GECs
Veteran film director Robert Altman dies
MUMBAI: Veteran filmmaker Robert Altman who influenced film narrative with classics like Nashville and Short Cuts has passed away. He was 81 years old and died in a Los Angeles hospital.
Altman was known for his experimental style. One of his unique traits including his last film released a few monthsd back A Prairie Home Companion was overlapping dialogue. Another trait was having multiple storylines skillfyully interwoven into one another with a large ensemble cast. The subjects varied. There was Nashville which looked at country music. Short Cuts dealt with life in Los Angeles. Gosford Park was a classy British film about a murder and secrets as well as class conflict. The one challenge in these films particularly Gosford Park is that the viewer has to pay careful attention.
Altman like Martin Scorcese never won an Oscar. However he was given a lifetime achievement Oscar at this year’s ceremony by Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin who both star in A Prarie Home Companion.
Tommy Lee Jones who also starred in that film says that Altman was very good at letting actors think that they had more control than they actually did.
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.
