GECs
Big Magic set to bring new season of ‘Akbar Birbal’ in February
MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited’ comedy channel Big Magic will be bringing back a new season of its popular show Akbar Birbal.
Titled Naya Akbar Birbal, the show will premiere as a prime-time weekly from February 2016.
The show is inspired by the childhood folk tales of Akbar and Birbal and will see a lot of drama, suspense and thrill with signature spurts of comedy.
Cast of the show features Kiku Sharda, Vishal Kotian, Delnaaz Irani and Kishwar Merchant. It is also rumoured that the show will have another member this season, who will be seen creating havoc and drive her own agenda in the kingdom.
On the launch of the new season, Big Magic creative director Bimal Unnikrishnan said, “We are extremely happy to bring back one of Big Magic’s most popular shows and the much loved cast of Akbar Birbal. The first season did extremely well and on audience demand we are all geared up for one of our biggest launches of 2016. With the new season and fresh content, we aim to take the comedy quotient several notches higher.”
The channel will incorporate interesting stories in the show and will see a robust multi-media promotional plan across key markets. The channel will initiate a 360 degree marketing campaign for promoting the show. The channel will also engage viewers and trade partners locally and nationally through multiple platforms.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
