GECs
Star Gold trails the men in uniform
MUMBAI: Star Gold, in its continued endeavor to reach out to younger viewers, is chronicling the lives of the men in the armed forces through Operation Gold – a new song-based show interspersed with dedications and comic situations.
The concept essentially revolves around getting to know the man behind the uniform and at the same time aims at bridging the gap between the common man and the defence forces. Model turned anchor Mona Vasu travels to army, navy and air force bases across India meeting soldiers and unraveling their true stories. Operation Gold also provides an opportunity for the soldiers to speak to their families back home and dedicate songs to them through the show.Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Star Operation anchor Mona Vasu says, “I am this young bubbly girl, representing the common man, who is trying to understand what makes these men tick (getting the necessary permissions to handle their equipment and machinery is a major task in itself). I am a wannabe soldier and hence the show captivates you finding me in the funniest of situations.”
Produced by Anubhav Sinha Productions, the show has already shot in army camps like Bikaner & Suratgad. Their next destination is the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune.
Vasu, who has signed a 52-episode contract with Gold, also says that traveling with the defence forces has changed her mindset about them, making her more sensitive and aware of the emotional and physical complexities that soldiers endure.
This half hour format which airs on Sunday at 3:30 pm every week was launched on 25 January 2004.
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.
