GECs
Zee Cinema focuses on 1 pm slot for appointment audience
MUMBAI: Zee Cinema has ventured into the next phase of its revamp with a new initiative ‘Ek Bajega Ekdum Style Se’.
The channel, after having driven up viewership in the 5 pm band earlier this year, is focusing on the 1 pm afternoon slot in October by showcasing blockbusters like Gadar- Ek Prem Katha, The Hero, Tumko Na Bhool Paayange, Om Jai Jagadish, Humraaz, Style, Mujhe Kucch Kehna hai, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and many more. Most of these films have already seen the light of day on the Thursday Premiere slot made famous by flagship channel Zee TV.
Zee Cinema’s experiment of a slot-by-slot approach, claims the channel, has already achieved success with initiatives like Har Shaam Bajenge Paanch in June (5 pm slot) and 31 Days 31 Smiles in August (10 am slot), both of which have helped the channel in strengthening its number one position among Hindi movie channels.
Says Yogesh Radhakrishnan, Business Head, Zee Cinema, “The month of October is full of festivities with lots of holidays and we have specifically targeted this month for cashing in on the festive mood to capture all kind of audiences. The films showcased in Ek Bajega Ekdum Style Se offer wholesome entertainment with a mix of eternal hits and recent blockbusters that will keep the viewers glued to Zee Cinema throughout the month.”
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.
