GECs
&pictures rope in younger viewers with Toon-O-Mania!
Mumbai: & Tv brings good news for all the parents who are having hard time keeping their kids from playing outside under the scorching summer sun. What can be a better incentive to stay at home than getting to meet their toon idols?
Understanding this, &pictures has crafted its programming keeping in mind their young viewers. Starting this Monday 18 May to 29 May, the channel brings Toon-O-Mania – a Hollywood animated movie festival which will air from Monday to Friday at 12 Noon.
Animated movies can help develop children’s interest in learning different cultures, languages; enhance their social and physical skills. Moreover, an added advantage of family time spent together while watching a film gives a rise to family bonding as well. Understanding this, Toon-O-Mania offers, ten of the best animated flicks, beginning with Madagascar on 18 May. The film narrates an adventure of four animals from New York Central Zoo that wind up in the wilds.
Next in the line on 19 May is the second movie in the series Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. The Desperado stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek come together, this time to entertain the kids in Puss in The Boots slated to air on 20 May. The viewers are in for a joyride with The Adventures of Tintin on 21 May and the battle of loveable the ‘Dragon Warrior’ Po and Lord Shen in Kung Fu Panda 2 on 22 May.
The following week’s lineup `starting from 25th May includes, Shrek, Shrek Forever After, How to train your dragon, MONSTERS V/S ALIENS and Megamind.
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.
