GECs
‘Tsunami: Animal Instincts’ to premier on Animal Planet
MUMBAI: Did the animals know that the tsunami was coming? How do animals react when a natural disaster strikes? For answers to these questions, an Animal Planet team investigated animal behaviour before, during and after the tsunami disaster.
The channel will present the findings in its premiere programme Tsunami: Animal Instincts. The one-hour programme will premiere on Animal Planet on 27 June at 11 pm.
Featuring videos and stories, interviews with scientists and conservationists, eyewitness accounts, original footage from the tsunami-struck countries and archival footage from the channel, Tsunami: Animal Instincts tells the story of how different animal species sounded the alarm much before the killer waves struck.
The programme features astonishing survival stories, like the divers in Thailand who were guided to safety by dolphins. Tsunami: Animal Instincts also highlights the manner in which people and animals worked together during the tsunami tragedy to help one another.
Discovery Networks India brand director Raja Balasubramanian, “It turns out that technology may not be a match for animal instinct. Animal instincts and senses proved
to be far more effective than any man-made warning system.
“Humans also have an intuitive side, but we often cloud it by our intellect. We tend to rationalise things, while an animal senses something and simply reacts to it.”
“Examining the animal behaviour, the programme uncovers how birds, elephants, reptiles and other animals can detect an impending natural catastrophe. It also provides a deeper understanding and appreciation of animal instinct, teaching us what we can learn from them to safeguard our future,” he added.
Tsunami Animal Instincts is narrated by Animal Planet’s Lyndal Davies.
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.
