MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: Different people define and interpret what Indian-ness means to them. For some, it’s about evolving with the growing global advancements while for others, it’s about staying connected to their roots. Some think of it as an element to bring the change required while some take it as a sense of equality.
Way back in 1950, the Indian Constitution came into being on 26 January and India was proclaimed as a sovereign, democratic and a republic. This day, which marks the birth of our republic is celebrated across the country and television channels across the board are not far behind in entertaining their viewers on this National Holiday.
Most news channels will cover the Republic Day parade live from New Delhi. As the preparations for the 67th Republic Day continue in full swing across the country, Indiantelevision.com sums up the line-up, which will be showcased on TV.
Read on:
English Entertainment Channels
Colors Infinity and Colors Infinity HD
Colors Infinity will treat its binge watchers by airing back-to-back episodes of The Last Ship staring from 7 am to 7 pm. The show, based on an American novel by William Brinkley, is a post-apocalyptic drama television series.
After a global viral pandemic wipes out over 80 per cent of the world's population, the crew of a lone unaffected US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the fictional USS Nathan James, must try to find a cure, stop the virus, and save humanity.
FX and FX HD
FX, taking the celebration a notch higher, will air back-to-back episodes of one of the greatest dramas of all timeHouse M.D. entertaining the viewers all day from 10 am.
Sony Pix
The channel will air the entire series of Marvel comic's beloved superhero Spider-Man in the form of a movie marathon. Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will play back-to-back on the channel from 10 am onwards.
Zee Cafe
Zee Cafe will premiere a marathon of Cougar Town's complete final season starting from 1:30 pm.
In the final season of the crazy, wine-drinking suburban gang, Laurie and Travis take things to the next level. While a new job takes Bobby out of the state, Grayson takes on a position as a music teacher. The end of the series sees Jules and the rest, including Tom, going through several major changes.
English Movies Channels
Zee Studio
Zee Studio will run a movie marathon for their viewers this Republic Day. The channel has lined-up a special marathon of movies like Iron Man 3, Thor 2, Transformers 3, GI: Joe 2, Shooter, Minority Report and The Peace Maker airing from 8 am to 11 pm.
Movies Now
For Republic Day, Movies Now has lined up a special property called Badge of Courage from 9 am to 9 pm. The property will feature patriotic movies like Fury, Olympus Has Fallen, Siege, The Universal Soldier: The Return, Battle Los Angeles and White House Down.
English Kids Channels
Nickelodeon
The channel will celebrate this historic day by holding a parade at Mumbai’s Bandra Bandstand at 7:50 am where children from more than 40 schools will participate and walk along with navy and air-force officers to pay their tribute to the country.
Discovery Kids
The channel will premiere special episodes of Kisna on 26 January from 9 am.
English Factual Entertainment Channels
Discovery Channel
On the occasion of Republic Day, Discovery Channel will premiere Siachen at 9 pm. It is a one-hour special programme, which will take viewers through the extreme frontline in the world. It will present the remarkable chronicles of soldiers and their formidable challenges to manage the battlefield where temperatures reach minus 60 degrees.
National Geographic
The channel will celebrate this day by showcasing an exclusive documentary, BSF: India’s First Line of Defence. The documentary will showcase the history, ethos, men and machines of the extraordinary border security force. The show saw its premiere on 25 January, 2016 at 9 pm.
History TV18
History TV18 will air three episodes of Gandhi, which is the first descriptive series on the life of Gandhi examines his relationship with his wife and his role on the path to Indian independence. The channel will air the episodes from 9 - 11 am followed by a repeat at 6 pm.
Following this will be Dynamo Magician Impossible, which is a story on Dynamo heading to India on an epic adventure, which sees him travel from the streets of Mumbai to the sacred city of Varanasi for the annual Holi festival. The show will air at 12 pm with a repeat telecast at 5 pm.
The Birth of Empire: East India Company, revealing how the behemoth that was the East India Company grew into an imperial power, and become the hotbed of corruption and greed that led to its downfall will air from 1 pm followed by the part 1 and 2 of India on 4 Wheels starting from 3 - 5 pm.
The season 2 of VICE - The Pink Gang Rebellion & Genetic Passport will be aired at 9 pm on the channel.
News Channels
CNN-IBN
CNN-IBN will telecast a range of special programming, which will include an exclusive show Saluting Bravehearts to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Pathankot terror attack. The show will air exclusively on the channel at 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm.
The special half-hour show will showcase the stories of the seven martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the deadly terror attack in Pathankot in the first week of January. The documentary will be strung together with candid interviews with the family members of the martyrs.
Apart from this, the channel will also feature the live coverage of the Republic Day parade from 9 am.
DD National / DD Bharati
Even as Doordarshan's National channel will carry the live telecast of the Republic Day Parade and All India Radio will broadcast the commentary, DD Bharati has scheduled several programmes to mark India’s 67th Republic Day on 26 January.
DD National and All India Radio will broadcast the address to the nation by President Pranab Mukherjee from 7 pm this evening. This will be followed by regional language translations by respective DD kendras all over the country.
DD Bharati will telecast on 25 January at 6 pm a programme on Shaheed Bhagat Singh called Lagenge Har Baras Mele. The half-hour biographical is a snapshot on the life of Bhagat Singh and his remarkable contribution in the freedom struggle.
Freedom Struggle and Indian Poetry will be telecast under the slot Sahitya Bharati to enlighten viewers on the motivational spirit of Indian poets during the Indian freedom struggle. The half-hour programme will be telecast on 25, 26 and 27 January at 8 pm.
Swaraj Ki Goonj, a special programme on the significant role cinema played during the freedom struggle, will be telecast on 25 and 26 January at 10.30 pm.
DD Bharati and DD Chandana will also telecast live, the launch by Prasar Bharati chairman Dr Surya Prakash of AIR Raagam, the 24x7 classical channel of All India Radio at 6 pm on 26 January.
IBN
The special line-up of programmes on IBN7 will focus on a spectrum of topic ranging from the winners of this year's National Bravery Awards to India’s defence contingent and its capabilities.
Along with the special shows, the channel will also provide live coverage of Republic Day parade starting from 9 am, which will have French President Francois Hollande as the guest of honour.
Hindi GEC
Colors
The Hindi general entertainment channel plans to air the national proceedings along with Doordarshan. It will telecast the 67th Republic Day celebration live for its viewers across the country from 9 am onwards.
Hindi Movies Channels
&Pictures
The Hindi movie channel will kick-start its celebrations on 26 January at 8 am and will continue it through the day with a host of power packed movies.
The channel has lined up movies starting with Pardes at 8 am followed by Commando-A One Man Army at 11 am, No Problem at 2 pm, Shamitabh at 5 pm and Lagaan at 8 pm.
Star Gold and Star Gold HD
The channel will showcase the world television premiere of Talvaar on 26 January at 8 pm.
