Zee Zonke on DStv: What to expect from the isiZulu-dubbed channel

Zee Zonke is a new channel on DStv with a line-up of isiZulu dubbed Indian shows. It is a 24-hour general entertainment TV channel from Zee Entertainment, which established its first Johannesburg office in 1996. The project launched on 28 August 2023.

Zee Zonke channel
The first isiZulu entertainment TV channel can be accessed on DStv 169. It is available to Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium subscribers.

Zee Zonke shows
Zee Zonke Africa channel will only feature IsiZulu-dubbed Indian serials, and each show will have English subtitles. The current primetime line-up consists of the following;

We Mamezala
The Marathi romance drama was originally called Aggabai Sasubai (Oh Mine Mother-In-Law). The plot is about Shubhra, who defies societal norms by trying to match her widowed mother-in-law, Asavari, with a celebrity chef. The show airs at 6.00 p.m.

Imfihlo
Imfihlo’s original title is Tula Pahate Re (I Look at You). The show is a romance thriller whose storyline revolves around Isha and Vikrant Saranjame. It airs at 7.00 p.m. and consists of the following dub cast members:

• Samkelo Gumede as Vikrant
• Bongi Wilson-Memela as Isha
• Roxy Mlaba as Arun
• Lungile Mzoneli as Pushpa

Umakhwapheni
The Indian show was originally called Majhya Navaryachi Bayko (My Husband’s Wife). It narrates the story of Radhika, who is overprotective of her marriage and starts suspecting that her husband is having an affair. It airs on Zee Zonke channel at 8.00 p.m.

The series has the following Zulu dub cast:

• Busie Mhlongo as Radhika
• Khulekani Ngidi as Gurunath
• Ngcwelekazi Mahlaba as Shanaya
• Zamo Cele as Nana
• Nhlanhla Shabalala as Anand

Onesipho
Onesipho’s original title is Nayan- Jo Vekhe Unvekha (Nayan – What She Sees). It is a Punjabi supernatural drama revolving around Nayan, a simple small-town girl with the power of premonition. The series airs at 9.00 p.m. and consists of the following dub cast members;

• Portia Ndlovu as Nayan
• Samkelo Gumede as Devash
• Lungile Mzoneli as Rita
• Roxy Mlaba as Rajvir

Zee Zonke on DStv is expected to revolutionize television dubbing in South Africa since more people can now watch their favourite serials in their language. isiZulu is the most widely spoken native language in the country, with over 10 million inhabitants being familiar with the dialect. The first isiZulu entertainment TV channel can be accessed on DStv 169.

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