GECs
I&B ministry supports anti-smoking ban
NEW DELHI: Formula One races with participants sporting logos of sponsors like Marlboro company may just sneak through on Indian television during a live telecast. Any such recorded events on sports channels would have to stop airing in India.
The reason being that the information and broadcasting ministry totally endorses a ban on smoking or tobacco companies being shown in films or TV programmes. The deadline to fall in line with the latest government diktat: first week of October.
The I&B ministry totally supports the health ministry ban on smoking on small and the big screen, minister Jaipal Reddy today told reporters after concluding over an hour long meeting with his counterpart in the health ministry.
However, he admitted that it has been conveyed to the health ministry that having scrollers or warnings flashing in old and already released films during scenes where characters are shown smoking is not feasible. We cannot have a law with retrospective effect, Reddy said.
So, in effect it means that the various arms of the government are united in smoking out the fire at the end of the white stick in films and TV programmes in future.
Still, the government has left itself some elbow room. Live telecasts of any events and documentaries depicting the ills of smoking have been left outside the ambit of the new anti-smoking law being attempted to be enforced in India.
What does that mean? If during a film awards show being aired live on television, for example, some body is shown smoking, it would not attract harsh penalties being mulled by the government.
The government is also looking at ways of amending the Cinematography Act and the Cable TV (Network) Regulation Act to enforce this anti-smoking move in films and television.
Also, if filmmakers and TV producers want to show characters smoking in future products, they would have to take permission from an inter-ministerial committee, which would review the situation on a case to case basis.
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.
