GECs
Luciano Pavarotti shares his thoughts on Talk Asia
Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Saturday, December 24 at 09:30am, 20:00hrs and 2230
Sunday, December 25 at 06:00am, 17:00hrs and 20:30hrs (replays)
Monday, December 26 at 09:00am (replays)
After 44 years as one of the world’s best known voices, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti is shortly to retire. As part of his final international tour, he spoke with TALK ASIA’s Lorraine Hahn in Hong Kong about his career to date and the discipline he still exercises to this day.
“Right before I perform, it’s better you don’t come close to me. I’m tell you, I’m terrible! I’m nervous! I insult myself and say ‘Why have you done this profession if you have to suffer so much?’ And I insult myself and so and so and so…until I put one foot on the stage and I feel the atmosphere and I feel the music and the audience and the composer and the conductor and everything disappears to give place to another person,” Pavarotti says.
He is modest when asked what legacy he hopes to leave behind. “There’s so many tenors my dear! It’s not true that there are no tenors. There are so many! And (their success) depends on (their unique) personality. But (its) not (about) following me; it’s not a question of following. It will be somebody who is going to be himself or herself, if it’s a lady. It’s not “I’m a copy of…the new Callas or the new…” No, that doesn’t exist.”
Even on the cusp of retirement, Pavarotti says there are still places that he’d like to visit.
“(There are) Many! If you have to express a desire, I would like to sing in India, in Egypt, places that I wasn’t able to go before,” he says. But as far as naming a favorite city is concerned, the famous tenor declines to name any names. “I was very lucky like I told you before. And every place is beautiful.”
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.
