News Broadcasting
Sumukhi Suresh and Girliyapa create their mark at News18.com’s ireel awards 2018
MUMBAI: Popular for writing and performing sketches and viral videos, stand-up comedienne Sumukhi Suresh bagged the Best Actress (Comedy) award at the New18.com iReel Awards 2018 for her role in Amazon’s ‘Pushpavalli.’ It was a double delight for Sumukhi, the creator of the show, as Pushpavilli also claimed the Best Comedy award later in the evening. Best Writing (Comedy), on the other hand, was bestowed upon the new-age platform Girliyapa for their renowned show ‘Mr and Mrs.’
As for Pushpavalli, the show was created by Sumukhi herself, who also played the titular role of a lady who is a stalker, in this dark comedy. In the series, Pushpavalli, moves from Bengaluru to Bhopal to chase Nikhil, a man she met at an event. Sumukhi steals the show with not only her performance but also her strong writing.
Accepting the award for Pushpavalli at the event, an elated Sumukhi said, “I’d like to thank News18 and iReel for this award. I’d like to make a small note here regarding the misconception that shows are going to be made by one person alone. It takes an entire team. I’d like to thank everyone involved with Pushpavalli, my writers and directors. I know it’s kind of a Public Service Announcement, but if you’re a woman and are looking to make a show, then just go ahead and make it. You’re going to make mistakes but it’s going to end up being an amazing experience.”
Coming to the popular series Mr. and Mrs., it features Nidhi Bisht as Madhu and Biswapati Sarkar as Sanjay, as a married couple. The show is filled with bags of wit and humour. The story comes out in full flow through some very good writing by Preksha Khanna and Pradyot Mokashi. This light-hearted show has earned a lot of fans and has built anticipation for another season, reflecting the demand for series that feature well-written content.
Present at the event, Preksha and Pradyot walked up the stage to claim the award. Commenting on the win, Pradyot said, “I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to Biswapati Sarkar. Whatever writing I know is because of him. I’d also like to a give big thanks to TVF.”
Applauding the winners were esteemed attendees such as Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Nikhil Advani, Hansal Mehta, Harsh Chhaya, Surveen Chawla, Kubra Sait, Rajshree Deshpande, Ameesha Patel, Tanushree Dutta, Tisca Chopra, Rasika Duggal, Vikas Gupta, Karan Wahi and Ronit Roy, who graced the event with their presence.
iReel Awards 2018 is the 2nd edition of the content awards by News18.com that celebrates, honours and recognizes the brightest talent in the Indian web series space.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.






