GECs
Zee takes 33 % stake in Padmalaya Telefilms
While the talk around Zee Telefilms is whether AOL Time Warner will acquire a strategic stake in Subhash Chandra’s company, the media baron seems to be on an acquisition spree of his own.
Hardly had the dust settled on Zee’s buyout of ETC Networks Ltd (which runs channel etc and etc Punjabi), it was announced yesterday that Zee is acquiring a 32.8 per cent strategic stake in Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd (PTL). This is being done through the acquisition of a 64.3 per cent stake in PTL’s holding company, Padmalaya Enterprises Pvt Ltd (PEPL).
ZTL will pay Rs 590 million in an all cash deal for the 32.8 per cent stake in PTL and includes a preferential allotment to be made by PTL to PEPL, and a mandatory 20 per cent open offer the holding company will have to make following the change in the ownership of promoters’ holding. The preferential allotment will be at a price of Rs 142.20 per share and the open offer will be at the price of Rs 148.50 per share. ZTL has entered into an MoU with PTL for this acquisition.
“With this deal Zee will get access to Padmalaya’s film library of 300 movies and 1,500 hours of TV software useful for sourthern markets and allows us to consolidate PTL financial’s with ZTL’s balance sheet,” Chandra has been quoted as saying.
ZTL will hold 64.3 per cent in the holding company while PTL’s present promoters, Seshagiri Rao and his family, will hold 36 per cent. PTL has convened an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of PTL on March 27 to seek shareholder approval for the preferential allotment.
Subsequent to this preferential allotment, PEPL will make an open offer (to be funded by ZTL for Rs 320 million) to the shareholders of PTL at a price of Rs 148.5 per share to acquire an additional 20 per cent stake in PTL. Post-preferential allotment and open offer, PEPL’s holding in PTL will be 51 per cent. ZTL and the promoters of PTL would jointly control management of PTL. Both Zee and PTL have the right to appoint nominees on the board of PTL relative to their respective shareholding PTL and PEPL.
Zee’s acquisition of PTL creates an entertainment powerhouse with strengths in animation software, film production and distribution and television content. The synergising of the operations of the animation units of Zee and PTL will make it the largest animation filmmaker in Asia, the company claims.
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.
