GECs
Star to launch new weekly comedy in September
MUMBAI: Another weekly serial launches on 10 September in the 8 pm slot on Star Plus.
Khichdi is a concoction of characters and their emotions, idiosyncrasies, likes, dislikes, relationships and dreams, all done to imperfect perfection in a melting pot, which happens to be their home, says an official release from Star. The weekly comedy is about an upper middle class family, which is still way behind modernisation.
Directed by Aatish Kapadia, the story revolves around Mohan Niwas, a bungalow that houses a host of characters, ranging from an adventurous greatgrandmother, (Dina Pathak), an ensemble of devilishly funny women, (Supriya Pathak, as Hansa the eledest daughter-in-law and Vandana Pathak as the widowed Jayshree), and their spouses. Anang Desai and Rajeev Mehta complete the cast of the serial, produced by UTV & Hats off Productions.
The Parekhs, says the release, are the ideal example of a Hindu undivided joint family, as they go about creating a mishmash of situations to spice up their life.
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.
