GECs
CloudTV rewrites the screen play with Swastik Stories partnership
MUMBAI: If mythology ever needed a modern reboot, CloudTV just handed it the remote. India’s first homegrown Smart TV OS has teamed up with Swastik Stories, the country’s first cultural storytelling FAST channel to stream India’s legacy in a way that feels as contemporary as a binge-worthy web series.
In a move that blends nostalgia with next-gen viewing habits, CloudTV users will now get free access to a vast library of mythological epics, reimagined legends, and original cultural narratives. With this addition, CloudTV’s FAST catalogue strengthens to more than 300 free channels, spanning entertainment, news, kids’ programming and mythology boosting value for its expanding base of 12 million-plus users across India.
Swastik Stories, the digital storytelling arm of Swastik Productions, has carved a niche by retelling India’s heritage with cinematic flair. Its big-screen storytelling, already popular across digital platforms, now lands directly on CloudTV-powered smart TVs, making cultural content a living-room experience once again. For new-age audiences discovering mythology through reels and short-form clips, this partnership brings scale, depth and visual richness to stories that have shaped India for centuries.
CloudTV COO and co-founder Abhijeet Rajpurohit said the collaboration aligns perfectly with their mission to build an “option-rich content library” that reflects the tastes of a truly pan-India audience. Calling it a fusion of “heritage and digital innovation,” he emphasised CloudTV’s ongoing effort to shape the future of connected entertainment by making quality content accessible to every household.
For Swastik Stories, the alliance marks another chapter in its journey of making cultural narratives relevant for the next generation. Swastik Stories founder and chief storyteller Siddharth Kumar Tewary said the goal has always been to tell India’s stories with “truth, craft and a feeling that speaks to today.” Partnering with CloudTV, he added, ensures those stories travel to “more homes and more hearts.”
The move comes on the heels of CloudTV’s earlier collaboration with Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT, extending India’s public-service and heritage content to smart TVs. Parallelly, CloudTV has been expanding into AdTech through CloudTV Ads, its dedicated connected-TV advertising platform offering immersive formats like 3D ads designed to elevate viewer engagement without compromising experience.
By weaving cultural storytelling into connected-TV tech and vice versa CloudTV and Swastik Stories are not just refreshing the content ecosystem. They’re ensuring India’s oldest tales meet its newest screens, creating a space where tradition streams seamlessly into tomorrow.
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.
