GECs
MAA TV to celebrate one year with news channel
HYDERABAD: Tomorrow Indias first paid digital Telugu satellite television channel MAA TV will celebrate one year of operation.
MAA carved a path of its own in an unusual manner by becoming the first pay channel in a market that had several free-to-air channels. To mark its first anniversary Maa TV has announced it will be launching a 24-hour separate news channel very shortly, apart from the news bulletins on its regular channel. MAA is also planning to introduce district cable channels and to offer cable software content. The channel plans to introduce SMS based programmes and boost interactivity in the near future, a company release says.
The programme mix on the channel includes Journalist Diary which analyses current issues and investigative stories. Another show Goranta Deepam is targeted at women.
The anniversary celebrations will take place in Hyderabad at the Telugu Lalitha Kalathoranam. Chandra Babu Naidu will be the chief guest for the celebrations. Several state and the Central ministers and prominent political leaders including Bandaru Datt Atreya, Krishnam Raju and Devender Goud are expected to be present.
On the occasion Naidu will present MAA Visitaseva Puraskaram 2003 Awards to Dr Akkineni Nageswara Rao, K Raghavendar Rao, Dr Dasari Narayana Rao, Dr Vasanthan, SV Prasad, IAS, Dr K Anji Reddy, Paruchuri Brothers, Brahmanandam, Dr D Ramanaidu, AG Krishnamurthy and Dr B Somaraju. Krishnamurthy was formerly the chief of Mudra Advertising. Henceforth, these awards will be given every year to eminent personalities from different walks of life.
The channel will also introduce the Swayamkrushi Awards. These will be given to the people of Tamil Nadu who brave life’s odds and physical problems and continue working. One of five people who will be felicitated is medical student Naresh who is supporting himself by running a barber shop.
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.
