GECs
Pyramid Saimira to form JV for 100 malls, plans to raise Rs 4 billion
MUMBAI: Chennai-based theatre chain company Pyramid Saimira will enter into a 40:60 joint venture with a leading real estate company for setting up 100 malls entailing an investment of Rs 60 billion.
The buzz is that Pyramid will sign the deal with IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects Ltd. “We are in talks with three leading real estate developers including IVRCL but haven’t concluded anything yet. All the three are listed companies,” says Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd. managing director PS Saminathan.
Pyramid Saimira will raise around Rs 4 billion through a foreign currency convertible bond (FCCB) or a qualified institutional placement (QIP) as its share of funding for the project. “We could even go for a mix of both FCCB and QIP. We have no debt in the company and can leverage our cash balance. The equity dilution will be around 5-6 per cent,” says Saminathan.
Pyramid will set up a special purpose vehicle for the project. The company has identified 700 locations in South India, out of which 200 it has found feasible for sustaining a multiplex or mall. In West Bengal it will have 15 locations for its malls and multiplexes, four of which will be in Kolkata. “Every location should be able to generate Rs 500 million from the second year of operations for it to be viable,” says Saminathan.
The plan is to have 300 screens through this venture. The malls, covering 20-25 million square feet of space, will be spread across the southern states of India and West Bengal. “We will have 50 per cent of the malls dedicated for the entertainment sector,” says Saminathan.
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.
