MUMBAI: The effervescent Genelia D?souza and contestants of the one-of-its-kind reality show Sunsilk Big Switch, played it up at a fun-filled Gully Cricket match today. The two extremely talented teams led by Siddartha and Mohita were at their best whilst sweating it out for the prestigious UTV Sunsilk Bindass Big Switch trophy.

Both the teams comprising six rich kids and dreamers each, mesmerized the audience thoroughly with their antics. Even as Genelia lent her support to both teams, the match witnessed the participants already evicted from the show cheering on the players as well! Turning into a nostalgic event, the dreamers bonded with the rich kids, with the match turning out to be a stupendous success for the channel, rich kids and the dreamers alike!

Commenting on the eve of the match, Actress Genelia D?Souza said, ?The match has been a great experience & has only helped strengthen my bond with the Big Switch participants. It didn?t matter as to who won or lost the match, the agenda of further building my bond with the contestants of this innovative show has been met with this initiative?.

Heather Gupta, Channel Head, UTV Bindass, adds ?As innovation is one of the key platforms of Bindass, a gully cricket-match is the perfect event for the Big Switch team, not only strengthening the connection between participants but also reaching out to audiences at a national level?

A one of its kind reality show, Sunsilk Bindass Big Switch has been extremely successful in revealing some of the hard truths of the city we live in. The humble beginnings of the dreamers, the shift of lifestyle for the rich kids and the tasks on the show as well as the fulfilment of one lucky dreamer?s wish, combine to create a show that viewer?s just can?t stop watching.

MUMBAI: After scripting a success story in TV world, as a producer Sunjoy Waddhwa, who is an eminent personality of television industry today, is venturing into theatre industry, With its first Hindi theater play ?Ek Tu aur Ek Mein? on January 10, 2010 at Manik Sabhagriha, Bandra(w), 8pm. After producing many successful tv serials like "Saat Phere", "D.0.N" & " Balika Vadhu" and telefilms ?Unn hazaroon ke naam & "Phir Se? the multitasking Sunjoy has now decided to go beyond TV world.

According to Sunjoy ?It?s a New Year gift to all the theater audience, assuring a full joy ride to them. I always wanted to be associated with theatre as I feel that the real talent lies there. Artistes doing theatre put their heart and soul which comes across brilliantly in their performance. I am sure there is always a great audience, looking forward to watching new plays. The concept of the play is to bring back the smile with a humor which is different than usual".

?Ek Tu aur Ek Mein? is a pair of dialogues, in a lock-up, between Pramod Joshi (Suneel Sinha) and B. P. Shrivastava (Narendra Gupta) an unsuccessful criminal and lawyer respectively. The criminal, a gentle tea vendor, is on remand for the murder of his wife and the lawyer an elderly, disappointed man has received his first case after waiting for 20 years. Longing to become rich & famous, the barrister persuades his client to give him full co-operation in order to win the case. He explains the reasons to his client, who is ready to help, albeit reluctantly. With this begins a rehearsal session of examining and cross examining some possible characters required for the case. All this creates a series of events that are both funny and intriguing, at the same time. Although we know that this castle has no foundations we keep guessing, if it will see the light of day.

MUMBAI: IDEA Cellular, the pan-India mobile operator, today announced the winner of IDEA Mobile Roadies Challenge, in association with MTV. Being the first ever reality show replicated for mobile users, IDEA Mobile Roadies Challenge has given the participants a taste of life on the edge. Apart from the pride of winning the IDEA Mobile Roadies title, the winner, Mr. Khushal from Delhi went home with the grand prize of Rs.1 Lakh presented by MTV VJ, Bani.

IDEA Mobile Roadies Challenge, launched earlier this year, became the first ever reality show replicated for mobile users, and gave the participants a taste of life on the edge, as experienced by the contestants on the reality show on TV.

To claim the IDEA Mobile Roadies Title, IDEA subscribers? were evaluated on various parameters- mettle, speed, tolerance, attitude, and ultimately whether they were made up of true Roadie Material, in the keenly contested challenge. The challenge opened on the website www.ideastrikeback.com which featured an online bike-racing game. This web based racing challenge was designed as an impossible-to-win game. Those who lost the opportunity received a call in real time from Raghu on their cell phone urging them to subscribe to the IDEA Roadies Mobile pack for a chance to be the IDEA Mobile Roadie.

A seamless web-mobile integration provided the user a digital thrill he had never experienced before. Upon subscription, the players set on a mobile journey to the real Roadie-like experience with 10 tasks to be performed over a period of 21 days. The participants had to face a volley of challenges like rapid-fire questions, treasure hunt, screaming at the top of their voice and awarding points on the decibel levels of the participant, and finally the piece de resistance which involved a personal telephonic interview with Raghu Ram, the anchor for the Roadies show last year.

This action packed gaming experience is not for the weak hearted and its valiant efforts haven?t gone unnoticed, as it recently bagged ?The Best Media Innovation ? Digital? during EMVIE Awards 2009, in the bronze category. IDEA Mobile Roadies Challenge also bagged the bronze award for ?Best Mobile Innovation? & ?Best Direct Response? during ABBY Awards 2009.

