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&pictures to air the World Television Premiere of the critically acclaimed Mukkabaaz on Saturday, 23rd June at 8pm
MUMBAI: In a love story of a sportsman set in Bareilly, Vineet Kuma Singh plays a Kshatriya boxer who falls in love with a deaf-mute Brahmin woman. Co-produced and directed by National Film Award winner Anurag Kashyap, Mukkabaaz was screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2017 Mumbai Film Festival. Starring Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain, Ravi Kishan and Jimmy Sheirgill in the lead, the movie is all set for its World Television Premiere on &pictures, Naye India Ka Blockbuster Movie Channel, on Saturday, 23rd June 2018 at 8pm.
Set in the backdrop of the misery of the middle class, the movie has a generous blend of love & humor and captures the banter between a father-son and a husband-wife relation. A film that highlights the existing politics of caste and sports, Mukkabaaz also takes a bold and brave dig on the system and hypocrisies prevalent in the society.
Anurag Kashyap, the man behind gritty dramas exploring the dark worlds of criminals, said he has learnt that the way to an Indian cine goer’s heart is through a love story. “I have learnt that in India whatever you have to say, say it through a love story. This is what people understand. This is my first full love story,” said Anurag Kashyap.
The film is a sharp social commentary on the battles that Shravan Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh), a common man who dares to have a spine has to fight for his love and boxing career. Out of the many battles that Shravan has to face, one is with a local goon named Bhagwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Sheirgill) who also heads the State Boxing Federation. A war breaks out between the two when Shravan falls in love with Bhagwan’s feisty, mute niece Sunaina Mishra (Zoya Hussain). Bhagwan Das is determined to sabotage Shravan’s boxing career as well as keep him away from his niece. The story follows Shravan’s struggle towards fulfilling his dream and winning his love while facing hardships in form of uphill classism and corruption of the Boxing Federation which is heightened by the political atmosphere of Uttar Pradesh.
Vineet Kumar Singh who plays the lead said, “Mukkabaaz is about a boxer who wants to make a name for himself in the industry. The movie talks about his journey by portraying the various issues and difficulties a sports person has to overcome to taste success in India. According to me, the film has been made out of pure passion, and with the intention to reveal the lesser known truth about young and passionate sportsmen of our country. We only hear of winner stories, but this movie goes out to those talented sportsmen who never make it because of various reasons that pose as a hindrance for them.”
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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.
