was trying to bribe him. He handed a letter to Shaan. Shaan read it out and it turned out that Zakir’s son had written a letter to Ismail asking him to make his father the Voice of India so that Zakir could buy him a cycle. An emotional and apologetic Ismail promised to buy his son a cycle. Zakir said that he was really sad because he couldn’t run behind the cycle because of his disability.
Zakir Hussain the Voice of Chattisgarh sang Aaja aaja main hoon Pyar
Ritisha, the voice of Bangalore mesmerized audience with his rendition of Gustakhiyaan hai, She also requested Farhan to sing his titkle track from Rock On for them. A very sporting Farhaan just reeled the song with much ease and rocked the Amul Star Voice of India Stage. Purab also joined in with the famous ‘ROCK ON’ number.
Ravi, the Voice of Delhi performed on AAp ki Dua, Sayantani, the voice from Orrisa sang Dum Maro Dum, Rohit, the voice of 7 sister states got the crowd to groove with O meri Jaan, Vinti, the voice of Uttar Pradesh impressed the judges and Farhan with her recital of Mast, Rahul Mukherjee from Maharashtra sang Alvida and Vipul, the voice of Punjab gave a mind-blowing performance from Farhan’s movie Dil Chahta Hai. Purab told Vipul that "Last ball par sixer maare to bahut accha lagta hai...par agar sixer maarne waala Punjab se ho to ball stadium se bahar chali jaayegi"
This high energy episode ended with the participants, Farhan, Purab and Shaan singing Rock On! To catch this exciting episode, tune-in to Amul Star Voice of India Mega music league on Saturday, August 23rd, 10 pm only on Star Plus.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Chaitanya Choudhury injured...
“I have injured my lower lumbar region. I already had back problems but it got worse when I fell on my ankle in a chair act during the technical rehearsals. My doctor has advised me clearly to take rest”, quips the actor.
The ‘Tez Talwars’ ended up losing the battle to ‘Meethi Churis’ this week and with this, Chaitanya finds himself in the penalty bench. When asked about his face-off with Mouni Roy, the actor says, “Well, I don’t want to say anything on that as I feel that I gave my best shot. My injury is certainly not a reason for this”. So will we be seeing Chaitanya get to his dancing best in the battle of sexes? “I will take it bit easy in the coming week, but I am sure I will be back in action soon. To tell you frankly, I can’t wait to be fully fit and dance again”, concludes Chaitanya..
Shiney Ahuja in Waar Parriwar..
Shiney just loved the performance of the Punjabi brothers who performed together for Bhootni ke … number from Singh Is Kinng so much so that he actually said “I would have danced with you all had you asked me to!” They promptly sang the song once again and were joined by Shiney and Urmila too.
Minisha Lamba and Deepika Padukone on the sets of 10 Ka Dum
There’s a general belief that two actresses cannot get along with each other when pitted to share screen space!!
Where Minisha was seen egging Deepika to give her best smile for the camera, Deepika was not far behind. She too ensured that Minisha did not feel left out while she and Ranbir made a star couple on the show. But what was more heartwarming to watch was to see Ranbir Kapoor bestowing the same amount of attention on both the ladies. When Salman asked Ranbir what it was like to work with Deepika he replied, “I enjoyed working with both, Minisha and Deepika equally.”
'Paani Puri' - New Sitcom on Star One...
Set against a backdrop where two families hailing from diverse cultures and backgrounds come to live under one roof, to cause mayhem and chaos! Adding to the excitement are the characters who, with their humor and comic sense get the audiences into splits. Vikas Puri played by Sumeet Raghavan and Divya Paani by Smita Bansal, the unusual and distinctive sitcom begins August 30th every Saturday @ 9.00pm only on Star One.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ravi Menon, EVP, Star One said, “Comedy as a genre has done extremely well and is now the backbone for most of the shows. Star One has pioneered comedy on television and has always presented audiences with the best quality entertainment. With this show as well we are promising to create a rage. The simplicity of the story and the characters will surely take the viewer’s through a joy ride.”
