GECs
Colors to premiere new show ‘Vidya’ on Sept 9
MUMBAI: Viacom 18's Hindi GEC Colors is all set to premiere a new show ‘Vidya’ from September 9, Monday to Friday at 7 pm. The show is produced by Mahesh Pandey and Meera Deosthale, Namish Taneja and Waqar Sheikh will be seen in the lead role.
A for Apil, B for Baal, C for Cau! Though it sounds strange and amusing, this is what Vidya will teach in her ‘Englisss’ class.Contrary to her name, Vidya is an illiterate army widow who gets a compensatory government job as an English teacher. But while it is an unfamiliar language to her, she gathers all the courage and strength to teach English, incorrectly at first but gradually learns and overshadows her weakness. COLORS new social drama offering Vidya will not only take the viewers back to school but also generate spurts of laughter through Vidya’s linguistic quirks and innocence.
Set against Devgarh, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, the show brings to fore Vidya’s apprehensions and struggles as she steps into the role of a school teacher to financially support her family after her husband’s demise. In the process, she has an encounter with the Pradhan of the village (played by Waqar Sheikh) who poses as a big hindrance in her outing. As she goes along in her journey, Vidya discovers many loopholes in her school and the overarching education system. There is only one person, district magistrate Vivek Vardhan Singh (played by Namish Taneja), who recognizes Vidya’s efforts and acts as her support. Ultimately, she not only ends up winning over her personal struggles but also pins down the people plaguing the education system. As life throws curveballs at her, Vidya keeps overcoming them with her spirit and wit while entertaining the audience along the way.
Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV network Head Nina Jaipuria said, “COLORS has been a pioneer in presenting strong and socially relevant concepts that have changed the entertainment landscape of our country. Along with unique storylines, we have successfully created characters which have left an everlasting mark on the minds of the Indian audience. With Vidya, our attempt is to give viewers, yet another relatable character, who will entertain them with her interesting nuances and idiosyncrasies. Vidya’s journey from being an innocent uneducated widow to a resilient woman will add the right amount of freshness and fun to our existing fiction lineup.”
Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment Chief Content Officer Manisha Sharma said, “We live in a society wherein people are quick to pass judgments about each other basis their language skills. But there are very few who try to correct them or motivate them to learn better. Vidya is a quirky take on many such moments that we experience in our life through the perspective of an illiterate teacher with the same name. She faces criticism and disparagement, but she tides over them and turns her weakness into her strength to become an English teacher.”
Producer Mahesh Pandey, said, “I hail from a small town in UP and have witnessed how education is still a major concern in these villages. A lot has been spoken of when it comes to our education system, but it’s us who have failed to address these challenges and help spread awareness about illiteracy. Therefore, to bring to light a topic of great importance, Vidya was conceptualized. A strong lady, conscious about her challenges but has the determination to overcome them, she will not only self- educate herself but will also fight the people who are corrupting the system and at the same time, change it.”
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.








