GECs
UTV COO Varma quits; Monisha Singh rejoins as VP – TV content
MUMBAI: After a 14 month stint, UTV COO Vikas Varma has put in his papers and is currently serving his notice period. Former UTV creative director Monisha Singh, who put in her papers at the company in July last year, has returned to UTV as vice president – television content.
When contacted by Indiantelevision.com as to the reason for his exit, Varma expresses, “It’s time to move out of production and join the broadcasters. The experience at UTV was a learning curve.”
Varma said he was in conversation with many broadcasters, and is yet to make a final decision.
As COO, Varma was roped in to guide the TV division’s business strategy and operations along with business development.
Prior to UTV, Varma was formerly with Touché Communications as MD and has 16 years of advertising and entertainment expertise both in the brand building and advertising space.
Varma has wide-ranging experience spanning 16 years in advertising and media and has worked with top ad agencies such as Frank Simoes Advertising, Madison Advertising and Touché Communications where he served as MD. He has been instrumental in strategising for and launching a number of durable, FMCG and entertainment brands during the course of his career.
On the other hand, after quitting UTV, Singh joined Miditech as vice president programming and headed the production house’s fiction and entertainment division.
An economics graduate and mass communications post graduate, Singh began her career with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms as a creative director at a time when India’s premier soap factory was still a fledgling production house.
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.