Paani and Puri are two separate entities. When the two words are spoken together as “Paanipuri”!!! It sends the juices gushing and causes floods of anticipation in our mouth. The mix of two cultures under one roof provides an interesting mix of:
Humor - where 2 families from diverse backgrounds live with each other
Romance- where 2 different individuals try maintaining peace within
families and within themselves
Vikas Puri, a middle class 28 years old can’t do without Divya Paani, 25, daughter of a retired bureaucrat. They are a young couple in love. Without any qualms, the two lovers push their luck and not only manage to tie the knot but bring their respective parents to deal with each other. A Punjabi, middle class Puri family, which believes that the human voice is a gift of god and must be used in variable octaves generously, is pitted against the sophisticated Paani family which feels that the human voice is the sound of the human mind and therefore one should utter any kind of sound only for a purpose. The two sets of parents make ample efforts to convince the newly married couple that Pani and Puri is an explosive blend.
What happens when two diverse families are forced to come together, under one roof, for the sake of their children’s love? A humorous show which showcases the clash of culture and class leaving you in splits!!
Bemisaal Barah go patriotic in Voice of India...
‘Independence’ is the flavor of the week as we head towards the 61st anniversary of our Independence. Amul Star Voice of India dedicates this Friday episode to celebrate the Spirit of patriotism and Freedom by reinforcing your right to all good things in life like ‘music’ and right to vote for your favorite contestants on the show. Yes, the journey to unparallel success, fame and stardom begins for the Bemisaal Barah this Independence Day as the Indian junta exercise their right to vote and propel their favorite voice to TOP 11 on Amul Star Voice of India. 
Rohit Sonar from Seven sister states forced everybody to think of how much do we thank this motherland with his song Vande Mataram. Sayantani from Orrissa sang O palanhare praying for peace and harmony of this nation. Ryan from Andhra Pradesh poured out his heart with Yeh Jo des Hai tera. Vinti from Uttar Pradesh dedicated her performance to kids, the strength & hope of this country with Taare zameen Par. 
This patriotism that filled the air of the sets rubbed on an otherwise shy Shaan who performed on Yeh Des Hai Veer jawan Ka, Phir Bi Dil Hai Hindustani and really made everybody forget about the sour part of the episode. Yes, It is a freaky Friday where one state will bid a final adieu to the Amul Star Voice of India stage; the first elimination for the Bemisaal barah. One person's dreams will not see the light of the day on this episode of Amul Star Voice of India while the other 11 will move forward to achieve their goals. Who will it be? Which state will disqualify to become the Voice of the nation?
TIMES NOW brings the Battle in Beijing to your living rooms!!
Ten thousand, five hundred athletes. Three hundred and two events in twenty eight sports, twenty one thousand eight hundred and eighty one torchbearers; All moving towards the same dream of making their country proud at the world’s largest sporting event: the Olympics. This year, TIMES NOW has introduced several initiatives to capture the spirit of the 29th Olympiad.
One of the key initiatives taken by TIMES NOW is to launch a focused show hosted by Charu Sharma on the 2008 Olympics – ‘GoldFest’. Expressing his enthusiasm, Charu Sharma said, “The Olympics is the mecca of all sport, and as a sports buff I couldn’t have asked for anything more. TIMES NOW’s initiative for comprehensive coverage of the Olympics ensures that Beijing Games receive the attention and prominence they deserve. Along with that, the analysis by our experts help in giving an all round perspective.”
The show reflects the nail biting excitement that surrounds the sporting event with reports from the venue,analysis by guests like former athletics star Ashwani Nachappa and world renowned shooter Morad Ali Khan, interviews with the Indian contingents, Olympics trivia, moments of the day and lots more. The show also offers the viewers a chance to exhibit their enthusiasm by participating in various quizzes and contest related to the current and past Olympiad Games. ‘Goldfest’ kicks off on August 7 and will be aired every night at 10:30 pm till the end of the Olympics, August 24.
