GECs
Sony gives mobile phones the Hollywood treatment
MUMBAI: This is a move through which Sony Pictures in the US is looking to leverage the mobile as a distribution platform. Some of Hollywood ‘s biggest names are strutting their stuff on the small screen thanks to the Movies on Memory Cards initiative from Sony Pictures Digital.
Several films, including Hitch, Ghostbusters, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Stuart Little are now available on memory cards to view on mobile phones. In addition to the new slate of films, the first two titles available through this programme Spider-Man 2 and Monty Python and the Holy Grail will continue to be offered to consumers.
The memory cards will work with a range of the latest Nokia handsets, including the N90, N70 and 6680 and will be available from £19.99 at select branches of The Carphone Warehouse.
Sony adds that this new genre of mobile entertainment is made possible by placing the films on MMC for Mobile memory cards. Video display technology and superior audio quality combined with pause, resume, fast forward and rewind capabilities gives consumers the opportunity to watch entertainment while travelling or in their spare moments throughout the day.
Sony Pictures Digital senior VP sales and marketing Mike Arrieta says, Mobile phones are quickly becoming the entertainment device of choice for many consumers. People are constantly on the move today and watching full-length feature films is a great way for them to use their phone for entertainment while in transit. The overwhelming response to the initial two films made it immediately clear that there is a strong demand for high quality content within the mobile market. We will continue to develop products to meet this growing demand, he continued.
Sony Pictures Digital, an operating unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment, consists of Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment and Digital Sales and Marketing. The division produces stories, characters, images and experiences conceived, created, rendered and delivered digitally.
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.
