GECs
Discovery Travel & Living to profile revolutionary music
MUMBAI: Over the years, songs have served as catalysts for the transformation of cultural and political landscapes. Music has also set trends in fashion and dance while breaking convention and testing the boundaries of societies’ accepted moral values.
Now lifestyle channel Discovery Travel & Living will profile the revolutionary music that left an indelible mark on the world in the new show Impact: Songs That Changed The World. the show airs every Sunday at 8:30 pm and Saturday at 4:30 pm.
Songs like Bob Marley’s freedom anthem I Shot the Sheriff, Elvis Presley’s brash and rebellious Heartbreak Hotel and Aretha Franklin’s female empowerment mega-hit Respect represent milestones in the history of popular music. The show will feature interviews with recording artists, cultural and political pundits, religious leaders, radio and television commentators, musicologists, sociologists and music fans.
Discovery Travel & Living brand dierctor Aditya Tripathi says, “Impact: Songs That Changed The World presents fascinating stories of songs that played an instrumental role in major political, social and economic movements. The series highlights how music, whether pop, rock, country or rap, has a penetrating impact on people’s lifestyles.”
One episode features Maybellene which was sung by Chuck Berry. In the changing world of America in the mid 1950s, Chuck Berry’s Maybellene was the heart and soul of an explosive new force known as rock ‘n’ roll. Ironically, at the age of 30, Chuck Berry became the creator of an exciting new soundtrack for teenagers who had emerged as a potent commercial force in the wake of a booming economy. Chuck Berry represented freedom, and the impact of his trend-setting Maybellene is still felt in popular music circles today.
Another episode shows how Heartbreak Hotel defined Elvis Presley and arguably became the first true rock ‘n’ roll record. It was a song of teenage angst, not the puppy love, and depicted the real, so-lonely-I-could-die variety. It established rock ‘n’ roll as an attitude as much as a musical style – brash, rebellious and sexually charged – and became the soundtrack for alienated youth.
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.