Speaking on the unique initiative to provide comprehensive coverage of the Olympics, Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief, TIMES NOW said, “As a channel, we have always given precedence to an event that impacts our audiences, irrespective of whether it is being held in India or elsewhere. The 2008 Olympics is a benchmark in history and with a prominent Indian presence at the games this year, TIMES NOW viewers have an opportunity to catch all the action from Beijing.”
TIMES NOW will also host an Olympics special in its comprehensive sports show ‘The Game’ with Boria Majumdar and incorporate regular updates on the Olympics as a part of their daily news bulletins to keep the viewers constantly updated about the latest happenings. Commenting on his involvement with TIMES NOW, Boria Majumdar said, “Olympics is the biggest spectacle in the world and I am really excited that it is taking place in Asia after such a long time. I truly appreciate TIMES NOW’s initiative for giving attention to a significant global event in a country that has focused entirely on cricket.”
So Tune into TIMES NOW to catch all the news, action and excitement of the 2008 Olympics.
NDTV Imagine presents KS Oil’s Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam
This August, NDTV Imagine presents a unique musical event that promises to connect today’s audience with a collection of superlative bhajans. NDTV Imagine presents KS Oils ‘Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam’, a special musical devotional event that promises to attain the highest level of spirituality with a host of talented artists including Anup Jalota, Anuradha Paudwal, Jaspinder Narula. Don’t miss this special presentation of KS Oil’s Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam on Sunday, August 17th at 8.30 pm only on NDTV Imagine.
Soothe your nerves and purify your mind with the spiritual vibrations produced by The Passion of Radha-Krishna, the Legend of Shree Ram and the Devotion of Maa Sherowali.
Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam will treat you to soul-stirring Bhajans by the likes of Anup Jalota who will take you to a different world with his energy and enthusiasm as he sings Jay Ganesh Deva, Payo ji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram. Anuradha Paudwal will recite Om Jai Jagdish Hare, Krishnam Sharanam, Yashomati Maiyya Se, and Maa Shero Wali Jag Se Bada Tera Naam. Catch Jaspinder Narula’s heart-rending performance of bhajans like Chhap Tilak, Allah Hoo, and O Maa, O Maa.
The young generation is not too far behind with Harsdeep Kaur and Abbas keeping the traditions and culture alive as they perform spiritually moving songs like Ek omkar, Rahiman re, Bulla Ki Jana Mein Kaun, Tune Deewana Banaya, Dumadum Mast Kalander, and Tere Ishq Mein.
'Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries' on NDTV Imagine...
11 international cities, 5 superstars, 3 special celebrity guest performers, a talented music director duo and choreographer, loads of dancers and musicians… it promises to be an Unforgettable experience. Starting 7th August for the first time ever, watch all the behind-the-scene action of the Unforgettable Tour with Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwariya Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Ritiesh Deshmukh only on the Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries every night at 11.pm only on NDTV Imagine..
For the first time ever watch the magic of India's Biggest superstars on the world's Biggest Tour only on Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries starting 7th August everyday at 11.pm only on NDTV Imagine. It's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all bollywood fans to experience the stars up close and personal!
Desi Dhurandhars make all Indians proud!
After the 18 week roller coaster ride of exhilarating rises, perplexing dips and unexpected twists, 9X’s mega song–n-dance extravaganza Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche reached its crescendo! The concluding episode on August 2nd was an action packed, adrenaline pumping one with deserving talent maestros Deepak and Nishtha of the Desi Dhurandhars as the winners. Adding to the excitement of the evening, audiences saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh stepping up to demonstrate their performing skills, but this time on Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche stage rather than the cricket field! It was Dhoni’s team who finally walked away with the title; he was strongly supporting Deepak and Nishtha all through the episode. Both Deepak and Nishtha were gifted Rs 5 lakh each and a trip to Disneyland presented to them by Yuvraj!
