The ‘Peshwa’ tussle between Sony and &TV

The story of Bajirao Mastani created waves on the silver screen, thanks to impeccable direction by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and superb performances by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

Now, programming heads in major GECs are keen to weave the story on the small screen and rake in big numbers.

However, this time, it’s ‘content tussle’ between two channels, namely &TV and Sony Entertainment Television, for both broadcasters want to air the Bajirao story.

Here’s more dope.

Sony has been working closely with Sphere Origins on the Peshwa project. However, in the meantime &TV too got interested in the concept. Acting swiftly, & has gone ahead to launch a teaser (not much meat, mere visual montage) a week back to seal its supremacy over Peshwa battle.

In the past too, channels have toyed with similar concepts and released teasers in a jiffy to assert content pre-eminence. Prominent examples being Ashoka (Colors and Star Plus) and most recently Maan Mein Hai Vishwas (Sony) and Bhakti Mein Shakti (Life OK), which have similar plots.

Cuts in a source: “Good concepts are rare and channels want to air engaging content. Though & has the upper hand in terms of the ‘Peshwa’ buzz, there is a high probability of Sony also coming into the picture. There is palpable discomfort at the Sony camp with & releasing the teaser and minds are being put to work to salvage the situation.”  

We buzzed Sony and & channel spokespersons but did not get any revert till the time of filing the story.

Producer Sunjoy Wadhwa of Sphere Origins said: “Nothing has been confirmed yet.”

Nissar Parvez of Peninsula shared: “I have no clue what is going on.”

However, we have learnt that auditions are on for the projects in both the channels and sets are also being erected to facilitate filming, as per sources.

Keep reading Tellychakkar.com for more updates.