GECs
Hindi channels usher in festivities with special line-up
MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year again when television channels go full throttle to appease their viewers. With Diwali in full swing, broadcasters are betting high by undertaking several initiatives to bring television screens alive with their unique programming line-ups.
With TV viewing expected to be higher at this time added to it is the fact that Diwali is falling on the weekend, several TV broadcasters have made it a point to create special programming during the season. To enhance the festivities of our viewers, Indiantelevision.com looks at some of the specials planned by the Hindi channels during Diwali this year.
News Channels
Aaj Tak
The channel will air a show focused on spot reporting from different posts or camps of military and paramilitary forces, where our soldier stand guard on Diwali. Titled Border, the show will see the anchor going to the border or LoC post and show the country how they celebrate Diwali. This one hour show will air on 29 October at 9 pm with a repeat telecast on 30 October at 6 pm. The channel will also air a show titled Jab Desh Me Hai Diwali wherein the team will spend a day with the Army, BSF and CRPF jawans and see how they performed their Diwali puja. This show will air at 10 pm on 29 October with a repeat telecast at 10 am and 8 pm on 30 October.
Ek Diya Shaheedon Ke Naam, will focus on Diwali of the Martyr family. The 60 minute long show will air on 30 October at 9 pm. Aye Dil ki Diwali was telecast on 29 October at 11 pm and will be repeated on 30 October at 4 pm and 11 pm. This show is an effort to light up the lives of the underprivileged children. The Aaj Tak team will travel to an orphanage in Mumbai with goodies as Diwali gifts. The children will be treated to a surprise as filmstars Ranveer Kapoor and Anushka Sharma pay them a visit. The two actors will play games, sing songs, dance with the children and answer their questions.
A special edition of AAA, this show will narrate the story of the Indian myth of Kuber. Titled Kuber Ka Khajana, this programme will air at 8 pm on 29 October and at12 pm and 10 pm on 30 October.
CNBC-TV18
CNBC-TV18 will showcase India’s biggest and brightest market guru’s share insights and give their top stock picks to help viewers create wealth. Through their special programming line-up for Diwali, the business channel is bringing dedicated expert advice on stocks, markets, wealth creation ideas, investment insights and more.
The channel will assess the impact of the festive season through CNBC–TV18 Festive Pulse Meter. In addition to this, there will be a fun element added with the Golden Boy of Bollywood Bappi Lahiri.
Some of the investor focused initiatives being led by CNBC–TV18 this Diwali are:
Muhurat Trading on 30 October between 5.55pm to 8pm, The Big Bull wherein Udayan Mukherjee will interview Rakesh Jhunjhunwala discussing investments for the long term, the state of the markets, how Rakesh sees the markets going from one Diwali to next, etc. The show that got viewers 70 per cent returns from last year, CNBC-TV18 Hitlist is back with three experts Dipan Mehta, Prakash Diwan, Ambareesh Baliga. Programmed under wealth generation, Samvat 2073 Market Masters and Samvat 2073 God of stocks will have experts help the viewer with wealth creation ideas, investment insights and more
IBN7
IBN7 has lined up exclusive Utsav programming starting from 1 October to 30 October to bring to the viewers the excitement of the festivals.
The programming will showcase Navratri celebrations from across the country along with live footage of Dandia from Mumbai and Gujarat. On the occasion of Dussehra, the channel will telecast live Ravan Dahan visuals and Ram Ek Khoj – a series of 5 one-hour specials on Ramayana related legends and tales associated with the island nation.
The channel will next focus on Karva Chauth, highlighting celebrations of the festival in Bollywood and the TV world as well as a special segment Karva Chauth Ki Kahani.
GEC
&TV will present & It’s Diwali, a special two and a half hour programme with leading artists from the television industry who will perform on latest chart-busters and ring in Diwali with a lot of sparkle and style. The show will air on 29 October at 8 pm.
Actors like Jay Bhanushali, Saumya Tandon, Angoori, Anita Bhabhi, Mouni Roy, Ritwik Dhanjani, Asha Negi, Sharad Malhotra, Kratika Sengar, etc will enthrall and entertain the audience.
Viacom18’s Colors doesn’t have any special Diwali show but has popular properties like Thapki…Pyaar Ki, Sasural Simar Ka, Shakti…Astitva Ke Eshaas Kii, Bigg Boss 10 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa lined up for the viewers.
Sony SAB celebrated Diwali with their annual property called SAB Ki Diwali on October 27 which was filled with colourful performances by cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and its other shows. Additionally, across all their shows there will be Diwali celebrations as part of programming.
Hindi Movies
&pictures will add a thrilling flavor to the Diwali festivities with the premiere of horror flick 1920 London on 31 October at 8 pm. Written by Vikram Bhatt and directed by Tinu Desai, the movie stars Sharman Joshi, Meera Chopra and small screen hunk Vishal Karwal in the lead.
Sony Max and Max2 will kick- start the festivities with a specially curated movie list. Commencing from 29 October to 31 October, Sony Max’s Dilwali Dhamaka and Jashn- E- Diwali on Sony Max2 will bring a potpourri of entertaining super hits.
While Sony Max will air titles like Mera Target, Robot, PK, Dhoom3, ABCD2, Jaani Dushman, Magadheera, Bahubali, Dilwale, Return of Rebel, etc, Max2 will telecast movies like Chandni, Yaarana, Guru, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Don, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, etc.
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.
