GECs
Veteran journalist and ex-editor of ‘TOI’ Sham Lal is dead
NEW DELHI: Renowned journalist and former editor of The Times of India Sham Lal passed away this morning. He was 95.
Lal is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. One of his daughters Neena Vyas is a journalist, working with the Hindu.
For the last several years, Lal had been writing regularly for The Telegraph and occasionally for the literary journal Biblio: A Review of Books.
Information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi condoled Lal’s passing away in a message: “I am deeply pained to learn about the sudden demise of veteran journalist Sham Lal. He was a thorough professional who would never compromise on the quality of his ‘report’ and was highly respected for his upright writing. Widely read and incredibly lucid, Sham Lal had a deep understanding of a wide range of subjects varying from politics to education to neo-liberalism. His sterling qualities of heart, endeared him to all who came in contact with him. His demise is a great loss for the country.”
Born in 1912, Lal took a master’s degree in English Literature in 1933. He joined the Hindustan Times in 1934 and moved to The Times of India early in 1950. He became the editor of TOI in 1967 and retired in 1978.
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.
