GECs
Face Off: Star bids to use KBC earthquake special to spook Sony’s JCPK. Both shows to air at 8 pm, Saturday (Posted on 10 February 11:30 am) Sony Entertainment Television’s CEO Kunal Dasgupta may have said that he didn’t plan for his gameshow
MUMBAI:Sony Entertainment Television’s CEO Kunal Dasgupta may have said that he didn’t plan for his gameshow Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke (JCPK) hosted by Bollywood laugh riot Govinda to have a head-to-head confrontation with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) but Star will have none of it. It will be up to the viewers to decide this one. Will they plump for Bollywood’s “Bade Miyaan” Amitabh Bachchan and his KBC or “Chhote Miyaan” Govinda and JCPK?
The answer will be out very soon. AB and Chi-Chi are facing off on Saturday 10 February at 8pm. Star Plus has planned a KBC Special at the same time slot that JCPK airs. The Star Earthquake Special has celebrity guests from the cinema and cricket worlds to give it added appeal. Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit and Indian cricket ace Sachin Tendulkar each won Rs5 million (now we have gender equality in winnings too) and have donated the amounts towards the Gujarat earthquake relief fund.
It is clearly a tough one for the guys at Sony. On the one hand they have the prospect of JCPK having to ward off the well entrenched KBC while the show is still in its infancy. On the other hand, the immediate appeal of a show which links to the tragedy in Gujarat, makes it doubly daunting.
And there’s more likely to come. Reason: the way Star has positioned its KBC special episode clearly indicates that it is not going to let Sony walk away and capture the weekend.
It sure looks an unequal fight from here and it remains to be seen what kind of response Sony’s head honchos come up with.
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.
