Zee to strengthen its weekend slot with 'Gangs of Haseepur'

Television is a platter offering audiences various kinds of flavours right from drama, romance, crime, horror, dance, music to  the most prescribed of the lot and that being comedy. In the recent past with the growth of the industry, the various genres have been impacting audience’s choice of programmes but comedy has always been the preferred one.

While the entire country is engrossed with the coverage of the IPL and general elections, Hindi GEC Zee TV is all set to entertain with fun and laughter while reflecting on current issues plaguing people, but in a humorous way. The channel is soon coming up with their new weekend comedy property, Gangs of Haseepur which will replace Bh Se Bhade, a show that failed to grab eyeballs.
On asking Namit Sharma, Programming Head, Zee TV about the new offering and how the channel is expanding the weekend slot, he said, "Essentially and obviously weekends are part of the mix.

Traditionally for us weekend has shown a growth in last 2-4 years. Whatever the time and place, they have been successful in the non-traditional slot as well and that actually inspired us to move beyond 9 pm. We plan to explore other slots and genre with differentiated content. Where our competitors are doing fiction and other things we will do it our way and make it work."

Zee has a strong hold on its fiction properties like Jodha Akbar, Pavitra Rishta, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Qubool  Hai and even few launched in recent times  like Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya and Doli Armano Ki are growing well and now the channel is focusing on strengthening their weekend slot while retaining the weekdays programming.

"Gangs of Haseepur will be aired at 8 pm, and we feel there is potential in this slot because it would be great if we can give people content in the 8-10 pm slot. We are strengthening our weekend offering and will keep entertaining viewers round the clock," said Sharma.

Today, the comedy genre is present on most of the Hindi GEC’s . Now Zee TV too is entering the league with its new show. "Comedy is a genre which is never going to die. There are almost five comedy films which are released every year and the market for comedy is growing.  So comedy on television, for which there is an appetite today, is a must," he said.

Produced by Essel Vision Productions, the show will be hosted by Ragini Khanna. Zee as a channel aims to provide content, and with Gangs of Haseepur a relevant comedy show it is sure to entertain their audience and leave them in splits. Actress Tanishaa Mukerji and Mandira Bedi will judge the laugh-a-thon and contestants like Bharti Singh, Suresh Menon, Raju Srivastav and Krushna Abhishek will be seen performing in the show.

The show is about exploring different issues of life be it mehengai, corruption, jhuthe wade, or politics among other issues and how to find  humor in such serious situations.
“We intend providing entertainment in the best possible way to our viewers. The channel plans to explore the genre and have chosen this show since they are of the opinion that   it is the right time for it to be launched.  Instead of focusing on Bollywood or Bollywood celebrities we are creating our own brand of humour," briefed Sharma.