GECs
‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ returns with new season on Zee TV
Mumbai: Following the success of “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs” last year, Zee TV has announced the return of its longest-running singing reality show, “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa,” starting 16 October, every Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m.
The upcoming season of the show will see Shankar Mahadevan, Himesh Reshammiya, and Vishal Dadlani come together as judges. “As we kick-off ‘Music Ka Sabse Bada Tyohaar’ during the festive season, I am sure we will have double the fun. It’s all the more exciting to be judging this season alongside Vishal and Himesh and I‘m hoping to have a marvellous time judging the show with the two of them,” shared Mahadevan.
Singer-anchor Aditya Narayan will be seen turning host for the upcoming season, returning to the show after his last stint in 2018. “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has always held a special place in my heart as I started my hosting career with this show, and I feel really honoured to be associated with it. It marked the beginning of my career, and it continues to do so for numerous budding singers across India,” commented Narayan.
“Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” announced its auditions for the season three months ago with the show’s in-house creative team and production houses – Zee Studios and The Content Team evaluating fresh talent day in, day out to pick only the most promising voices with true potential, said the channel in a statement.
“Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, our deeply cherished singing reality platform has stayed relevant to music lovers of today and continues to carry forth a legacy we are collectively proud of as a nation, simply because of its golden standards of excellence in singing calibre,” said Zee TV business head Aparna Bhosle. “As we enter the festive season, we are keen to present the latest season as the biggest celebration of music ever. We hope to discover some rare gems and hone them to perfection while entertaining our audiences every weekend!”
The platform that has been instrumental in discovering some of the most prominent singing stars of the music fraternity over the past 25 years including the likes of Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Kamal Khan, Amanat Ali, Raja Hassan, Sanjeevani, and Bela Shende is back on television.
“Although I have been a part of several seasons of this reality show, each season has left me surprised with the kind of talent that appears on stage,” stated Himesh Reshammiya. “They are not just adept in the field of music but have their own style and aura of presenting songs, which all the more makes each season worthwhile to watch. Even after all these years, I am quite thrilled to be a part of the judge’s panel because I truly believe that it is going to be a real treat to watch these raw talents perform.”
“Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and I go back a long way and it truly feels wonderful to return to the show after a while. What makes this season more exciting is the celebration of music that we are kickstarting as well as the chance of sharing the judge’s panel with some of the finest names in the industry,” said Vishal Dadlani. “I have a great equation with both Himesh and Shankar and whenever we have worked together, we have had a lot of fun through our music. I look forward to shaping the future of this season’s contestants.”
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.