On being crowned as one of the most talented kids in the country, Deepak and Nishtha exclaimed “It has been an amazing experience for us right from the first auditions to tonight’s amazing show and victory. It was great to perform in the presence of Dhoni and Yuvraj sir! We were nervous in the beginning of the episode but as we performances our confidence rose! We are very grateful to the entire 9X’s Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche team especially the choregraphers and production team and we will miss them all. They are like family for us now and we could have never got to where we are today, if it hadn’t been for their continual encouragement and faith. We thank the team, the judges and the audiences who supported us. But we owe this win to Manoj Tiwari. We will never forget this experience for as long as we live”!
On the event of the finals, Indrani Mukerjea, Founder and CEO, INX Media Pvt Ltd. shared her thoughts on the show’s concept and achievement “The main reason that Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche was such a huge success was because of the sheer enthusiasm and fresh untapped talent that all the children involved have. Bringing the people of urban and rural India together created an apt platform to not only, get out the best in all the participants but also attract support for them, from all pockets of the country. It was a sheer pleasure to organise and be a part of such an initiative and it is due to this genuine satisfaction that we will shortly be announcing the second exciting part of the series – “Chak De Sheher Di Kudiyan Te Galli De Gunde”
Special guests at the event, ace cricketers Yuvraj and Dhoni were also full of praises for the Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche. “The talent here tonight is unbelievable and the excitement on stage was infectious!” said Yuvraj. On being asked about his hidden dancing talent which we saw at the show, he said “I enjoy dancing but I’m not half as talented a dancer as these kids! It’s great to see them receive such encouragement so early in their lives. I hope they develop the God given gifts they have received in the form of their talent and pursue careers in the fields of their choice. I wish them all the best”.
Dhoni also commenting on Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche said “It is fantastic to see children from smaller towns getting such a good platform to showcase their talents. I’m over happy to see Deepak and Nishtha live up to the high expectations of all the people supporting them, giving them hope to fulfill their own dreams”.
The judging duo Salim Sulaiman said “It feels good to be a part of such a show and we appreciate the appearances that both Yuvraj and Dhoni made tonight.” They added “The competition between the jodis was very tough tonight and though it was a pleasure judging the episode, it was not an easy job! We tried to guide the kids well and we would like them to concentrate on their studies for now. Their talent is astounding and can surely take them to the heights that they aspire for and wish them well”. Raveena Tandon, also a judge for Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche – “It was my role in the competition to judge the screen presence of each child and each one was a winner. There is a lot of uptapped talent in the far flung areas of our country and shows such as Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche are as asset for our country’s future”.
Dulha-Dulhan Haazir Ho!!!
As the proverbial Hindi saying goes, the stage is set for the 11 head over heals in love couples popularly known as 'Dilwales' of Reliance Mobile Aajaa Mahi Vay to battle all odds and pledge their love for each other through intense rounds of dance and compatibility and win the hearts of the 'Love Gurus' (judges), Ronit Roy, Shweta Tiwari and Apara Mehta, on the show. The bi-weekly series premiers Friday, August 1 and will air every Friday and Saturday, 8 pm only on STAR Plus.
In an attempt to win a marriage of their dreams that is hosted by STAR Plus, the 'Dilwales' of Reliance Mobile Aajaa Mahi Vay have put on their dancing shoes and brought their real life love stories to the forefront unearthing some of their well guarded love secrets!
The opening episodes of the show will feature performances by all 11 couples spread across two days.
Thereafter, every Friday, top three couples will perform to compete for prizes such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, home theatre systems etc. (goods that will come in handy for starting a domestic life together).
There will also be three compatibility games in which their companionship and commitment will be judged. This will be followed by the elimination of a couple with the least amount of votes.
On the other hand, Saturday's episode will feature dance performances of the contesting couples and the total tally of their marks (including the viewers votes and the judges' score).
To know which real life couple will stand rock solid through the test of love and dance into their dream wedding, tune in to Aajaa Mahi Vay – Pyaar Ki Agnipareeksha, on Friday, August 1, 2008, Friday & Saturday, 8 pm only on STAR Plus.
