GECs
NRIs plan to launch multi-lingual TV channel
MUMBAI: A group of non resident Indians (NRIs) are getting together to float a multi-lingual entertainment channel
The company, Manvik Vinjnan Communications Ltd (MVCL), will be based out of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. “The promoters are NRIs based out of Singapore and the Middle East,” says the company’s managing director Rajesh Narayanan.
The channel, Bhaarath TV, will offer programmes in Malayalam, Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. “We will be investing Rs 500 million towards the channel,” says MVCL executive director Rajan Mannaar.
Mini Purushotham, who was an executive at Sun Network, has been appointed as the CEO of the channel.
“We are planning to launch in September 2006. We have applied for the uplinking licence. We expect to start the test run in April,” Narayanan adds.
Explaining the strategy behind launching a multi-lingual channel, Narayanan said the plan was to attract prominent national as well as local advertisers. Elaborating on the content structure being planned, he said Bhaarath TV would telecast news in all the six languages.
“About 25 per cent of the content would be devoted to Malayalam language while Hindi will dominate the 7 pm – 10 pm evening primetime,” says Narayanan.
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.
