GECs
Zee Cafe looks to broaden lifestyle genre with cooking
MUMBAI: English general entertainment channel, Zee Cafe is in a full revamp mode. It will kick off its first locally produced soap Bombay Talking on 19 November 2005.
On the western front, it will look to introduce at least five shows in the coming three months.
One of its headliner shows to be launched next month will be Oliver’s Twist. A channel source says, that Zee Cafe is looking at being a 360 degree entertainment channel that is connected with lifestyle. The show is hosted by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, who is very famous in the UK and Europe.
This show promises a fun dining experience. It shows viewers how preparing food can help them get more out of life which is what activities like yoga do. As the channel source says, cooking as an experience is underrated in India.
This show, the source says, is interactive in nature. For instance, if Oliver is making a pasta he will not just show viewers how to cook it. He goes out into the market place and picks out the right ingredients like basil. He gives viewers tips on how to shop for the right ingredients and how one can tell what will work the best. If he sees attractive grapes then he tells viewers what dessert can be made out of it.
In fact, Oliver has just released a DVD, Jaime’s Christmas ,abroad. This shows how one can prepare a Christmas dinner in advance and then how to cook everything on the day so that you get it all on the table, piping hot, at the same time.
The source also infroms, that Zee Cafe has changed its look and feel. This was a three month process and was done with the help of Singapore’s Brandspeed. The music for instance that accompanies the promos is more peppy to appeal to a younger demographic. The graphics, slate boards have a lot more zip. “One can say that the channel has undergone cosmetic surgery. It was expensive to hire an outside firm but we feel that the investment has been worth it. The whole aim is to remove the image of Zee Cafe being a rerun and feeling dated by giving a more contemporary look and feel” adds the source.
The source adds, that one local show which was recently launched, After Hours ,has received a positive response. Infact, the scene now is that the channel has to refuse requests to cover some parties. It is a question of prioritising. That is because the show’s host, Nina Manuel, already visits seven to eight parties four times a week. The source says that for the likes of socialite, Ramona Garware, getting their parties covered is a matter of prestige.
The channel will also air a music special later this month. This will feature the pop group, Invivo The group perfromed in Hong Kong recently and the channel got up close and personal with the band.
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.
