MUMBAI: Jaya TV will show the first 3D serial on television in India, pumping in investments that will make it the costliest programme ever on the channel.

Chennai-based GV Films is producing the live action shows, Paramapadam (Snake and Ladder) and Mayawi (Invisible Man). First to air will be Paramadam, scheduled in December. 

"We have finalised on these two shows. They will be the costliest shows we have ever put on air. We expect to telecast Paramadam in December, followed by Mayawi. But it requires logistics support. We aim to supply 10 million 3D glasses for which we will have a sponsor," Jaya TV vice president marketing K Balaswaminathan tells Indiantelevision.com.

Jaya TV's decision to invest heavily in these shows comes in the backdrop of Vijay TV strengthening its programming with the Tamil version of KBC 2 on weekends. Sun TV, on the other hand, will be launching a game show for weekends in November to take on KBC2. The show Thanga Vettai is conceived as a gold hunt show. Prizes will be given in gold, according to Sun TV vice-president (programmes) Hansraj Saxena.

Paramadam and Mayawi will have a 52-week run on the Tamil channel. "We are deciding whether we should make it one-hour or half-hour episodes," says Balaswaminathan.

GV Films has signed an agreement for the purchase of Tamil versions of these shows, says "We will get Rs 700000 for each one-hour episode. We have tied up with a Hollywood firm for the technology. It will be digitally encoded there. Besides, the director of photography will be from Hollywood," says chairman GV Films Mahadevan Ganesh.

Paramapadam is a story based on the famous snake and ladder game concept. The lead actor of this serial is Mukesh Khanna of Shaktiman fame, he adds.

GV Films also plans to make Hindi versions of these shows. "We are also in talks with Hindi channels for these shows," says Ganesh.