MUMBAI: Whether movies are the flavour of the month or not is a different story all together. But Sahara sure is packing in some good old 'masala' punch this October.

In a bid to fortify the content, Subrato Roy's flagship channel has adopted a new stance -- package the new launches with movies.

While big screen stars continue to waltz with Sahara, what with Hema Malini's long in-making Kamini Damini finally debuting on the channel, the channel is all geared to launch Raja Mukerji's Prratima. In what seems like a strategy to hook the viewers, Sahara will be preceding Prratima's relaunch by week long Amitabh Bachchan movie fest.

In addition to the mass entertainment shows, the channel has already premiered its kiddie fare, Contiloe production's Aavishkar. A superman tale has a half man-half robot as its protagonist, complete with a gizmo laden world and evil villians.

The channel will be premiering two of Bachchan's recent releases Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan starrer Dev and Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi starrer Kyon Ho Gaya Na.

The next launch - Kuch Love Kuch Masti is preceded by Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan starrer Khushi and Vivek Oberoi and Ajay Devgan starrer gangster flick Company.

In addition to premiering Dev and Kyun Ho Gaya Na, Sahara is looking at buttering its weekend movie slots with premieres of latest movies like Dhoop, Saaya, Sheen, Run and Gayab.

Movies seem to be the safe bet for the festivals and others holidays as well, with the channel lining Dhoop, Lajja, Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, Company and Khushi. But the channel is playing slow on Sundays owing to cricket series between India and Australia and has placed older movies in afternoon slot on Saturdays and Sundays.