GECs
‘Antakshari’ takes a pause after epic nine-year run
MUMBAI: After Amanat, it is the turn of the pioneering Antakshari on Zee to bid au revoir to viewers. The competitive song based show that catapulted Annu Kapoor to fresh heights of popularity since its inception in 1993, aired its 485th and final episode for the current run at 8 pm yesterday.
As Zee unleashes a slew of new shows, led by the bold Love Marriage, the brutally frank Kittie Party and the bolder still Lipstick slated for release this week, old timers like Antakshari and Amanat are having to make way for the new lot. But Gajendra Singh, the creator of this trendsetter show, asserts that the show will be back in a revamped avatar in the next six months. The same anchor team of Annu Kapoor and Pallavi Joshi will host the show, but the presentation and mode of participation will be drastically different, says Singh.
Singh, in the meantime, is focusing on another musical show, Yeh Voice Aapki Choice for Zee that will be anchored by singer Shankar Mahadevan and will air in three months’ time. Antakshari wound up the current season with a celebrity guest in the form of former film star Jeetendra who symbolizes the evergreen nature of the Antakshari concept, says Singh.
The original game show, co-anchored by Kapoor along with a string of successive hostesses that included Durga Jasraj, Renuka Shahane, Shefali, Raajeshwari Sachdeva and Pallavi Joshi, will have Joshi as hostess in the new round too.
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.
