GECs
UTV comfortably placed on Hungama TV funding
MUMBAI: United Home Entertainment has substantially closed its financial requirement for kids channel Hungama TV and is in no urgency to find equity investors through private placement.
The company has obtained sanctions of Rs 200 million from banks. UTV Software Communications will provide a further Rs 200 million while its promoter Ronnie Screwvala will pump in Rs 50 million.
“We have no pressure on fund requirement for the next 12-18 months. We are not in a hurry to find equity investors,” says UTV director operations and finance Ronald D’mello.
The initial plan was to offload appropriate stake through a private placement at an early stage. Screwvala holds 51 per cent stake in United Home Entertainment while UTV has the balance 49 per cent.
United Home Entertainment plans to invest Rs 750 million over three years. “Out of this amount, Rs 450 million is already arranged. The balance Rs 300 million will be raised from private placement at the appropriate time,” says D’mello.
UTV has also decided to wait for Hungama TV to settle down before launching its initial public offerings (IPO). “By selling our entire 44 per cent stake in Vijay TV, we got Rs 315 million. Our fund requirement is now largely taken care of and we can wait for the IPO till the channel is launched to capture its valuation,” says D’mello.
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.
