GECs
MTV and Rayban collaborate for upcoming bands
MUMBAI: Upcoming bands that are looking at getting more audiences hooked to their songs got a boost with MTV India’s partnership with Rayban on a nationwide contest called MTV Rayban Never Hide Sounds. Five best bands across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata got a chance to get mentorship from renowned musicians like Raghu Dixit, Benny Dayal, UdayBenegal, Harshdeep Kaur and Shilpa Rao.
Genres such as sufi, rock, folk and pop were included in the contest. The five bands – Parvaaz, Rang, Frisky, Pints, Life and Nasya got a chance to collaborate on their mentors’ best tracks. The end result was a gig in each city of the bands with their mentors on their original tracks as well.
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Shilpa Rao performing live at the gig
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Speaking about the initiative, MTV India EVP and business head Aditya Swamy said, “Every young musician needs a mentor to go to the next level and this initiative does just that. Bringing together talent from two different generations has been an incredible experience and I look forward to this becoming a calendar event on the Indian music scene. It’s been an absolute pleasure working hand in hand with Ray Ban in building new talent and giving them a platform to take their music to the people.”
Ray-Ban emerging markets business manager Shirley Gong said, “Ray-Ban Never Hide Sounds is an initiative to put forth upcoming talent. This year we were set out to search the most unique and talented voices across various genres of Music. I am delighted to see that this approach has brought a brand new dimension to the latest edition and we have successfully completed this musical journey.”
The Mumbai leg of the tour was on 30 November at Hard Rock Café in Andheri.
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.
