MUMBAI: Star World is in for some image sprucing.
Moving away from its predominant Western content, the English entertainment channel split its beam with an India specific beam catering exclusively to Indian viewers, in May this year. With urban Indians being the target audience, the channel has now moving towards lifestyle segment. First in the line is a five-week weekly series, Milan Fashion Week, scheduled to air on Sundays from 2 November to 30 November at 9:00 pm.
Tarun Tahiliani hobnobbing at Milan
Although Indian designers invited for the international shows isn't news, it is the first time that an Indian designer, Tarun Tahiliani, will showcase his collection in Milan on request.
After the recent Lakme Fashion Week telecast on Sony Entertainment Television, many entertainment and news channels are now clamouring to climb aboard the fashion bandwagon. Star World has also thrown its hat into the ring by planning to expand local programming in a big way. After five weeks' coverage, the channel will bring in a new lifestyle show Style . With Style, the channel will offer a peek at all that is considered vibrant and stylish on the Indian fashion horizon. Each episode will have a different anchor, either a celebrity or a family talking about their personal style, offering glimpses of stylish couture, cuisine, architectures.
The man and his designs
The channel has roped in actor Gauri Karnik, to anchor the Milan Fashion Week. "Though the current trend may be towards lifestyle, we have always included elements in our programming. Our show Amul India Show, on Star World, was a successful lifestyle format. To suit the Indian audience taste, we decided to further the coverage, started by theMilan Fashion Week," says Star India's senior vice president content and communication Deepak Segal.
Speaking on the decision to get Karnik as the anchor-presenter, Segal offers, "The show is all about trends and style and we wanted somebody 'happening'. Gauri fits the bill. Besides, even Rahul Bose has been roped in to do a special on mens' fashion."
Canned in a heritage show format, the show trails the anchor who presents the show in a first person format. Karnik will not only be focusing on Tahiliani's line, she will be getting sound bites from his famous clientele including Kabir Bedi, Nikki Bedi, Jemima Khan, Parmeshwar Godrej, Simi Garewal and Mehr Jessia. That apart, each episode will bring to the viewers a different facet of Milan, its fashion, its essence and the sights and sounds of the international fashion shows.
Star's English entertainment channel is planning to revamp its car and automobile show Top drive. The new avatar Top Driveway will showcase the interesting cultural heritage of the country. According to Segal, "it will be a good mix of travelogue and automobile show. We also will be showcasing lifestyle segment alongside."
