News

Zee End Is Nigh

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the disappointed bride in the failed engagement between Zee and Sony India, has formally ended its quest for a merger. On Tuesday, it withdrew its application before the industry regulator National Company Law Tribunal and said that it will focus instead on internal growth. Pulling the Nclt application also makes it somewhat easier for Zee to pursue its arbitration and other legal actions against Sony.

The plan to merge the two mid-size film and TV businesses was on the table for over two years, but finally (acrimoniously) collapsed in January 2024. Sony is also seeking restitution from Zee, which it says failed to live up to the agreed merger terms. Since the wedding bells stopped ringing, Zee has also announced that it will slice its workforce by 15%.

Netflix Starts Filming Guillaume Canet’S ‘Taken’-Style Thriller

Guillaume Canet, whose latest directorial outing “Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom...

Tamara Lawrance & Sharon D. Clarke Board BBC’s ‘Mr Loverman’

The BBC has revealed first look images of Lennie James in its Mr Loverman adaptation, with the likes of Tamara Lawrance and Sharon D. Clarke boarding. Deadline revealed the series several months back and it is a TV adaptation of Booker winner Bernardine Evaristo’s seventh novel. Alongside the previously announced James (Save Me, Line of Duty) as the exuberant protagonist Barrington Jedidiah Walker will be three-time Olivier Award winner Clarke, Time star Lawrance, Ariyon Bakare, Morris De La Roux and Sharlene Whyte (Small Axe, Stephen). The series follows Barrington, Barry to his mates, a 74 year old, Antiguan born, exuberant Hackney personality, renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women. Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, passionate...

A single choice set a trail of turmoil for Noyonika and her family, and defined their fate. Caught in a web of choices, The Trial – Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha follows the journey of Noyonika as she embarks on a journey that truly makes her stand the test of time after her husband’s betrayal.

Disney+ Hotstar today dropped the official trailer of their upcoming courtroom drama, The Trial – Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha which showcases this gripping trial of life as Noyonika navigates through the curveballs life throws at her.

The show stars Padma Shri awardee, Kajol as Noyonika Sengupta along with Sheeba Chaddha, Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait, and Gaurav Pandey in key roles. Produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms, The Trial – Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka is directed by Suparn S Varma.

The Trial – Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha is a gritty courtroom drama that unravels moral dilemmas that drive Noyonika to...

Kajol, one of India’s best-loved actors, stars in Disney+ Hotstar series “The Trial – Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha,” the Indian adaptation of CBS series “The Good Wife.”

The courtroom drama sees Kajol star as Noyonika Sengupta, a housewife who is forced to return to work as a lawyer after her husband’s public scandal puts him behind bars. The cast also includes Sheeba Chaddha, Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait and Gaurav Pandey in key roles.

Produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms, “The Trial” is directed by Suparn S. Varma (“Rana Naidu”).

Kajol has credits that include romance “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” melodrama “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…,” romantic thriller “Fanaa” and drama “My Name Is Khan.” She hails from the Mukherjee family which is studded with actors, directors and producers, and has been married to fellow Bollywood star Ajay Devgn for more than 20 years. She made her streaming debut...

Commissions

The BBC has commissioned six factual entertainment shows. In BBC Two series “Trailblazers,” produced by Studio Ramsay, Ruby Wax, Melanie Brown and Emily Atack follow in the footsteps of pioneering traveller Isabella Bird as they set off on their own American adventure across the Rocky Mountains. BBC Three adventure challenge series “Warrior Island,” from Wall To Wall West, follows eight young people who want to transform their body and mind. Celebrity couples put their relationship to the ultimate test in BBC One competition format, “Unbreakable,” by 110% Content. “Inside The Airport,” produced by Wonderhood Studios for BBC One, sees aviation expert Jeremy Spake at Heathrow, to see how the airport is coping during a time when the U.K. is emerging from the pandemic. And, following a successful pilot in 2020, engineering and adventure series “The Speedshop,” by Grant Wardrop Productions, follows custom bike builder Titch Cormack and his team as...

Discovery And Foxtel Strike Multi-Year Partnership

Discovery and Australian network Foxtel have unveiled a multi-year partnership that will see Foxtel supplied with thousands of hours of content from TLC, Investigation Discovery, Discovery Turbo and Animal Planet. Subscribers will be able to access the likes of Outback Opal Hunters, Aussie Gold Hunters and Gold Rush on Foxtel and streamer Binge, with a range of box-sets included as part of the deal. The move extends a pre-existing partnership between the two outfits, which Foxtel Group Chief Content and Commercial Officer Amanda Laing said will “enable us to deliver even more of the world’s best factual, documentary and reality content.” Foxtel Media has also renewed its agreement as the exclusive Australian advertising partner for Discovery, Inc.

BBC Commissions Celebrity ‘Unbreakable’ Format And Airport Doc

BBC One has commissioned Unbreakable, a celebrity competition format putting couples to the test, along with a Heathrow Airport doc series.