MUMBAI: For both Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and Zee TV, movies appear to be the safest bet to make some impact on the ratings listings overwhelmingly dominated by Star Plus.
Today SET announced the acquisition of 10 Hindi films with the really big ticket one being producer Yash Johar's multi-starrer blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Other acquisitions include the recently released Akshaye Khanna-Ajay Devgan-Urmila Matondkar starrer Deewangee, Awara Pagal Deewana, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Na Tum Jano Na Hum and Chor Machaye Shor.
Multi-starrer K3G has Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan as the male leads with Jaya Bachchan, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor on the distaff side. K3G is planned as the SET's New Year's Eve offering to be aired on 31 December.
The film purchases come as no surprise since SET channel head Sunil Lulla had indicated such a move was on the cards after the superb ratings showing of blockbuster Lagaan . Ashustosh Gowarikar's critically acclaimed box-office success had a full five hours of air time when it was telecast on 17 October but still managed to hit the Top 10.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of reports that both K3G and this year's mega movie Devdas (at least in costing terms though the verdict on whether it is really a hit is still not fully out) were not finding buyers for the TV telecast rights. The high cost the producers were demanding was the stumbling block. Industry sources say that Rs 80 million was what the Johars were seeking for the film but that SET is likely to have paid somewhere in the region of Rs 60 million.
"Karan Johar is a gifted and sensitive director, and his films have always been extremely popular. So his Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham - along with Deewangee, Awara Pagal Deewana and the other hits we have acquired - will provide our viewers the biggest and best of film entertainment," SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta was quoted as saying in an official release.
Johar was quoted in the release as saying: "It's a relationship that goes back to when Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was aired on Sony. I think our relationship with the Sony Entertainment Television network has grown very beautifully. I'm so happy that Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has been bought by Sony again - I'm glad it's Sony and nobody else! I believe in loyalty and consistency, and this is a step in just that direction."
"This is not all, we are in discussions for some other titles too, and I hope we shall be able to make an announcement soon, Dasgupta has been quoted as saying.
