THIS DUSSHERA CHALO SHIRDI WITH MERE SAI

Witnessing the massive response to ‘Mere Sai’, Sony Entertainment Television has decided to relaunch, by popular demand, a contest for all the viewers titled, ‘Mere Sai Chalo Shirdi’. As the name suggests, the contest will allow devout fans of the show and Sai-bhakts to avail an opportunity to visit Shirdi, Sai Baba’s holy abode for darshan around Dusshera to witness the centenary celebrations of Sai Baba’s Samadhi.

One of the most revered saints in the country, Sai Baba took Samadhi in Shirdi around a 100 years ago. In the last century, his number of followers has multiplied exponentially, and his messages and teachings have brought solace to millions of his worshippers.  Sony Entertainment Television’s show Mere Sai in a brief period has become one of the most popular shows on Indian television and has managed to touch the lives of viewers, thanks to its authentic portrayal of Sai’s life journey in an engaging screenplay format.

The contest will be live between 3rd and 27th September, wherein one question will be asked on every Monday and Thursday that’s a total of 8 questions that will be asked in 4 weeks. The contest questions will be flashed two times during the show, i.e. between 7 and 7:30 PM. Participants will have to answer by giving a missed call on the toll-free numbers corresponding to the option they feel is the correct answer. The window for sending in the correct answer would be the duration of the episode from 7 to 7:45 PM on Monday and Thursday, the lines will be deactivated on all the other days. Viewers sending in the most number of correct answers through the entire duration of the contest will be considered eligible for winning the prize – a trip to Shirdi to witness Sai Baba’s Samadhi’s centenary celebrations.

Shivaji Satam, who has immortalized the character of ACP Pradyuman on Sony Entertainment Television’s legendary police procedural shows CID, and who also happens to be a follower of Sai Baba said while announcing the contest, “I am honoured to be the one launching a contest that will provide an opportunity to followers of Sai Baba to witness centenary celebrations in the holy town of Shirdi. Sai Baba’s teachings are a source of guidance for many a lost soul and I congratulate Sony Entertainment Television and the entire team of Mere Sai for creating such a heartfelt portrayal of the saint’s life. I urge viewers to wholeheartedly participate in this contest to avail this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This year, for Dusshera, Chalo Shirdi with Mere Sai.”

Tune in to ‘Mere Sai’ every Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm only on Sony Entertainment Television

EPIC's Regiment Diaries 4th episode on Sikh Regiment

EPIC Channel's original series called Regiment Diaries that takes you behind the heavily guarded gates of army regimental centres. The entire series is filmed inside real regimental centres, with real army men - serving, and retired - speaking about their life and experience as soldiers of India in times of peace and war.

The third episode of Regiment Diaries on Sikh Regiment will be aired this Thursday- 06th September at 10 pm.

Episode 04: Sikh Regiment

The Sikh Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army that recruits from the Sikh community.  The Sikh Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army that recruits from the Sikh community. With a humble beginning of two battalions, today the fraternity has grown to a regiment of 19 regular infantry and two reserve battalions strong.

Watch the latest episode of Regiment Diaries to know about the legend tales of the Sikh Regiment's bravery.

Tune in to Epic Channel every Thursday at 10 pm. 

About the show:

The Indian Army is an emotion - a living chronicle of events, that we have the luxury to forget because they remember. The army itself is a family of several regiments, each of which has its own history, identity, and glorious traditions. Regiment Diaries is a tale of the Indian Army unlike any told before. Told by the very men who follow the illustrious feats of their predecessors, it tells timeless tales that warm the heart, moisten the eye, and leave you in awe of the bravest children of India.  

Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik recreate the era of 90s on Indian Idol 10

Sony Entertainment Television’s Indian Idol 10 is all set to rewind to the eras of the 90s with legendary singers Kumar Sanu and the melodious Alka Yagnik making a special appearance.

Both the veterans shared interesting stories from the 90s and reminisced the hit songs which had people all over grooving to their catchy tunes. All the three judges Anu Malik, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani engaged in an  Antakshari duel with Kumar and Alka ji.

