GECs
Annu Kapoor returns to the small screen with ‘Family Antakshri’
NEW DELHI: Sab has become the most profitable channel of the Sony chain with a revenue growth of 900 per cent in the last seven and a half years, according to senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor.
Speaking on the sidelines of a new series being launched by Sab, he said viewership had gone up by 600 per cent in the same period in what he termed as the only channel that telecasts comedy and light-hearted family entertainment in the country.
While the daily original programming is around three hours, the weekly programming is of twenty hours.
Renowned character actor Annu Kapoor who is remembered for his ‘Antakshari’ series he launched, said he had always had an interest in music and ran the original series for thirteen years before other channels came up with other ideas for music-filled reality shows.
Anooj Kapoor accompanied by Annu Kapoor announced the launch of a special Antakshari show on Sab that will involve the entire family from the youngest member to the grandparents in a fun-filled melodic musical game show titled Family Antakshari- Baithe Baithe Kya Kare.
The show by Gajendra Singh from Saaibaba Productions will have Annu Kapoor seated on the prestigious position of Shri Antakshari, to be hosted by the talented Mantra and multi-faceted Sugandha Mishra.
The one hour show will be aired on weekends at 8 pm from 27 September. The game will involve multiple interactive rounds with the contestants and the audience.
Anooj Kapoor said,“At Sab we are always eager to offer innovative content to our loyal viewers. With Family Antakshari, we are presenting the traditional activity in a different style to involve every member of the family in the game. True to the channel’s brand ideology of ‘Asli Mazaa Sab Ke Saath Aata Hai’, the show will highlight the positives of the joint family system. Participating families will enjoy Antakshari as they will be taken through a joyful ride of symphonies along with Annu Kapoor, Mantra and Sugandha. Gajendra has tasted success with his music shows across different genres and I am positive he shall repeat the same with Sab’s Family Antakshari. ”
Singh said that the activity is loved by all irrespective of age. Says he, “We have designed innovative rounds to test the knowledge of our participants. Families across the country shall love to watch the show and be a part of the musical fest.”
Family Antakshari will comprise multiple unique rounds for the contesting families such as the karaoke round ‘bol ho gaye gol’ where the participants will be shown songs with missing words and they would need to sing the complete version. Another round, ‘Nautanki’, involves anchors enacting a famous scene/dance step from a movie and the participants need to guess and sing any song from that particular movie. A competition is not over without a fast-paced buzzer round, ‘Har Dhun kuchh kehti hai’ where participants need to identify the tune and sing the correct song. Another round would be ‘Aao Twist karein’.
‘AnnuJi Ki Googly’, a special round will have the judge fielding different questions and clues about Hindi movies and songs to the participating families and they will have to identify the same and sing the correct song to win points.
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.
