GECs
Sony to air ‘Idols’ result special on Fridays at 9:30
MUMBAI: Competition gets stiffer as Sony’s Indian Idol launches phase two. Starting this week (19 November), Indian Idol will air its ‘result special’ at 9:30 pm.
Ensuring it being fast paced, just after Indian Idol being aired on Thursday at 9:30 pm urging viewers to vote, Friday 9:30 – 10 pm will unveil the winners.
“The show is going to be gripping, interactive and almost edge of the seat,” says Set India EVP Tarun Katial. The voting procedure for each contestant bearing a unique number is essentially through SMS (2525 number) and landline. The channel is looking at driving viewership for Friday through the Thurday show.
Idol’s extensive promotion cannot but be given its due credit for the initial success of the show, although interestingly, the channel does not seem to have promoted its result-special.
When queried on the same, Katial points out that promotion will take place only for the show on Thursdays, and tune-in’s on Fridays will be ensured by extensive promotions on Thursday.
Something the industry has also been pondering about is the inconsistency of Idol’s timings. It has switched from 9:30 pm on the first day to 9 pm on the second and third, and then come back 9:30 pm on Fridays.
The channel also hopes that Idol on Friday will ensure a lot more sampling for its old faithful CID. The question that remains unanswered, however, is the slotting of the soon to launch CID Squad.
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.