The favourite singing Jodi from the 90s mesmerized everyone with their evergreen songs. All the Top 11 contestants gave a tribute to Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu by performing a medley which made Kumar Sanu nostalgic and he also expressed that he would love to come to Indian Idol 10 again. 

         

Watch the legendary singers Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik on Indian Idol this Saturday & Sunday, 8PM only on Sony Entertainment Television!

Pankaj Tripathi learns Malayalam the unique way for Shakeela biopic

Pankaj Tripathi, after having his dream fulfilled by sharing screen space with superstar Rajinikanth in the recently released Tamil film Kaala is now all geared up to portray the role of a Malayali actor for his next, a biopic on adult film star and Malayalam sensation, Shakeela Khan. Pankaj will soon start shooting for the film and is supposed to play a character who was very important in Shakeela Khan’s life. The film is based on the life of the sensational actress and dancer who once ruled the South film industry, before her major breakthrough in the limelight.

Pankaj is diving into unchartered waters yet again with this role and has decided to make sure his prep is thorough. The National Award winning actor doesn't want to sound fake while delivering the dialogues and is therefore leaving no stone unturned to execute his role perfectly.

For his prep, the Masaan actor has decided to watch popular Malayalam films to get the diction and nuances right as he will be required to speak basic Malayalam throughout the film. He has also been watching Hindi movies starring various Malayalam actors and has been picking up their accent from the films, ensuring he enunciates correctly. He wants to sound real and doesn't want to sound off because that wouldn't do justice to his character. “I’ve watched the original Malayalam film which inspired Billu and many other films in curtain pieces, not entirely. I love Malayalam films. They make them so beautifully. Their story telling skills are brilliant. This role is very new to me; I have never done something like this before. I always try that I don’t copy the caricature. So it’s an original portrayal and I will mould it according to the feedback I receive from the director and the writer. Of course, I will say that it’s a very colourful role. There’s a particular type of body language, a hierarchy to it, a kind of status play as well. So let’s see. I hope the audience likes it as they have liked my other performances so far.”

When it comes to picking his roles, Pankaj has always gone for the parts that interest him the most. Every character he has played on screen has been a shadow of people he has interacted with in his life. Doing justice to his role is something all actors strive for and the Gurgaon actor is definitely amongst those who like to execute their characters to the T.

Richa had to seek help of psychologists to overcome the emotional trauma post the shoot of Love Sonia

Richa Chadha's role in Love Sonia has already gotten her two awards before the film has even released across the world, one in London Indian Film Festival and one at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The actress is one of the few people in the industry capable of such a feat where her work is speaking for her. The Fukrey actress plays the role of a sex worker and the Madam of a brothel in Love Sonia. She, along with actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher, Freida Pinto, Mrunal Thakur and Rajkumar Rao bring us the reality of the Sex Trafficking world which is directed by Tabrez Noorani.

Richa who was hesitant to the do the role when offered it because she was worried if the story would do justice to the portrayal of something so sensitive. She believed the director, Tabrez when he showed her the decade of research he's been doing for the film. When the actress started shooting for the film she met many sexworkers, a lot of young girls who were rescued from the flesh trade and listened to incidents that one could never fathom were even possible. After 2.5 months of shooting in different locations, depicting brutality and real stories on screen, once done with filming, Richa headed to for therapy sessions with a psychologist to help her detach from the role. An effect on one's mental state changes each day with scenarios that are presented in front of you and we completed understand why Richa needed help removing herself from her character because for 2.5 months she was part of it all.

Speaking about the process, Richa said, “The story of the film was gruelling and emotionally exhausting. To imagine as actors for us to go through this through the process of enacting living the life of these girls momentarily scars us, I can only imagine what would the girls in real life must be going through. For me it wasn’t an easy process. To immerse into the role, live through those emotions, learn those realities and accept them to essay the role of Madhuri took its toll on me. We are lucky as educated people to have access to information and to facilities and I had to seek help of professionals who are psychologists and find therapeutic ways to get myself out of the character to resume my normal life. This character was more than just a role it was a life we had to lead and also pull out of it emotionally once we were through it”.

For an actor like Richa, she could remove herself gradually but for millions of girls, this is the story of their lives. Love Sonia is a crucial film to change the discourse around India's sex trafficking issue.