GECs
Media stocks: will they tumble down further?
The fear was palpable. As trading closed on the Bombay stock exchange a chill went down the spines of media related executives as the rumour gathered pace that action was being planned against the biggest player on the Indian stock markets. The broker, who reportedly paid out advance tax of Rs 910 million sometime back, is likely to be arrested on the morning of 6 March, if the buzz is to be believed. Apparently, some documents implicating him were discovered in the locker of film financier and diamond baron Bharat Shah, who is currently in the cooler for his alleged links with the underworld.
If the gossip turns out to be true then there could be a run on the stock markets. And on media, telecom and software stocks as the broker is believed to have huge exposures to Zee Telefilms, HFCL, Global Telesystems and some say Balaji Telefilms, amongst several other stocks. That the market is wary was seen from the selling pressure on Zee, HFCL and Global Tele. Zee Telefilms crashed to a new 12 month low when it slumped to below Rs 115. HFCL and Global Tele also saw more than 16 per cent being lopped off from their share price.
Saregama India (Rs 286.95) lost 16 per, Jain Studios (down 13.75 per cent to Rs 56.90), Balaji Telefilms (Rs 205.90), Mukta Arts (Rs 171.60), Creative Eye (Rs 28.80), Padmalaya Telefilms (Rs 65.75), Cinevista Communications (Rs 68.05), Tips Industries (Rs 129.30) and Vision Tech (Rs 23.75) were media shares that went into a tizzy.
The alarm bells were ringing with the possibility of Zee TV dropping to below the Rs 100 mark should the arrest of the broker happen on 6 March. The broker has in recent times turned a seller of the Zee stock as he has got into a bit of a financial crunch on account of the take over of Global Trust Bank by the Unit Trust of India.
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.
