GECs
Star withdraws case against Raj Nayak
MUMBAI: A little over eight months after Star India filed a civil suit in the Bombay High Court seeking to enforce its contract against enstranged head of ad-sales Raj Nayak, it reached a compromise settlement today.
Nayak walked off a free man this morning after a full three-judge bench of the Bombay High Court was told that Star had reached an out-of-court settlement on the matter and was therefore withdrawing its appeal.
Star India head of corporate communications Yash Khanna told indiantelevision.com, “We have reached an out-of-court settlement with Raj wherein we have appealed to the honourable court that we are not interested in pursuing our appeal any further.”
The original suit filed by Star had pleaded that Nayak be directed to work with the network till the end of his contract in June 2004. Star had also sought an ad interim injunction barring Nayak from taking up alternative employment till the end of his contract.
Star’s lawsuit had also made the Prannoy Roy-promoted NDTV a party in the case, arguing that Nayak was “defecting” to a competing channel network.
A single judge bench of the High Court had earlier ruled in Nayak’s favour, after which Star went in appeal.
Noted lawyer Kapil Sibal, who headed Nayak’s defence, had argued that for eight years Nayak worked for Star without a time-bound contract. Further, it was argued that Star’s latest three-year contract was not enforceable as it was one-sided and without an exit clause.
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.
