Sonu Sweety = Sohni Mahiwal !

I don't know whether it was mere coincidence or what!

Recently while surfing I came on DD. I stopped there for some moments as one serial was being telecasted. Cast included Varun Badola and Shweta Kawatra (Pallavi of Kahani Ghar Ghar ki). I found same dialogue-same situation, same story that I watched one or two days back.

'Yes, it is the same,' I told myself. Now I remembered perfectly. Same story was going on in 'Sonu Sweety' that is being telecasted on Sab Tv. As I kept continue watching the serial, it was confirmed that this is the same serial that was being air on Sab Tv too. Here, on DD serial's name was 'Sohni Mahiwal', while on Sab it is 'Sonu Sweety'. Hero - Varun Badola is same, heroine Shweta Kawatra is same. However some actors were different in 'Sonu Sweety', e.g. Shweta's brother in the 'Sonu Sweety' was different. Set of house was also different. Serial is quite hilarious. It is 'nock-jhonk' between husband and wife. There is no double meaning dialogues which have become common in comedy serials. No chhichorapan. It is quite like serials that came during DD era.

So, the serial which was not clicked on DD that aired in 2006- three years back, became super hit on Sab Tv. So hit that now it has been telecasted twice in week!
(To read it in Gujarati click : http://jaywantpandya.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/સોનુ-સ્વીટી-સોહની-મહિવાલ/)

'Lapataganj' : DD time back again?

Promo 1 : There is couple trying to take a sleep at night. Suddenly power comes and light is on. Wife tells husband to switch off light as she can’t sleep with lights on. Husband asks her to wait for a while. Within few seconds power cuts off again. Couple now again happily try to take a sleep. But before going to sleep wife reminds her husband not to forget pay power bill as otherwise power will be cut!

Promo 2 : In an area, people are playing with colours on occasion of Holi festival. One leader comes with chamchas. One or two men act of pouring water from bucket. With fear of getting wet, leader goes back. Then these men says, ‘Pani aaye na aaye, tyohar to aate hi hai.’

These promos are of serial ‘Lapataganj’ coming soon (from 26thOctober) on Sab Tv. This is based on famous poet, writer, satirist Sharad Joshi’s (whose daughter Neha Joshi is well known actress and anchor) stories. From promos, one can judge that this serial is going to give you not only entertainment but also it will look into middle class and rural people’s lives.

It seems that with this serial and ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah’ Doordarshan time is coming back as this type of serial talks about society’s lower and middle class people’s worries with entertainment. There had been a huge gap where nonsense serials like Ekta Kapoor’s K brand serials and other Saas Bahu Serials were ruling. In humor slot also there were serials in which humor was also nonsense. But with ‘Taarak Mehra…’, ‘Tedhi Baat’, ‘Sonu Sweeti’ like serials, good entertainment is back. I am not advocating or making p.r. for Sab. There are FIR and Gunwale dulhaniyan le jayenge like serials also. But overall, good and meaningful entertainment is back again, that’s what I see.

So, wait and watch for ‘Lapataganj’!

Game show or cheating show?

It is nothing but cheating.

That's what we can tell about 'Bollywood Dhamaal' show- a so called game show coming on E24 at 10.30 pm.

In this show, one beautiful girl posing as an anchor asks viewers about bollywood puzzle. What was I saw yesterday (14th September, 2009) was photo of one young film actress. Her face was hiddent. Part of body starting from neck was only shown. Viewer was given two choices : call or sms. The callers were constantly giving wrong answers thus tempting viewer to sms or call. And prize was also quite big. It was Rs. 17,000. I smsed but the message I got in reply was : Mubarak Ho! Aap ka lucky no. hai....something and keep smsing to make your chance better. Callers were constantly giving wrong answers. I thought about calling. I called but It was clear from tv  there was no call coming eventhough my call was not being received. Only just sweet voice of girl saying : Congratulations! You are lucky to be reach in waiting list! Your call can be transfered anytime to studio, keep holding. Meanwhile price was getting higher and higher. I ended my call and understood all the game. The call cost was Rs. 10 per minute. So their game is that caller's call should not be attended so that call time gets increased. And there must be in house or staffters who pretend to be caller keep telling wrong names of the actress  so that viewers get tempted to hold call more minutes.

And this is not only mine experience. You can check on net. Many has written against this show.

What a cheating!

DPL's Ahmedabad audition receives overwhelm response

Sony Entertainment Television has announced two days auditions for Dance Premier League a unique dance format in Ahmedabad. The First day of Dance Premier League audition in Ahmedabad received overwhelming response. More than 300 Contestant took part in audition. The auditions will contine for Saturday 12th September 2009 at Karnavati club from 8:00 am to 4:00pm.

The show promises to highlight India’s rich & diverse culture from each region - each with its own flavour and unique identity. Dance has been a form of expression, art, passion and an integral part of the Indian culture. The show will showcase this diversity and give an opportunity to teams from each zone to compete & bring glory to their region.

