Zee to phase out 'Awaz' in three weeks

Zee to phase out 'Awaz' in three weeks

Zee

MUMBAI: Zee's most ambitious show for 2003 is winding up just seen months after it began with a bang. Awaz - Dil Se Dil Tak, that started in August last year on a high note, ends in the first week of March 2004 with a whimper.

Awaz... will make way for Kaun?, a thriller show that premieres 7 March on Zee TV. Kaun? incidentally will be reruns of the popular Thriller at Ten, that was telecast on Zee in 1998-99. While insiders say Kaun? will be a repeat of the original at the outset, original episodes are likely to be added as the serial gathers steam.

Kaun?, incidentally, is being launched almost at the same time that nearest rival Sony Entertainment Television plans to premiere its new Optimystix produced thriller show Yeh Life Meri Hai.

Awaz..., produced by Zee favourite Gajendra Singh (who also does the long runnng Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa) told the tale of a clutch of unrelated people who are thrown together by destiny when the aeroplane they are travelling in is hijacked and later crashes on an island. It recounts how their relationships go through a plethora of changes once all of them are rescued and return to their earlier lives.

Awaz..., which displaced the Siddhant Cinevision produced Kittie Party from its 10 pm slot, did reasonably well in the earlier phase, but ratings started to fall as the story brought the characters back into their city lives, say sources. With Kaun?, a series that had different producers making independent episodic tales, Zee probably aims to bring back the viewers who had received it enthusiastically, as well as the ratings success that goes with it.

Co producer of Awaz...., Ashwini Karandikar however professed ignorance of Awaz....'s impending departure, when contacted last week.