Episode 1, Friday, August 1, 2008, 8 pm, STAR Plus
The opening episode of Aajaa Mahi Vay begins on an emotional note with the couples sharing memorable and romantic vows with each other. The love gurus (Ronit Roy, Shweta Tiwari and Apara Mehta) are touched by the sincere and genuine performances put forth by the Dilwales. The couples who performed their 'Agnipareeksha' in the 1st Episode were Jashan and Tahira, Aslam and Mayuri, Pravin and Kiran, Neetu and Sunny and Rizwan and Seran.
Episode 2, Saturday, August 2, 2008, 8 pm, STAR Plus
Dhawal-Greesha, Kabir-Sejal, Sherjil-Sneha, Maanit-Maanika, Kapil-Shivani and Manav-Rashmi perform in this episode while hosts, Rahul Vaidya and Vineet Singh touch upon the issues faced by the couples and the obstructions lying ahead of them…
Vande Mataram!
- Jawaharlal Nehru
These are the words of our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on Indian Independence Day, 1947. Now after 61 years we are celebrating the joy of our Freedom, with the same zest and enthusiasm!
But what exactly does Independence mean to us?? After 61 years of free-life, where do we stand?? The onus and responsibility lies on us to protect the motherland for which many have laid their lives…Let’s thank all those who have given their blood and soul for the motherland and Salute all the Martyrs and Leaders who had the dream to live in Independent India!
15th August signifies hope of an India where unity and peace will continue to prevail .On this, Television Stars shared their views...
Alok Nath:
The biggest threat to India and its unity, according to you: The pathetic politicians are a threat to India and its unity.
Your favorite leader in today’s era: Well what leaders? Who are they? I don’t see any leaders. I feel true leaders are people like Narayan Murthy, Ambani brothers and many others who have taken the nation a step ahead.
Message on Independence Day: I feel that Independence is sacred. In jungles animals have all the independence but it is very unfortunate that people are bound with laws and restrictions. In these restrictions one has to find independence. Let’s make this world a better place to be in.
****
Sudha Shivpuri:
The biggest threat to India and its unity, according to you: The endless personal fights that happen on issues regarding caste and creed is very bad. Everyone has a position to hold in life and people who are in a higher position in society should take their job more seriously.
Your favorite leader in today’s era: I don’t think I can name one, sabi hi mere favorite hai i.e. all are my favorite. I like Sonia Gandhi . I really like her because she is one female who has got Congress to the forefront.
Message on Independence Day: I feel that we need to understand and value the sacrifice of our leaders for the nation. We should always be united and never get into personal fights.
The biggest threat to India and its unity, according to you: The ones who always try to divide people on the basis of caste and creed..
Your favorite leader in today’s era: My favorite leader is Rahul Gandhi without any doubt.
Message on Independence Day: I feel that each individual should do something that makes India proud. Like in sports Abhinav Bindra has made India proud; in the same way I feel that in each field some one should do something so that India is proud of that individual.
****
Aamir Ali:
The biggest threat to India and its unity, according to you: I think it is dirty politics that screw up a lot of things. Just to get a vote bank, some people divide people on the basis of cast or creed which is very dangerous..
Your favorite leader in today’s era: I like Umar Abdullah for his honesty and Laloo Prasad Yadav for his smartness. Before I used to find Laloo ji funny and then I found him amazing and in couple of years I realized that he is a smart person who can turn losses into profits.
Message on Independence Day: Never think of dividing this country on the basis of caste, creed and culture. Just enjoy your freedom and live a happy life.
Jayati Bhatia:
The biggest threat to India and its unity, according to you: Population and lack of education are the biggest threats to India's unity.
Your favorite leader in today’s era: I am totally and absolutely excited about Rahul Gandhi and Sachin Pilot.
Message on Independence Day: I think Independence for me is something where I want to express my views on Getting rid of pretence and show-off is what people should do! I feel most of us speak only in our houses, now its the time to go out and talk about your views.
****
Dimple Jhangiani:
The biggest threat to India and its unity, according to you: Westernization which might change Indian culture is the biggest threat..
Your favorite leader in today’s era: I can’t name any as I don't like any one. Everything is now full of corruption.
Message on Independence Day: Happy Independence Day!! Let’s stop corruption and be loyal to our nation!!