Awards
Zee Gaurav awards presented
MUMBAI: The seventh edition of the Zee Gaurav awards was held on 5 February. The awards, which acknowledge excellence in the Marathi entertainment industry, presented awards to the prominent and talented personalities for outstanding performance from 18 categories in films, 10 categories in commercial plays and five categories in experimental plays.
This year, Zee Marathi has felicitated legendary actor Nilu Phule and veteran music director Shreenivas Khale for the lifetime achievement award -Zee Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar. From this year Zee Marathi has honoured a noticeable offbeat film with a special jury award.
The jury was comprised of renowned experts like director Kanchan Nayak, cinematographer Suryakant Lavande, lyrist Mangesh Kulkarni, editor Vidyadhar Pathare and film critic Sudhir Nandgaonkar for films; Suresh Khare, Prakash Buddhisagar, Rajan Tamhane for commercial plays; and Pratima Kulkarni, Premanand Gajvi, Anil Bandiwadekar for experimental plays. The Board of Governors was comprised of Dr. Jabbar Patel, N. Chandra, Kamalakar Sontakke and Jayant Salgaonkar for Zee Gaurav 2006.
Zee Guarav was supported by brands like Parachute Jasmine, sponsored by Ariel and associated with All Out, Waman Hari Pethe Jewelers, Ujala Supreme, Kesari Tours, Ram Bandhu Masale, HDFC Standard Life Insurance, State Bank of India and Parle Milk Shakti.
Winners – Films
1. Best Art Direction: Ashok Satam, Alhad Satam: Sane Guruji
2. Best Choreography: Narendra Pandit : Savaal Mazya Premacha
3. Best Cinematography Sanjay Jadhav : Dombivali Fast
4. Best Editing Amit Pawar : Dombivali Fast
5. Best Lyrics: Shrirang Godbole: Pak Pak Pakak – Dibadi Dipang”
6. Best Playback Singer (Female):Sadhana Sargam : Sarivar Sari
7. Best Playback Singer (Male) Shankar Mahadevan : Sarivar Sari
8. Best Music Bhaskar Chandavarkar: Sarivar Sari
9. Best Story Abhiram Bhadkamkar : Amhi Asu Ladke
10.Best Screenplay Abhiram Bhadkamkar : Amhi Asu Ladke
11.Best Dialogue Ajeet Dalvi : Kay Dyacha Bola
12. Best Child Artist Students from Chetana Vikas Mandir: Amhi Asu Ladke
13. Best Supporting Actress Jyoti Subhash : Amhi Asu Ladke
14. Best Supporting Actor Vishram Sut : Desrudh – Ek Parampara
15. Best Actress Aishwarya Narkar : Olakh
16. Best Actor Sandeep Kulkarni : Dombivali Fast
17. Best Direction Nishikant Kamat : Dombivali Fast
18. Best Film Amhi Asu Ladke : Hemant Chitra
Special Jury Award Chhadi Lage Chham Chham – Kuso Films
Winners – Plays
1. Best Set Design : Vijay Pawar: Achanak
2. Best Lights : Prakash Shinde : Ek Dav Bhatacha
3. Best Writer : Yogesh Soman : Achanak
4. Best Music : Ashok Patki : Jadoo Teri Nazar
5. Best Supporting Actress Manasi Joshi: Jadoo Teri Nazar 6. Best Supporting Actor : Satish Tare : Jadoo Teri Nazar
7. Best Actress : Supriya Pilgaonkar : Khara Sangaycha Tar
8. Best Actor : Ashok Samarth : Achanak
9. Best Direction : Padmanabh Pathak : Achanak
10. Best Play : Achanak : Kalavaibhav
Best Promising Play Jadoo Teri Nazar
Winners – Experimental Plays
1. Best Writer : C. P. Deshpande: Davedar
2. Best Actress : Ashwini Giri: Fridge madhye thevlela Prem
3. Best Actor: Chetan Datar : Davedar
4. Best Direction : Mohit Takalkar : Fridge madhye thevlela Prem
5. Best Play : Davedar: Aavishkar, Mumbai
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
