GECs
TV channels celebrate the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi
MUMBAI: It is the only festival where almost all the youth of the locality and nearby colonies come together and dance their heart out. This is the time when young minds can get a sneak peek into the life of the mischievous Bal Ganesha from their family members.
We are talking about Ganesh Chaturthi, the 11-day festival that celebrates the birth of Ganesha.
The Hindi general entertainment genre, over many years, has been a reflection of the type of content the audiences can relate to. Be it the saas-bahu sagas or shows on subjects pertaining to Indian society, the genre has portrayed the darker side of society on the one hand and also spread love and laughter on the other.
In the Hindi general entertainment space, Star Plus, Life OK and Sab are the only channels that will celebrate the joyous festival.
On Star Plus, the channel will showcase a special track in Nisha Aur Uske Cousins. The family follows the tradition of keeping Ganapati at their home and enjoying the festival.
On Life OK, the channel has created a special Ganesh Chaturthi episode in Mahadev, which will be aired on 29 August at 8pm and will run for an hour. It is coming up with a track of ‘Bhandasur’ who was an ansh of Ganesha.
On the other hand, Sab will have the celebration within three of its shows. In Badi Dooooor Se Aaye Hai, the Sunshine colony recently saw a squabble between its neighbours, but due to festive season the Ghotala family (alien family) decide on doing something which would get the residents together.
There is a competition with the neighbouring society on the best Ganapati. Sunshine colony attempts to make an eco-friendly Ganapati made out of sugar, to share some sweetness whereas Vasant and Varsha from the Ghotala family dress up like Vishnu and Parvati alongside the idol.
A show set in a Maharashtrian household, it marks a very important and auspicious festival for Chandrakant Chiplunkar Seedi Bambawala. Chiplunkar family along with the residents celebrate Ganpati in true Maharashtrian style with everyone dancing to Marathi songs, Marathi devotional bhajans/prayers and women dressed in Nauvari sarees, etc.
In Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai, the tenants of Bungalow no 6 decide to get a Ganapati at their house, so that everyone gets to celebrate the festival. Each tenant tries to pitch in with whatever way possible, sharing responsibilities.
On the other hand, music channels are also on the festive mode. 9X Jalwa has created a special package that will play only Ganapati songs as capsules, all through the 11 days. The packaging includes songs like “Deva Shri Ganesha” (Agneepath, 2012), “Mourya Re” (Don, 2006), “Aarti” (Vaastav, 1999) and “Deva O Deva” (Ilaaka, 1989) etc.
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.
