GECs
Media maven Uday Shankar to speak at AAAI’s Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture 2019
MUMBAI: The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) are pleased to announce the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture which will see The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific president, and Star and Disney India chairman Uday Shankar on Monday, 11 November 2019 at 7 pm at The Great Room, Four Seasons, Worli, Mumbai.
Shankar will speak on “Why have I been in media for 30 years” and walk us through his journey in the media and entertainment industry over the past three decades.
AAAI president Ashish Bhasin says, “We are very happy that Uday Shankar will be delivering the AAAI Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture 2019. As a captain of the industry, Uday perhaps has the best visibility to all the facets of the broadcast and OTT industry and we look forward to hearing his views. I must also compliment Sam Balsara on behalf of the AAAI for driving this initiative with great gusto”.
Says Sam Balsara, on behalf of SGF, “In a rapidly changing advertising world, TV continues to dominate ADEX and grow at a double-digit rate. It will be interesting to hear Uday Shankar’s views on how the TV Industry has carved out a dominant share for itself in the advertising market and plays a very major role in the lives of the majority of Indians, through the absorbing stories, that it puts out every day, 24 X 7.”
All members of advertising, marketing, media and digital community are welcome. However, entry is only by invitation. Please send an email to Sudesh Kapoor at AAAI on his email id aaai@aaai.in to receive an invitation.
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.
