GECs
Zee TV’s Chandra says he has no political ambitions
Pradhan Mantri – a drama series on Indian politics – from the Zee TV stable has got a lot of media pundits confounded. They have been questioning Zee TV chairman Subhash Chandra’s motive behind backing a political drama which dares expose the machinations of hardcore politicians against a na?ve and honest prime minister appointee who dares to defy the corrupt political system.
Does he have a political agenda now that he has lost his media star status? Is he trying to bring about a revival of the Congress (I) by projecting a Rajiv Gandhi type innocent political novice as prime minister now that he has reportedly fallen out of favour with the BJP-led coalition government? Does he think of himself as a king maker?
Chandra has a repartee to all these. Says he: “The Zee Network has 14 channels. One of them is Zee TV, which is an entertainment channel. We cover other genres like information, news, edutainment, education and children’s programming. Please don’t read that we have lost out in the media stakes. We are the largest in viewership. We have 30 per cent of all cable and satellite eyeballs in India. By far, we are leaders in entertainment and we will remain so.”
On his political ambitions he says: “There is no need for me to take shelter behind a programme for furthering my political ambitions. I have no political agenda. It is just a show. When we were discussing a new show to get our audiences, this idea came to us. And the idea was to create a series that would cover what we would like our country to be, what is wrong about our nation, what brings about a feeling of helplessness in us. What is there that can take us forward to the kind of nation we wanted to be when we won our freedom more than 50 years ago. MJ Akbar tells (he co-ideates and co-writes the script) me you need 50 per cent MPs who are honest in Parliament who genuinely care about the nation to make a difference. I say you need just one. And that is what Pradhan Mantri is all about.”
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.
