News Broadcasting
Amrita TV plans to enter feature film production
MUMBAI: Amrita Enterprises Pvt Ltd (AEPL), the promoters of Malayalam channel Amrita TV, is planning to set up a separate division for feature film production. Though the business plan is still in its primary stages of evolution, the company is targeting a February 2007 launch of the initiative.
“We are getting into Malayalam feature film production and the plan is to start the operations within the next six months. We are in the process of working out a business plan,” Amrita TV director and CEO Sudhakar Jayaram told Indiantelevision.com.
At a time when the number of films produced in Malayalam has gone alarmingly down and consecutively the acquisition rates have shot up, Amrita TV attempts to change the picture in association with industry experts. The plan is to leverage on its in-house film expertise and thus put an end to the scarcity of films available in the acquisition market.
“The plan is to enter into partnership with key stake holders in the market such as producers and distributors and offer our expertise in this field to launch feature film projects. We will be also launching solo projects as well, making us an independent producer. An important objective of the initiative is to solve the supply demand issue, which is threatening the television business presently,” says Jayaram.
AEPL’s strategy, according to Jayaram, is to leverage on the creative and infrastructure strengths it already has in the area of film production. He feels that these key assets would attract similar minded players and thus provide a good start to the initiative.
“We have a nationally well acclaimed film director in our programming head Shyamaprasad. Then there are various other talented filmmakers, who are part of our programming wing. We have a state-of-the-art production infrastructure and we expect that all these elements would come together to give shape to this initiative,” he says.
When queried on the investments planned, Jayaram says it is too premature to talk about the money part. “It will actually vary from project to project. We will be looking at big, medium and small budget projects. We are yet to finalise details of the initial investment to be made,” says Jayaram.
Amrita TV draws inspiration from its successful telefilm production experience. In 2005, the channel produced 22 telefilms of 90 minute duration each and all the films were well-acclaimed by the critics as well as the viewers, according to Jayaram.
However, getting into feature film production doesn’t mean that the AEPL would shift its focus totally. “We will be producing almost the same number of telefilms this year as well. We have already lined up four telefilms for the upcoming Onam festival,” informs Jayaram.
AEPL, promoted by a group of investors closely associated with Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, launched Amrita TV in 2005 April. The channel is presently making its best efforts to emerge as a tough competitor to market leaders Asianet and Surya TV. In its first year of inception, the channel swept the Kerala State TV awards, winning 15 of the top laurels.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
