MUMBAI: Thousands of people lost their lives and the rest lost everything else. The catastrophic calamity that has hit the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and left the once beautiful valley in ruins is mind numbing. While our television news channels did their best to capture the extent of the destruction there, bringing out heart-melting stories of death and survival, the rest of the media industry is trying to help in rescue efforts through NGOs.

Leading general entertainment channels (GECs) Star Plus and Colors announced their unprecedented support to the welfare of thousands of victims of this terrible tragedy.

Both Star and Colors have shot exclusive promos with all their lead actors, promoting the cause and asking viewers to send in their donations.

The TV stars who have a huge connect with their audience are extolling viewers to help the flood victims by sending their contributions in the form of cheques to the NGO called Goonj or towards Prime Minister?s National Relief Fund. The promos are aired at the end of each show and it is good to see television favourites persuading viewers to help those in need.

Colors CEO Raj Nayak says, "As a channel we have always supported social issues and extended a helping hand towards various causes.

The Uttarakhand tragedy requires an all out fund- raising campaign and thus we?re getting all the favourite characters of our shows to make a plea to act now. This is our time to offer our reach for a cause. Hence, setting our programming priorities aside, we?re urging people to contribute generously to the Prime Minister?s relief fund or to the NGO, Goonj. In our own small way we hope to contribute to the rehabilitation process."

The channel has shot eight different promos with lead actors of shows including Balika Vadhu, Madhubala-Ek Ishq Ek Junoon and Uttran. Nayak further adds, "The campaign started on Wednesday and will run across all our shows till this Sunday. We expect to reach each and every viewer of Colors over this period."
Star has launched the campaign in multiple languages across the Star India Network

While Colors has shot a promo with Madhuri Dixit, Karan Johar and Remo D?souza, the judges of celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhlaa Jaaand was the first among the GECs to start this initiative, Star has also launched its promos across all channels of Star India Network in multiple languages with lead actors from shows including Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Pyaar Ka Dard? and Life OK?s Do Dil Ek Jaan and Savdhaan.Star India will leverage its reach in India and abroad to gather support for Uttarakhand victims, says Uday Shankar

To add to that, Star India also has tickers running across all its channels promoting the cause. "We will leverage our reach in India and abroad to gather support for the victims of this tragedy. Star India will partner with Goonj, an NGO, to play a meaningful role in marshalling support for the victims. Leading actors from our shows will urge people to make donations towards the rehabilitation efforts," says Star India CEO Uday Shankar.

The aim is to create as much awareness as possible for the cause and to promote the NGO Goonj along with PM relief fund so that maximum help reaches the flood victims.

The disaster has shaken us all and reminded us of our frailty against the might of mother nature. It is time to put our efforts together and fight this catastrophe. The channels have indeed shown a commendable initiative and the response has been positive.

Nayak informs, "Our call for action directs viewers to send their donations directly to Goonj and to the Prime Minister?s Relief fund. We believe that ?giving? should come from within and all we, as a channel, are doing is sensitising the people of the gravity of the situation on ground. The initial response has been very encouraging and we hope that with our efforts more and more people will join the nations cause."

indiantelevision.com also pledges its support to the welfare measures and invites its readers to help the cause in any way they can.

NEW DELHI: Shaitaan - a criminal mind, Miditech?s crime series on Colors, which is based on real life instances, will broadcast two episodes based on groundless society norms over the weekend.

Hosted by the popular TV actor Sharad Khelkar, Shaitaan?s Saturday episode, will showcase a shocking story of the society we live in. The story relates to differences between the family members due to inbuilt hatred and wealth that leads to the murder of the mother by their step children.

The episodes will be showcased on 29 and 30 June at 10.00 pm. The story highlights how differences among family members, which can be sorted out with maturity, leads to criminal behavior.

Following Saturday, the Sunday episode will focus on the brutal killing of the mother and her child, by her husband. The reason behind the murder is distrust and ego that arises due to the wife being the sole bread earner of the family.

NEW DELHI: ?Shaitaan - a Criminal Mind?, currently on-air on Colors, is telecasting a special series on ?Women Criminals? this weekend - 2 June and next weekend 8 June.

Hosted by the popular TV actor Sharad Khelkar, the series produced by Miditech will focus on the not so often seen or heard; cold, calculative women criminal masterminds.

On this announcement, Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva said, "Shaitaan is a show that delves into the minds of the worst criminals the society has seen. Be it a man or a woman, when the mind takes its own turn all controls fail! This weekend and the next we are coming up with two shocking real life instances that involve the frightening criminal attempts by women. To help create some much needed awareness amongst its viewers we will soon be telecasting it in our upcoming special episodes this weekend."

Sharad Khelkar said, "Considering the increasing rate in crime, where there is no demarcation between male or female, it?s our prime duty to keep our alert button on. My association with this show has made me extra alert about different verticals in my life. Shooting for this series was thrilling as well as shocking to know that the rise on women criminals is a new trend compared to several years ago when women took a more passive role in crime."

The story that will be showcased this weekend 2 June, portrays the journey of a girl, from her childhood trauma of physical abuse from her uncle had such a psychological impact on her that she ended up having complete distrust and hatred towards men. The revulsion led to her taking revenge from as many as she could by turning into a serial bride.

Following this would be another episode of a female crime story, which will be telecasted on Saturday, 8th of June wherein a spoiled daughter kills her father who decided to disown her from his wealth and property.