GECs
Sony LIV’s first Malayalam original – Jai Mahendran, goes on floor
Mumbai: Sony LIV has carved out a niche for itself through its Indian content and Hindi and regional language narratives. After introducing critically acclaimed originals in Tamil and Telugu, Sony LIV ventures into Malayalam with Jai Mahendran, an exciting political drama.
The show focuses on the life of Mahendran, a manipulative officer who believes in getting things done through powerplay and by use of his influence within the system. However, his freedom within the office comes to a halt and his ideologies get challenged, as he becomes the victim of the same powerplay. In an attempt to safeguard his job and restore his reputation, he plans to sabotage an entire system to his advantage. Will Mahendran succeed in pulling off his master plan?
Jai Mahendran is helmed by the National and State Award-winning filmmaker Rahul Riji Nair as writer, producer and showrunner and the show is directed by Srikanth Mohan. The show features cast that includes Saiju Kurup, Suhasini, Miya, Suresh Krishna, Maniyanpilla Raju, Balachandran Chullikad, Vishnu Govindan, Sidhartha Siva and Rahul Riji Nair in pivotal roles.
With its unique storyline and stellar cast, it promises wholesome entertainment for the viewers.
Sony LIV head of content Saugata Mukherjee said, “The joy of creating content for India is that it allows us to make shows in different Indian languages with a diverse set of storytellers. Each language helps us bridge cultures, understand different perspectives and build meaningful connections. With Jai Mahendran we continue our mission to diversify our content library. It also allows us to celebrate different cultures and unique voices. We are delighted that our journey with Malayalam Originals has begun and we hope we can keep telling inspiring stories.”
Nair said, “Our goal with Jai Mahendran is to provide a balanced portrayal of the life of an officer from various viewpoints. The system can be exceedingly complicated with various regulations and powerplay at different levels. Through Jai Mahendran, we aspire to illuminate a topic that is both relatable and entertaining for the audience.”
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.
