NDTV launches fiction series 'Bombay Lawyers'

Mumbai, July 10 (UNI) In the first of its kind programme, NDTV India, the Hindi channel of the private television news network New Delhi Television (NDTV), will air a 13-episode fiction series 'Bombay Lawyers' every Saturday, beginning from July 21.

The series will be aired at 2200 hrs. It is based on inspiring legal cases related to corruption, crime, nepotism and social ills which are rampant in the society.

'Bombay Lawyers' is written and directed by Satyajit Bhatkal.

Bhatkal, a lawyer himself by profession, has earlier directed 'Chale Chalo: The lunacy of filmmaking', which was screened at the Indian Panorama at IFFI Goa in 2005. The English version of the same called 'Madness in the Desert' won a national award and was invited to the prertigious Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

Addressing a news conference here, Mr Bhatkal said each episode will be an hour long and will deal with two cases. The serial is centred around the legal firm of 'Roy and Raghavan', which has lawyers committed to working with integrity and dedication and against injustice in all its forms.

The programme aims to move beyond legal jargon to capture the rich hue of human experience behind every legal battle. Underlying each legal battle will be human conflict and emotion -- be it greed, jealousy, deceit, love or passion.

He said the programme is a courtroom drama about real issues, real people and real conflicts, but in the emotional grammer of fiction.

Mr Bhatkal said NDTV has the reputation for its credibility and responsibility towards contemporary social issues.

Speaking on the occasion, NDTV India managing editor Dibang said the programme is in tune with the social vision and responsibility that distinguishes NDTV from the rest.

''The show is in sync with the channel's ideology. The show handles contemporary fresh issues,'' he added.

NDTV Media CEO Raj Nayak said the programme will bring new set of viewers to the channel.

''We have received encouraging response from the advertisers who have taken keen interest on NDTV's foray into fiction-based programming,'' he said.

He said the channel would take a decision on encouraging fiction based content-based on the viewers inputs and feedbacks.

Meeta Vashist, Murli Sharma, Rushad Rana, Jyoti Dogra and Kadambari Kadam are the protagonists of the series.

UNI