GECs
MTV makes music, again
MUMBAI: While it counts as the oldest music television network in Asia and the one brand that has always stood for all things youth, MTV India, Viacom18’s youth entertainment channel, is not one to rest on its laurels.
And so, in a bid to add an exciting new dimension to its youth connect as much as stay ahead in an already cluttered space, the channel has, in collaboration with Soundlogic, an American gadget major that set shop in India two years ago, and Croma, launched a range of music accessories under the flagship brand, MTV Fashiontronix.
The accessories including trendy earphones, Bluetooth ear buds and many more will be exclusively available at Croma stores across the country and on its website.
Speaking on the launch, Viacom 18 senior VP consumer products Saugato Bhowmik said: “We believe in catering to the youngsters and only want to expand our horizons across categories which cater to our thought process, be it related to fashion, gadgets, Bollywood etc.”
About the tie-up with MTV, Soundlogic director Sagar Gwallani said: “After the successful response we got here, we thought of enhancing our reach more among the youngsters. Hence, we collaborated with MTV because of its popularity among the youth and its digital following. The combination of our technical bandwidth along with the channel’s creative edge in the market will help us achieve our goal.”
On the collaboration, Infiniti Retail CEO & managing director Ajit Joshi said: “We sell products like JVL and Bose but today, youngsters want music on the go. It is a religion for them. And when we got an opportunity to address the needs of the youth of the country, we were glad to be part of it.”
MTV will market the new product range through its digital space. “Where do youngsters hangout? It’s cafes, colleges and are always on the digital platform. Apart from us, Croma too will be supporting us on its digital space,” informed Bhowmik, adding that the channel is in the planning stage of launching a marketing plan on its sister channels. “We have all the edge at our disposal and we will be utilizing our sister channels in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joshi opined that the range, priced between Rs 899 and Rs 3999, doesn’t really need marketing as he could predict it would fly off the shelves as soon as youngsters got their hands on it.
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.
