In the Indian entertainment and TV world, Sri Adhikari Brothers (SAB) Television Network Ltd has a big role.Many of their shows were groundbreaking and are still remembered by people today.For example, Commander was the first serial shown on Zee TV, which was India's first private satellite channel.All The Best was the first music countdown show, and Suraag, which aired on DD1, was one of the early thriller shows on TV.The family comedy Shrimaan Shrimati became really popular and still has a large fan base today.SAB Television Network Ltd also became the first media company to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.At the same time, the late media leader Gautam Adhikari, who was the director and co-founder of the Sri Adhikari Brothers Group, was listed in the Limca Book of Records.
The company is now starting a new chapter. Ravi Adhikari, the son of Gautam Adhikari and the chairman of SAB Television Network Ltd, is working on bringing back several of these famous shows for a new audience.In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Ravi shared details about these plans, how they are using AI to bring back favorite characters, and the future of AI in entertainment.
Ravi said, “We have a lot of shows in our collection and we own the rights to most of them.
A lot of these shows were really innovative and still have a strong memory among people today.We are rebooting Suraag and Yes Boss.We are also considering Commander.It was the first show to air on a satellite channel.We are also thinking about reviving Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle.”
He added, “On YouTube, many of our old shows continue to attract a lot of viewers, with Suraag and Shrimaan Shrimati being the top ones. This has given me a better understanding of what people like about our older shows.”
The reboot of Suraag is already ready. Ravi said, “It's called Suraag 2.0.It features Sudesh Berry and Sai Ketan Rao.”
AI gives old IP new life For the reboot of Shrimaan Shrimati, Ravi is using AI. He explained, “Two of the actors from Shrimaan Shrimati, Jatin Kanakia and Reema Lagoo, are no longer with us.We are creating new episodes with them using AI.This is how we can bring back our old shows when it's not possible to recreate them otherwise.We have also made mythological and fantasy shows like Brahma Vishnu Mahesh and Alif Laila.We can use AI to recreate those too.We already have the audio from the original episodes, and now we want to create new visuals around it.That’s how we can bring old shows back to life.”
Ravi made it clear that he will get permission from the families of Jatin Kanakia and Reema Lagoo before moving forward.
Ravi explained why familiar shows still connect with people.
He said, “Songs are also being remixed because they are well-known.When you are at a party with 100 people and you know only five, you will naturally greet those five first.You spend time with them and meet other people through them.It's the same with content.There's so much content now, but people naturally go for the ones they know.”
He added, “I also want to clarify that AI can't do everything on its own.
You still need a human mind behind it.AI can't do things on its own.People say things have become easier with AI.”
Yes, it does help save time and money, but in some ways, it has also made things more difficult for the maker because you have to be extremely clear and precise about what you want.
Ravi explained, "When you talk to a human, they can usually understand what you're trying to say even if your instructions aren't completely clear.
For example, I can tell someone, 'Take this thing and put it there,' and they'll get it.But I can't give the same instruction to a machine.I'll have to say, 'There's a bottle on the table.Take it and put it on the other table where the book is kept.' So, when using AI, you need to be very precise with your prompts."
Ravi Adhikari also shared, "We are working with the Stage app, a big platform for Haryanvi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Marathi, and Bengali stories.
Neeraj Chopra is one of its investors.They plan to fully use AI, and we have a deal with them to create AI-generated content."
When asked how AI will change the entertainment industry, he said, "It's the way forward.
For ads, you won't need actors to be physically present.As for films, the process will slowly become a mix of real and digital.AI won't take over; it'll become part of the process.Even when CGI came in, many thought films would be made entirely with it.That didn't happen.Instead, CGI became a part of filmmaking.AI will develop in a similar way."
And regarding fears that AI might lead to job losses, Ravi said, "When computers came in, they replaced many jobs.
Those who didn't adapt suffered.The same thing will happen with AI.At the same time, if AI takes away some jobs, it will also create new ones."
