GECs
Chandrakanta VFX creator Nikhil Sinha steps into training, starts Vertex School
MUMBAI: With the aim of upscaling the VFX standard in India, Triangle Films producer Nikhil Sinha has opened Vertex School of Visual Effects and Animation, a VFX institute. Known for the visual effects for shows such as — Mahakumbh, Chandrakanta, Shapath, Chandranandini, Devon Ke Dev Mahadev and Naagarjun, Nikhil Sinha owns a visual effects company titled Vertex Volt.
Vertex School of Visual Effects and Animation will be located in Ahmedabad, where students can enrol in the course with a lot of practice on projects. “We have done a study and realised that, in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, there are lot of learning opportunities, but, in places like Ahmedabad, the institutes are not so well-equipped. This is why I wanted to start from there, and will expand to other cities in near future.”
The institute will have a maximum 150 seats, with short-term courses (two months) to long-term courses of (two years) which will award a post-graduate diploma. The USP of institute is that — it is affiliated with universities and also has a secured job guarantee. The school will commence from 1 May. The fee structure of the institute depends on which course the students are taking.
For short-term course (four months), the fees is Rs 35,000 and Rs 1,90,000 for the long-term course (two years). Approximately, an investment of Rs 2 crore has been done in the venture by the producer.
Speaking about the venture with www.indiantelevision.com, Sinha said, “We launched this company in 2011 when we started work on Mahadev. As a technical person, I have been always inclined towards visual arts and effects. Also, I personally make shows which have a lot of VFX. I am someone who always tries to give something new to the industry. And when you work on shows which have loads of VFX, you understand your need more!”
He further added, “ We are starting with our first branch and then we will move to second one which will be in Baroda.”
Talking about his inspiration in the field of visual effects, Sinha asserted, “Peter Jackson and George Lucas are the people whom I look up to. Also, Lord of the Rings was the film which completely changed my views regarding special effects.” He adds, “When we started the company, channels must have thought that we are just another company which will say a lot and deliver little. But, with the success of Mahadev, people started believing in our vision. I can proudly say that Vertex Volt inspired the industry to make more VFX based shows. We made them believe that it is possible.”
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.
