GECs
C TV aims to go national, targets metros in first phase
MUMBAI: Cable news and infotainment channel C TV has ambitions to widen its satellite footprint beyond Mumbai.
And the man who will bankroll C TV managing director Sushil Deshpande’s efforts to take the channel national is Guru Swarup Srivastava, founder of the Swarup Group of Industries.
The Swarup group has bought a controlling stake in C TV for a reported Rs 100 million which will be used to seed boxes in the main metros initially as well as manage the carriage fee component.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event organised to announce the Swarup Group’s entry into the television and print space yesterday, Deshpande said he was talking to several producers for supply of programming.
For Deshpande, there would be nothing better than to have as one of those suppliers India’s leading production house Balaji Telefilms. And that might not be such a pipe dream if Balaji promoter Jeetendra Kapoor, who was chief guest at the function, puts his considerable clout behind Swarup. Speaking at the launch event, Jeetendra declared that “Balaji would be there for Swarupji”.
The occasion was also used to announce the launch of a Hindi weekly Swaroop Bharat.
Srivastava first came into the media spotlight last year when he signed a deal to buy 125 paintings by superstar artist MF Husain for a whopping Rs 1 billion. He was back in the news earlier this year when the Swaroop Group came forward to sponsor 2005 Filmfare Awards after the Times Group dropped the Manikchand Group as presenting sponsor. This was after the owner of Manikchand Group and “gutka baron” Rasiklal Dhariwal was caught up in controversies due to his alleged links to the underworld.
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.
