GECs
India vs Pak now on Star Plus with the launch of ‘LOC’
MUMBAI: After the big bang launch of Kavyanjali last week (25 January) from the Plus platform, the channel is all gung-ho about its next property in the offing titled Life Out Of Control (LOC).
LOC hits the tube on 25 February and is slotted as a Friday one-hour weekend offering airing from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
It is important to bear in mind here that after Khichdi, which did quite well for the comedy genre on Plus and has now extended the brand on Star One in a “new, improved avatar” titled Instant Khichdi, LOC is the second major effort of Plus in the comedy genre.
Why comedy?
Explains Star India creative director Shailja Kejriwal, “Comedies are really hard to come by. Secondly, one is always looking at providing variety and a change that is refreshing.”
Friday, seems to be the chosen day as the channel believes that it is a good day to watch something light and fresh which is a fun filled entertainer for the whole family.
Although, a point in note here is that Sony’s Friday line up has always been strong. Also, slotted between 8:30 – 9:30 pm is half of Sony’s newest reality show titled Dance Dance and 9 – 9:30 pm being Aahat 2. Both of which have made decent openings.
The sitcom essentially revolves around a restaurant called ‘St Martins Spice- Indian Restaurant’, in the heart of Central London. However, there is no peace within the restaurant because of the perpetual tensions between India and Pakistan.
The tangy humour angle comes in with the head chef being Gurpreet Singh Mallik who is Indian and the head waiter, Chand Mohammed who is a Pakistani. Mallik and Chand are undoubtedly enemies who often turn the restaurant into a plates and glasses War Zone the moment tension arises between the two countries.
The owner of the restaurant, a British, Simon York is in a catch 22 situation – for all he can do is curse his forefathers for partitioning India. To make matters worse, he can’t fire either of them because his clientele love Gurpreet’s curries and the Moghul treatment given by Chand.
Against this love hate relationship are played out the lives of these two families from which emerge great moments of laughter at the restaurant and at home. Produced by Rajeev Mehra of Eagle Films, the sitcom casts Manoj Pawa, Chand Mallik, Tom Alter who play the main protagonists of the show.
Will this be a move to strengthen the Friday band and eat into competition? Or will for the first time Star Plus be wary about the competition’s forte? Well, this will definitely be worth the wait.
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.
