GECs
SET’s Chawla joins Sahara One as PR, publicity head
MUMBAI: The Sahara India Entertainment Management Company Limited (SIEMCL) has roped in yet another Sony hand. Now Sony Entertainment TV India’s Pavan Chawla has been appointed as head of PR and publicity for Sahara One.
The PR and publicity wing of Sahara One will work in close association and in tandem with the corporate communication of the Sahara Group. The latter is headed by Abhijit Sarkar.
Chawla will work closely with the marketing heads of SIEMCL businesses in Mumbai and will be responsible for the success of their PR and Corporate Communications. He will report to Sahara One CEO Shantonu Aditya.
Prior to joining SIEMCL, Chawla was with the Communications department of SET India and MAX for over four years. He trained as a journalist in 1990 with The Times of India, where he worked for four years. He has also worked as a senior executive producer on some of Sony’s shows like Aahat, CID, Heena and Kanyadaan, among others.
He has also worked as executive editor for Zee Entertainment Guide, and as AVP programming and new program development with B4U Multimedia Limited.
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.
