GECs
Zee TV extends early primetime with new show ‘Hello Pratibha’
MUMBAI: Zee TV will be launching a new show called Hello Pratibha. The channel will extend its early primetime from 7 – 8 pm with this show, which is slated to go on air from 27 January.
Five episodes have been canned as of now. The show will be aired from Monday – Saturday at 7.30 pm. This is the first time that the channel is experimenting with its fiction programs extending till Saturday.
Zee TV’s fantasy series Maharakshak Aryan is nearing its end as it was commissioned for 13 episodes. The second story in the trilogy is slated to commence within four-five weeks. Bandhan will continue to air on Saturdays too at 7 pm in place of Maharakshak Aryan. On the other hand, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke show will see curtains down after a two-year long stint with the channel. It will be replaced by Hello Pratibha at 7.30 pm.
Zee TV programming head Namit Sharma says that being a new show, the objective was to give it more exposure and ample room for growth and hence the channel decided to airing it from Monday – Saturday instead of the usual Monday-Friday format.
Produced by Shakuntalam Telefilms, it will celebrate the journey of a woman. The story explores the protagonist’s journey of rediscovering her identity and gaining her lost confidence.
Elaborating on the show, Sharma says, “It’s about everything and yet about nothing. The story is about ‘change’ and the protagonist represents every woman who, post-marriage, prioritises the needs of her family over her own.”
Shakuntalam Telefilms founder and producer Shyamashis Bhattacharya says that the series is not a new concept that is being presented on television, but yet the story-telling is innovative and different.
Bhattacharya believes that Indian audiences have often seen the kitchen politics women face but rarely have television soaps tapped into what a home-maker truly wants for herself.
“Hello Pratibha offers just that – an intimate, up-close and personal look into the mind of a housewife who’s dedicated her life to family. And in the process, lost touch with the girl she once was before she tied the knot. With its differentiated content, the show will connect with thousands of housewives out there and hopefully set them thinking as to whether they should re-connect with who they once were before marriage,” Bhattacharya says.
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.
