Ghost stories by Ruskin Bond, titled ‘Parchayee’, to come alive on ZEE5

After clocking in success under multiple genres such as thriller, comedy, docu-dramas, etc., ZEE5 - India's fastest growing OTT platform has announced another interesting web series, based on stories written by Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri awardee & renowned author, Ruskin Bond. Titled PARCHAYEE – ghost stories by Ruskin Bond and produced by Banijay Asia & Opus Communication, it will be a series of episodes based on handpicked stories written by Ruskin Bond.

On the collaboration, Ruskin Bond said, "Whenever I run out of people to write about, I cook up a few ghosts. Or they appear before me! I am happy that my stories are coming alive for the first time on a digital platform and I look forward to watching them on ZEE5. I hope my readers will enjoy the series."

The first episode premieres on 15th January and thereafter the following stories will unfold monthly till June 2019.

ZEE5 has brought on board national award-winning directors including V.K. Prakash and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury among others. The first four episodes will be based on popular stories - The Ghost in the Garden and The Wind on Haunted Hill, and Wilson's Bridge and The Overcoat - to be directed by V.K Prakash and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury respectively.

Shot in the surreal cinematic locations across India, with mystic, magical, occult, psychic and supernatural elements, Parchayee - ghost stories by Ruskin Bond will redefine paranormal story depictions. Unlike usual horror plots which are sprinkled with envy, fear, anxiety and vengeance, these stories will take you into their world of mystery, secrecy and leave you craving for more.

Manish Aggarwal, Business Head, ZEE5 India said, "At ZEE5, we have presented content in genres across biopics, docu-dramas, comedies, thrillers, etc. and they have been well-received by our viewers. With Parchayee – ghost stories by Ruskin Bond, we are honored to associate with the renowned author and bring his popular stories to life. We are introducing a fresh concept with an edgy and mysterious theme for viewers. Through this, we will be attracting a new set of audience to the platform, loyal readers who have grown up on a staple diet of Ruskin's books. The show is set to take the twisted game of secrecy, thrill and mystery to a whole new level and drive engagement with 12 fascinating tales."

Aparna Acharekar, Programming Head, ZEE5 India, "At ZEE5, we consistently come up with new and relatable content for our viewers. Parchayee ticks all the right boxes for a perfect mix of entertainment and we are certain that the audience will appreciate the inquisitive plots. Moreover, the show will also change the stereotype perception of ghost stories to light-hearted and warm from the old thought of fear and envy."

Deepak Dhar, Founder & CEO, Banijay Asia said, "I've thoroughly enjoyed reading Ruskin Bond in my growing years. His simple storytelling blended with interesting characters in an unusual setting has always captivated me. Working on this legacy of Ruskin Bond has been like a dream come true project for us at Banijay Asia. We have been investing heavily in original developments along with Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury hence I am really delighted to get this opportunity to be associated with Tarun Katial and his ZEE5 team for these exciting ghost stories and I really hope the show is well received among the masses."

With over 3500 films, 500+ TV shows, 4000+ music videos, 35+ theatre plays and 90+ LIVE TV Channels across 12 languages, ZEE5 truly presents a blend of unrivalled content offering for its viewers across the nation and worldwide. With ZEE5, the global content of Zindagi as a brand, which was widely appreciated across the country, has also been brought back for its loyal viewers.