GECs
&TV announces time slot for shows ‘Razia Sultan’ and ‘Begusarai’
MUMBAI: One of the newest entrant in the general entertainment channel (GEC) space from the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) stable, &TV has announced the time slot for two of its shows: Razia Sultan and Begusarai. The channel which goes on air starting 2 March, will see Razia Sultan being aired every Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm and Begusarai at 10 pm.
With two completely different genres and setups, a historical show Razia Sultan and a show based on a quirky small town Begusarai, the channel is looking at engaging its target audience.
Talking about the shows, &TV business head Rajesh Iyer said, “Both the shows have been strategically designed to appeal to the new age mindset of viewers. While historical shows in the past have re-told a story already known, we have consciously tried to present an untold progressive narrative of the 13th century slave dynasty with Razia Sultan. On the other hand with Begusarai, we bring to television a fresh new dialect and flavour which is again a first on TV. We are certain that the audience will relate to the contemporary aspect of these shows.”
Razia Sultan is an enamoring tale of Princess Razia who was the first and the only woman emperor of the Delhi Sultanate and rose in ranks on her own merit. Produced by Swastik Production, the show will portray the progressiveness in the thought process and the grandeur of the era highlighting every nuance and intricacy involved. The set of this period drama has been designed and created by Omung Kumar.
Produced by Saregama Productions Begusarai, is a land beyond the law of the land. Prosperous in its own right, living within the boundaries of age-old traditions, this almost forgotten township of today’s India, has a powerful story to tell—of Thakurs, outlaws of the land. A larger than life canvas with characters full of quirks, Begusarai will bring out a whole lot of drama, refreshing dialect with a preview into the real and rustic India!
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.
