GECs
Friday spells war on Star Plus and Sony
MUMBAI: Star Plus and Sony seem to be spewing a war on Friday. Come 19 November and Plus will weave in two shows at 9:30 pm and 10:30 pm slot – the relaunch of Khul Ja Sim Sim and a new show Kaal Chakra.
Sony’s big-ticket show Indian Idol will also be launching it’s ‘results special’ on Fridays which is scheduled to air next week, from 9:30 – 10 pm. Plus’ Khul Ja Sim Sim will be taking on Idol as well as Sony’s stellar show CID at 10 pm. .
Sony is also replacing Devi with Aahat 2 at the 9 pm slot on Fridays. To counter this move, Star Plus is moving Shararat from 9:30 pm to the 9 pm slot. Similarly, Karma on Star has been pushed to 8 – 9 pm slot to take on Sony’s KKoi Dil Mein Hai at 8:00 PM and Saaksshi at 8:30 pm.
A war is also brewing in the 10.30 pm band. Riding on Idol, Sony is launching a new show in December. Star Plus is not lying idle. Kaal Chakra, a weekly soap, will air from 19 November.
With Plus and Sony beefing up their line up, the battlefield seems to be shifting to Fridays. Is this the beginning of Plus’ response to Idol’s success?
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.
