GECs
Zee leads media stock surge on the Sensex
The rise and rise of the media stocks continue. The last few days has seen Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms scale new peaks. Today it was Subhash Chandra’s Zee Telefilms that led the way as the bourses recorded a third straight day-on-day gain.
The BSE 30-share Sensitive Index (Sensex) ended with a modest gain of 8.10 points at 3,411.92. The NSE S & P CNX Nifty Index also gained 4.60 points to end at 1,110.60, capitalmarket.com reported.
Zee Telefilms (up 5.68 per cent to Rs 185.95) has seen renewed buying interest amid hopes that the board may discuss equity sale to a strategic investor at its 29 April meeting where it is to declare its year-ending financial results. The meeting is expected to clear the decks for a hike in foreign fund stake ceiling to 49 per cent from the current 30 per cent. Over 493.2 million Zee shares were traded on the BSE today.
Balaji Telefilms continued its uninterrupted rise to close at Rs 632.85, up 5.26 per cent over yesterday’s close. The scrip has risen over 50 per cent from Rs 408.90 on 26 March 2002 to its current level.
The performance of the Balaji scrip is of course pivoted around the overarching popularity of Ekta’s serials – one-third of the top 100 TRP-rated serials on air today are Balaji shows.
With Balaji launching some new programmes on Sony TV and Zee TV, while lowering focus on south Indian serials, things can only get better, is the market sentiment.
Mukta Arts (up 10.27 per cent to Rs 124) advanced on sustained buying after the company said last week that talks for the sale of library rights have been going on for more than a year with Zee Telefilms, Sony Entertainment Television and Star TV Network. Over 145.4 million Mukta Arts shares were traded on the BSE today.
Other media stocks like recent Zee acquisition ETC Networks (up 13.07 per cent to Rs 52.35), Tips Industries (up 11.42 per cent to Rs 156.10), Padmalaya Telefilms (up 7.60 per cent to Rs 160.65) and Adlabs Films (up 6.86 per cent to Rs 70.85), also gained ground.
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.
