GECs
Ajay Bhalwankar-led Sony’s maiden inhouse show partners Beyond Dreams
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Network India is all set to produce its first show in-house for the network which will be led by the industry veteran Ajay Bhalwankar. Also, Sony’s internal production house has partnered with Yash Patnaik’s Beyond Dreams for their first show.
A source close to the development informed indiantelevision.com that the production house will be headed by the creative director Bhalwankar.
Bhalwankar, an industry veteran of 20 years, was earlier the content head of Zee TV. Prior to joining to Zee TV, he worked as the programming head for SET from November 2009 to June 2011. In 2014, he rejoined SET as the chief creative director.
At the launch of Sony’s historical show Peshwa Bajirao, SPNI CEO NP Singh informed, “The first show of our production house is going into production early next month. It will be a fiction series and will go on air in 3- 4 months time.”
This is not the first instance that a broadcast network is getting into TV production. Zee Network has its Essel Vision, which has been involved in many of its marquee properties. Star India had taken a 25.99 per cent stake in Balaji Telefilms in April 2004, only to exit it on 5 August 2015.
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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.
