GECs
Star Plus brings the Indian adaptation of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’
MUMBAI: The leader in the Hindi general entertainment space, Star Plus is set to bring Hollywood one step closer to Indian screens. The channel has acquired the rights to the official adaptation of globally popular sitcom – Everybody Loves Raymond. The Indian adaptation, in Hindi, will be titled Sumit Sambhal Lega.
However, the Hindi adaptation will be very close to Everybody Loves Raymond just fine tuned to suit Indian sensibilities.
The story showcases Sumit as the Indian Raymond whose predicament is one that men face universally, of getting stuck in family situations post marriage that gives rise to a comical extravaganza.
To ensure that the nature and DNA of the original series remains intact, the channel has roped in the writer of the original series, Steve Skrovan to oversee the creative process on the show.
This is the first time that any writer from the original show has been involved in the adaptation. Skrovan has been a part of the Everybody Loves Raymond team right from the beginning in the capacity of a writer and co-producer and was with the show till its finale. His role in the Indian version includes providing creative direction to the writers working on the show.
Skrovan said, “It was such a privilege to be a part of this from the beginning. Star Plus is the largest brand and most appropriate to get this show to people in India and even though Sumit Sambhal Lega will revolve around the man, the relationship between his wife and the family seems to fit perfectly in Indian culture.”
The channel has also adopted some of the best practices from Hollywood, including the adoption of Writer’s Room – a platform where all the writers come together and brainstorm to create a masterpiece.
There is a team of dedicated writers for the show instead of one writer working on multiple shows at a time which is a standard practice. Extremely popular in the west, writer’s room puts more focus on the writing aspect of the show, thus promising entertainment of highest quality.
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.