Dance Premier League will have 5 teams from 5 different zones of India (North, East, West, and South & Central) and 1 NRI team competing with one another for “regional pride” – to bring glory to their zone by winning.

Each Zonal team will comprise of talented dancers selected through multi-city auditions across selected cities in each zone. Dance Premier League promises pan Bharat representation and will hold auditions in 15 cities in India and in London to scout for the best dancing talent starting September 1. This audition process will culminate with selection of final team for each zone. Each team will be mentored by a celebrity choreographer as they chart their journey from anonymity to fame, from being a contender to a champion.

According to Danish Khan, Vice President, Head Marketing, Sony Entertainment Television, “ Dance Premier League is a unique format which will provide a platform to talented dancers from all across India an opportunity to represent their respective zonal team, so the art from “dance” will combine with “regional pride” and bring alive the colour and spirit of different regions of India on a national platform. It will provide viewers with entertaining, engaging and compelling content every weekend”.

North zone's audition is completed under leadership of Salman Khan.

DPL will be as popular as IPL is : Ejaz Khan

When I smsed him for interview, I didn't know he is in Ahmedabad and if he would call me it would cost him std charges. But in reply to my sms requesting him for small interview, he replied back :


Can I call you when I am free?

I said ok with almost idea that he is not going to call me. Why should he call me? Am I mumbai based film journalist? Am I Khalid Mohammad or Am I Omar Qureshi? Yes, it was the fact that I have been writing on films and television for 11 years and journey still continues and I have interviewed more than 90 Bollywood-
Tellywood celebrities ranging from Madhuri Dixit to Mallika Sherawat and Saroj Khan to Rajeev Khandelwal. But that fact was totally unknown to him.

And eventhough my phone rang with flashing his number.

I am talking about Ejaz Khan, the man who is going to anchoring Sony's upcoming reality show DPL (Dance Premier League). Ejaz had come for auditions in Ahmedabad.  My conversation with him.

"How did this show happened to you?" I ask him. "See, Dance is my passion. डान्स मेरे दिल के बहोत करीब है। So when i received proposal of this show I accepted," he tells me. He is very ga-ga about this show. "This is very interesting show. It has good format. There are six zones - North, South, East, West and Central. There is NRI team also. Every team will have a captain and a choreographer. Match will be held. It may be between individuals, may be between team. It will be online of IPL (Indian Premier League). Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and more big stars are roped in this show. So, this show is going to be a big - never before show, It will be as popular as IPL is," he says very enthusiastic voice.

"Is it true that Madhuri Dixit is also joining this show?" I ask. "See, for this, I am not right person to answer you.


Ejaz Khan is currently playing Bhaskar role in Bhaskar Bharti on Sony. But about this show he simply tells, "I have just guest appearance in it."

Ejaz Khan was last seen in Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka  after that he vanished from small screen. Why? "It was conscious decision," without elaborating reasons he says. He will be anchoring in reality show, so will he participate himself in any reality show? "No. Reality show is overdone and I have no plane to participate in any type of reality show."

Ejaz has played small roles in films like Takshak, Maine Dil Tujko Diya, Zameen, Kuchh Na Kaho, Just Married and Meerabai Not Out. So any films on hand now? "Yes, I have films that will release soon." Asking about them, he simply says,


"Wait and watch!"

Savitabhabhi's exclusive and real one interview on tv!

Have you seen Savitabhabhi in person?

You will say this comic character and its site is prohibited in Bharat (not in India). But you can see her exclusive and firstever interview on internet tv. Not only interview, she is giving solution to global issues too.

You will probably say, I must be joking. 

But no, it's half true. This interview is not real one, but it's spoof. The show name is 'Jay Hind' first ever  Internet IndianTv show.' Show was launched on 15th August, 2009- Bharat's independence day. 

Better known as Sahil of 'Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai' Sumit Raghwan has become first ever anchor of internet indian tv . 

The show format is similar to 'Movers And Shakers' that came during late 90s. It was anchored by Shekhar Suman. This internet tv show 'Jay Hind' is written by Rajeev Nigam who also wrote for 'Movers And Shakers' and currently doing stand up comedy as Birbal with Rajesh Kumar in 'Dekh India Dekh'. Rajeev will be seen as common man in the said show.

Abhigyan Jha is the man behind 'Jay hind' show. The show can be watched at http://jayhind.buzzintown.com./ or http://jayhind.tv/.

Salman Khan : became active or trying to improve image?

Salman Khan is in news! But not for wrong side.

He is gifting. He is joking. He is anchoring television show (Dus Ka Dum). He is coming as participant in 'Tere Mere Beech mein' as participant along with his mother Salma Khan. He can be seen promoting Football on NDTV. He is featuring in popular show CID on sony. And now he will be seen in 'Dance Premier Leauge'.

The question is whether Salman Khan has become active or he is trying to improve his image. Answer may be whatever, but it is for sure that Shahrukh will not like his competitor going ahead of him.