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DD unleashes its own lavish mytho this weekend
Undeterred by the fate of the Bhagat Singhs at the box office, the small screen is all set to see the unfurling of another mega scale historical – Aamrapali.
Slated for telecast on Doordarshan’s national network from 30 June, this 104-episode one-hour weekly mytho based in 600 BC is a combination of good production values, drama, conflict, politics, deceit, lust, greed, action, music, some good choreography and classical dances.
The serial will be telecast every Sunday at 11 pm. Produced by D Ventakeshwar Rao and co-produced by entrepreneur Dhilin Mehta, the serial is directed by Ravi Kemmu, earlier associated with Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj. “We had to erect a huge multi-functional set that cost us Rs 40 million. The set has all the required shooting areas of the period like villages, palaces, Raj Darbar, dance room, ponds, markets and so on. It’s the biggest set ever created in the history of Indian television,” says Dhilin.
When asked whether the highly Sanskritized version of Hindi used in the serial will not be a deterrent to urban viewers, Kemmu says, “When I was young I did not understand English, yet I would eagerly watch English movies. The same applies here. I feel Aamrapali is a very interesting and dramatic subject and will attract viewers for its content.”
It remains to be seen though whether these will also yield matching profits.
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UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
