GECs
Discovery explores its wild side ‘Living with Tigers’
MUMBAI: Discovery Channel has been funding an unusual experiment for the past four years. It took two captive-born tigers and taught them to survive in the wild. Now, the channel will be airing a documentary based on that experiment, titled Living with Tigers.
The special about the two tiger siblings’ journey from cuddly cubs to
professional predators, on AIR in a two-hour special on 6 June at 7 pm, showcases their journey from the US to Canada and, finally, to South Africa, says a company release.
The brainchild of a South African naturalist and filmmaker John Varty-
project Tigermoon- was aimed at finding a way to rehabilitate captive tigers by providing them a place to teach them to hunt and survive on their own, in the wild. To accomplish this, Varty had created a secure 90,000-acre wildlife sanctuary in central South Africa.
Varty and Canadian zoologist/cat-handler Dave Salmoni had adopted the two Bengal tigers- a brother and sister named Ron and Julie, born in a Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999, in captive breeding programme. After staying for several months with Dave in Canada, the six-month-old cubs were moved to South Africa where their “wild” training began – with Varty and Salmoni as their teachers.
The special offers viewers stunning images, shot with cameras often hand-held just inches from the tigers’ jaws.
Through the whole experiment, the channel has tried to experiment if the cats can survive in a 12,400- acre free-range area sanctuary on their own. The entire experiment is touted to even hold an answer to the fate of the world’s wild tigers.
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.
