GECs
Zee scrip spiraling downwards
If anyone thought the Zee Telefilms scrip had finally bottomed out better think again. Down is where it has been plummeting since yesterday. And there seems to be no end to it all. On the day of Zee’s AGM, the share price was hovering between the range of Rs 90 and RS 92. But it seems that the AGM could only dampen the market sentiment, rather than supporting the price.
The reasons attributed to the fall in price are many. The first is pessimistic picture painted by chairman Shubhash Chandra during the AGM. He warned investors that the overall negative market scenario prevailing was going to impact on financials as companies cut back on advertising. The search for a strategic investor for Zee Telefilms being put on hold only added to the sentiment.
‘Zee has always gone up or down on the ‘news’ and not on fundamentals,’ says an analyst with a foreign equity research firm. Short trading takes place in the script based on the same news, so players normally take positions for short periods of time and immediately exit when there are small fluctuation in the price. The price is simply not allowed to settle down.
The market also seems to be very concerned about the huge outstanding the company has. Even though Chandra has categorically made clear that there will not be any further financial transactions between any Essel Group company and Zee Telefilms, the market does not believe that, opined one analyst. ‘Zee has always made such commitments which were later not kept. There are various items which are waived off in the financial statements at the end of the year. And this is possible in this case also.’ The market is concerned about the amount (close to RS 900 million) that is still to be paid by Essel Group to Zee and the close to RS 1 billion to be received from Buddha Films.
The recent relaunch exercise hasn’t fetched much results. Apart from Baazi Kiski and Nilaam Ghar, which are game shows, other soaps are not doing that well. “It’s been almost a month and half, and the shows are not yet picking up. Dailies should not take that long to show the results.” As far as the new programmes go, most analysts were of the opinion that a few shows like Choti Maa, Sarhadein and Koi Apna Saa were really good and should be developed.
As for the movement of the scrip on the bourses today, it (up 4.94% to RS 74.30) bounced back on renewed buying interest after Monday’s fall. The stock shed 10% on Monday amid fears of a slowdown in earnings, and a possible delay in the induction of a strategic partner by the company.
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.
