GECs
Endemol Shine India buys the rights for Richa S. Mukherjee’s Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd
MUMBAI : Harper Collins India is thrilled to announce that author Richa Mukherjee’s new novel, Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd, published in August this year, has been purchased by Endemol Shine India in a pre-empt. Endemol Shine India buys the rights for Richa S. Mukherjee’s Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd Mumbai-based agency The Story Ink was the advisor on the deal.
Published in partnership with Black Ink, bestselling writer Ravinder Singh’s imprint, Kanpur Khoofiya… is a crime-fiction adventure laced with humour and intrigue. It involves two protagonists – a small-town private investigator, Prachand Tripathi and his wife, Vidya Tripathi. When a curious new case requires them to tail a movie actress, and she goes missing, the couple find themselves under the glare of the police and must put their skills to the test before they become victims of a dangerous game.
Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, ‘We at Endemol Shine India are always on the lookout for stories and characters that are authentic, relatable and enjoyable. For a while now we have been focused on developing quality content, not just for the Indian market but something that would elicit curiosity across the world. Kanpur Khoofiya is such a story that works across mediums and geographies. This book’s wide appeal is what caught our attention when we were first introduced to it by The Story Ink. Richa S. Mukherjee has brought alive a wonderfully earthy and vibrant tale set in a small-town milieu, rarely seen in the detective genre, that is such an international favourite. Authentically Indian yet globally relevant, Prachand Tripathi, is a character from the heartland of the country that everyone will identify with and definitely want to watch.’
Author Richa S. Mukherjee said, ‘The relentless dreams of this intrepid detective from Gwaltoli aren’t his alone. We’ve toiled, laughed and cried together! And there can be no greater joy for a writer to witness the characters and stories they’ve conjured, take form and materialize on screen and reaching a wider audience. I’m humbled that so many wonderful people share this dream and I can’t wait to see the Tripathis thrill and entertain viewers with their antics!’
Black Ink Books publisher Ravinder Singh said, ‘The reviews of this book online would tell why the story deserves to be taken to those who don’t read books. This combination of humour and thriller, so well crafted by Richa S. Mukherjee, must unfold in an audio and video format. Prachand Tripathi, the clumsy detective and protagonist, can make the adaptation of Kanpur Khoofiya…stand at par with Johnny English and Pink Panther.’
Diya Kar, publisher and rights director, HarperCollins India, said, ‘We are delighted that the Tripathis of Kanpur will soon come alive on screen. Richa S. Mukherjee is a natural storyteller—Endemol Shine India has picked a winner!’
This is the first-ever option deal for Mukherjee, whose debut novel, I Didn’t Expect to Be Expecting, a hilarious take on pregnancy, was published in 2018.
Endemol Shine India has previously optioned several books published by HarperCollins India, including Yudhanjaya Wijeratne’s Numbercaste, Arjun Raj Gaind’s Maharaja Mystery trilogy and Shweta Taneja’s Anantya Tantrist trilogy.
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.
