GECs
Rituraj Mohanty wins ‘India’s Raw Star’ title
MUMBAI: After 14 weeks, thirteen concerts and tens and hundreds of songs, the time has finally come for India to choose India’s first Raw Star! Rituraj Mohanty has now been chosen by millions of voters across India to bag the title of ‘India’s Raw Star’. The winner takes home a Maruti Susuzki Swift, a contract with Star Plus and a huge sum on fifty lakhs. The other artists who were in the fight for this title were Darshan Raval from Ahmedabad and Mohit Gaur from Jaipur.
“It is very difficult for me to sink in the feeling that I have won this show. Firstly I would like to thank Yo Yo Honey Singh and STAR Plus for getting me on the show and for giving me such a huge platform to perform on. Himesh Reshammiya has been such a great mentor and a huge support. I would like to extend my love filled thank you to all my fans as they are responsible for my win! I dedicate this win to all my fans.” said Rituraj Mohanty.
Himesh who has already promised a song to the artist said, “He has a brilliant voice and a great talent. The show was not just about singing but about outstanding performances and this is the reason why the audience have gone all out to vote for him. We all are very happy with the decision and hope all success comes his way.”
The grand finale was a grand affair as expected, with some foot tapping performances from the artists. To make the finale look more larger than life Kailash Kher, Mohit Chauhan and Shaan joined the top three. Kailash Kher and mast Malang singer Rituraj Mohanty gave a heartwarming Sufi performance where as Shaan and Mohit Gaur took the crowed for a surprise with their performance. Darshan who was performing with Mohit Chauhan set everyone into a romantic zone with their performance.
Besides this the voted out artists also came back on the show to for the one last time give their fans a treat and to give them company was the popular and the party started Baadshah and Manoj Tiwari. The gorgeous host of the show Gauahar Khan was also seen shaking-a-leg in the finale along with Jeffrey and Darshan. The talented actor and dancer Rithvik was also seen in the finale doing gags that left the house rolling for more laughter.
Making their presence felt on India’s Raw Star Finale were Sajid and Wajid along with the lead of Tevar Arjun Kapoor. This is not all, all the artists and the celebrity singers came together to sing a special song on Swach Bharat which was written and composed by talented duo Sachin and Jigar. To join them in this initiative Kailash Kher, Shaan, Mohit Chauhan, Himesh and all the raw stars came together.
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.
