GECs
Service above rule: Life OK’s Maharaja Ranjit Singh starts from 20 Mar
MUMBAI: It’s a historical appeal. Life OK, in association with Contiloe Pictures, is all set to bring the story of the king who was like none other – a king – who was a true leader and a visionary, a man of intelligence and not just brute strength, Sher-a-Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The show will be aired at 8.30pm time slot from Monday to Friday.
Produced by Contiloe Pictures, the show is starting from 20 March. The show is about the founder of the Sikh empire, who is mostly known as the last Indian to hold the famed Koh-i-noor diamond and for gold-plating the Golden Temple.
The show follows the journey of the exemplary king who placed service above rule, and unity above power. It sets out to discover all the facets of the man whose philosophies endeared him to his countrymen, and whose political acumen struck fear in the heart of his enemies – the British and Afghans.
The makers of the show got Omung Kumar onboard to design the sets, the name behind the movies such as Black, Saawariya and Yuvvraj. The costumes of the lead actors have been designed by the famous Bollywood costume designers — Manoshi Nath and Rushi Sharma. Bollywood stunt director Allan Amin was brought in to direct the war sequences in the show.
Doing justice to the complex setting of the show was not an easy task for the production house. Contiloe Pictures CEO Abhimanyu Singh said, “We are very happy to announce the launch of our next historical venture, ‘Sher-E-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ in collaboration with Life OK. This show promises to be the biggest historical from our stable. We have worked for over a year and a half on the show and a unit of 500 hundred people are working day and night to translate our vision into reality. We are also working with state-of-the-art VFX supervisors and stylists to give a freshness to this epic saga”.
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.
