GECs
‘Bhanwar’: Sony revives its tried and tested label in the crime genre
MUMBAI: It’s survival of the fittest in a highly-competitive TV world. One needs to keep re-inventing oneself and that’s exactly what works wonders in the end. Likewise, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), has gone back to its tried and tested formula gory crime!
The crime genre has until now, been the bread and butter for the channel. Programmes like C.I.D, Crime Patrol and at times, Adaalat have gripped audiences and thus, Sony has unanimously got a thumbs-up for its non-fiction, criminal offerings.
SET literally takes the viewer through a virtual reality show. It gives them a gripping courtroom drama series, an enthralling and emotional journey, engaging their consciences in matters of right and wrong, and the ultimate balance of justice.
Christened – Bhanwar – Kalyug Ki Hairatangez Kahaniyaa, its provocative stories will compel our society to sit up and take cognizance of the fact, that for every crime committed under the Indian Penal Code, there is an equally harsh justice system meted out.
You may recall, in the late 1990s, Sony had launched a series with an identical name that dealt with landmark judgements from the Indian judicial system. Produced by TV18, the show was so popular that it enjoyed re-runs on SAB and Fox History to boot. Its audiences were treated royally for over two years on Sony, and its episodes were remarkably directed by Sanjay Ray Chaudhari.
It’s back with a bang with a fresh menu of juicy, judicial cases. Come 10 January, 2015, the two veterans of TV production, Contiloe Entertainment’s Abhimanyu Singh and Sunshine Rise Productions’ Anshuman Kishore Singh, will present true-to-life stories of human excesses, which depict volatile social relationships of today.
SET chief creative director, Ajay Bhalwankar, believes that the name of this series is defined by the twists and turns of true events, which often shows that ‘truth is stranger than fiction.’ “Presented in a unique style, the show promises to raise the benchmark of crime shows on Indian television.”
He feels, “The channel has invested a lot of time in researching and digging out real-life stories that take place in a courtroom. It took three months for the channel to pick up the best stories, which were then executed in a fictional manner.”
With this new property, the channel now has a complete portfolio focusing only on crime properties on weekends, starting with Adaalat at 8 pm, Bhanwar in close succession at 9 pm, followed by C.I.D and Crime Patrol at 10 pm and 11 pm respectively. “Sony has been a pioneer in crime genre. We have made a lot of sense and the outcome has turned out very well. We are confident that audiences will relate to this kind of drama that occurs in a courtroom,” asserts Bhalwankar.
“I think this is a good move that the channel has made. In a way, they want audiences to stay tuned to the channel and sample the content one after the other. C.I.D and Crime Patrol both have been consistently delivering decent numbers and Bhanwar will follow suit and jump on the bandwagon, considering its different content. But on the other hand, experimentations have happened on the channel, but viewers haven’t really accepted it; I hope this one pays off for Sony,” says a media planner.
The one-hour courtroom drama TV series is going to face tough competition from Bigg Boss eight on Colors, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs five on Zee TV, Diya aur Baati Hum and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Saturday) and Airlines (Sunday) on Star Plus, Supercops vs Supervillains… Shapath on Life OK and The Great Indian Family Drama on Sab.
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.