Mr. Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, IDEA Cellular said, ?IDEA is an ?innovator? brand. We always endeavour to provide an enthralling experience to mobile consumers through our innovative and customer centric products and services. The IDEA Mobile Roadies Challenge has set new benchmarks in terms of how Value Added Services can be used to extend Media products into the Mobile domain for access of millions of mobile users. We will be happy to take this initiative further and provide another season of unparalleled adventure, excitement and thrill to IDEA subscribers by giving them another opportunity to be a part of this gaming experience.?

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ashish Patil, MTV said, ?This is a great platform for several MTV Roadies enthusiasts to participate in a very thrilling virtual experience courtesy Idea Cellular. I extend my heartiest congratulation to the winner.?

The winner, Mr. Khushal said with much gusto, ?I am ecstatic about winning the Idea Roadies Challenge! The gaming challenges truly set my pulse racing. I thank Idea Cellular and MTV for creating such an unparalleled entertainment experience on mobile phones.?

Taking the success of season one to the next level, IDEA Cellular and MTV have announced IDEA Mobile Roadies Challenge Season 2, which promises to be bigger and better. The challenge begins with online auditions, conducted by popular VJ Cyrus Broacha. To enter auditions, users need to log on to the website www.ideastrikeback.com with their name & mobile numbers.

This year the IDEA Mobile Roadie Challenge is open to all for interaction on the website www.ideastrikeback.com. However, only IDEA subscribers will be able to subscribe and compete for the grand prize. The players will be given tasks to compete over the phone. Ultimately only the top ranking players will survive and stand a chance to win prize money of Rs. 1 Lakh, apart from getting a chance to live the Roadie life for a day by performing the final task along with the Roadies finalists.
 

MUMBAI: If the first episode was anything to go by, you?re in for a great ride. This week, watch the winner of the Hunt for the Kingfisher Calendar Girl 2010- Himarsha Venkatsamy take centre stage as she prepares to take the final leap. And as she zooms ahead with her dreams, watch how everything around you comes to a standstill...

Plus, there?s more action in store for you. Watch if Atul Kasbekar can get the best out of Gia Johnson as sea planes whoosh across the skies. And as the calendar gets going smoothly, find out if the weather gods have other plans!!

You?re in for the time of your life ?. And the good times have just begun. Tune in to watch the second episode of ?Making of the Kingfisher Calendar 2010? on January 8, 2010, Friday at 10 PM with a repeat on January 9, 2010, Saturday at 11 pm only on NDTV Good Times.by Mr. Sanjeev Aga, Managing Director, Idea Cellular, at an austere ceremony in the national capital.
 

MUMBAI: As the first terror bullet smashed the Mumbai eventide calm, something deeper was stirred across India. Valiant men and women lost their lives, saving those of others. The 60 horrific hours generated contradictory impulses; a feeling of being wounded, yet stronger; of being united, yet without a glue; of anger without focus.

On the first anniversary of 26/11, Idea Cellular initiated the movement titled the ?Talk for India Hour?. An advance nationwide campaign publicized the hour. Approximately 5.5 crore Idea subscribers were made aware, that for every call they made between 8.36 p.m. and 9.36 p.m. that evening, the nett revenue generated would be handed over by Idea Cellular to the cause of protective gear for police personnel.

At its culmination, approximately Rs. 1.25 crore was generated as revenue from subscriber calls. Idea Cellular doubled the amount, and contributed a total sum of Rs. 2.50 crores. This cheque of Rs. 2.50 crore, for the Prime Minister?s National Defence Fund, was handed over to Mr. P. Chidambaram, Hon?ble Home Minister by Mr. Sanjeev Aga, Managing Director, Idea Cellular, at an austere ceremony in the national capital.

Said Mr. Sanjeev Aga, Managing Director, Idea Cellular, ?Beyond mere money and words, the question we asked was what extra we could do to convert raw emotion into a force multiplier. In our case, our huge 5.5 crore subscriber base, straddling all cross-sections of society provided the inspiration. It is the Idea family?s salute to our much maligned, over-worked, under-equipped Indian police force, saying that as you transform to take on our enemies, we are solidly behind you.?

Added Mr. Aga ?The acknowledgement by the Hon?ble Home Minister is a huge encouragement.?

In early November, the ?Talk for India? campaign was triggered by a TVC featuring IDEA Brand Ambassador, Abhishek Bachchan, who urged citizens to participate in the campaign. The campaign was supported on Television, Radio, outdoor and digital media. To mobilize a large number of people, IDEA activated groups on social networking sites, besides various ground activation programs, in a 360 degree approach.

IDEA organized Memorials and Candle Light vigils in 32 Indian cities across 15 states, on November 26th, 2009. Over 110,000 citizens paid tribute to the victims of terror attacks, and the valiant men and women who lost their lives to ensure the safety of Indians. People from all walks of life stepped out and expressed solidarity for the cause, by lighting candles and expressing themselves by writing messages, and through the medium of art.