While Star banks on saas bahu soaps and game shows to retain the top slot, Zee pegs its hopes on mythologicals after its relaunch debacle and Sahara pushes soaps to increase viewership, Sabe TV has decided to go the thriller way to inject fresh life into the channel.
 

Ramesh Bhatkar returns to Sabe TV as Colonell

The Adhikari brothers have roped in their old favourite Ramesh Bhatkar to play the lead role in Colonell, a daily series that premieres on Sabe from December 3 at 10:40 pm. With Colonell, the Adhikaris are, in all probability hoping to regain lost glory by latching on to the thriller genre that propelled them into the big league in the pre-satellite days.

The channel, which claims that Colonell is the desi version of Mr Bond, will air the serial from Mondays to Thursdays. The Colonell will be aided by a trio of super sleuths in his fight against crime. Each story within the series will run for four consecutive days, so viewers have to stay glued to the idiot box every day.

Colonell portrays a man for whom duty is first and justice vital, and how he goes around solving cases with skill, speed and panache with extraordinary outcomes to each encounter.
 

Another new addition is Telethriller, a 90-minute long 'mini-film' to be aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm, premiering from 2 December 2001. Telethriller promises nail biting suspense, action packed chases and mind boggling drama that will keep viewers glued right up to the climax. Telethriller will have a new storyline each week.

If director Gautam Adhikari is able to wean audiences away from the all too familiar family soaps, this might just be the dose required to infuse new life into the channel. Or is Sabe banking on numerology (note the extra alphabet in Colonell) to work its magic?