GECs
‘Big Brother’ comes a knocking on Sony this November
MUMBAI: Big Brother, Endemol’s top format show of 2005 in terms of turnover, is all set to launch on Sony Entertainment Television this year.
Likely to hit the air waves right after the Champions Trophy ends in November; the show will have 12 celebrities from the films, television, music, modelling and sports frat under house arrest for 100 days and that too under constant surveillance by 35 cameras. Some of the personalities that the channel is in talks with are Pooja Bedi, Simone Singh and Arshad Warsi, to name a few.
Big Brother, which contributes to over 25 per cent of Endemol’s revenues internationally, also has a lot of scope for spin-off segments. “We can have segments with psychiatrists talking about the behaviour of people who are participating in the show. There will also be an eviction talk show, wherein people who are voted out in each episode can speak about what transpired inside and why they feel they were voted out. More such spin-offs on the show like Big Brother’s Little Brother, Big Brain and Big Mouth will also be there,” says Endemol India managing director Rajesh Kamat.
What’s more, Sony will also be looking at streaming Big Brother episodes on the internet. “Web streaming is definitely a possibility and we are looking at it very seriously,” says SET India senior vice president and programming head Anupama Mandloi.
“In India we have seen that soaps and stories that are told well, deliver. Big Brother is a queen of all soaps and is very unpredictable too. We are sure that it is going to be huge and will break the clutter. The show will also be toned to match Indian sensibilities and culture,” Mandloi adds.
Apart from Big Brother, preparations are also underway to launch Extreme Makeover some time early next year, which is being produced by Miditech. The call for entries began on 4 July and will continue till 18 July.
And if you thought that was all from the Sony stable, think again! Shooting for the second season of Fear Factor India is also currently under way in Argentina. While last time we saw telly actors participating in the show, this time round one can look forward to some Bollywood actors doing some real time stunts – minus the body doubles – in Fear Factor India. Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgan are two action stars who come top of mind… well we’ll have to wait and watch if they’re there!
So it’ll sure be another reality bonanza on Sony!
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.
