DUBAI: Media One, the one-year-old south Indian Malayalam television channel, celebrated its first anniversary on Friday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with a variety of entertainment programs.

Renowned Malayalam film star Sreenivasan hosted the show in the presence of young acting sensation Fahad Fazil. The event, compiled by well-known film director Siddik, featured an array of artistes including comedian Mamukoya, Suraj Venjaranmood and 50 others from film and entertainment industry.

The celebration, titled Pravasolsavam, (Festival of Expatriates) also honored nine Gulf-based Indian social workers. The channel had sought nominations from public and institutions to select best Indian social workers and organizations from across the GCC.

Ashraf Thamarasshery, who lives in Ajman, was honored for his help in repatriating about 2,000 bodies of expatriates.

Mohammed Ali Padapprambil from Jeddah; Shihab Kottukadu (Riyadh) and Safia Ajith (Dammam), who do social work for Indian prisoners in Saudi Arabia; PM Jabbir (Muscat) and KS Mohammed Ali (Salalah) from Oman; KT Salim (Bahrain); Kareem Abdulla (Qatar); and Thomas Mathew Kadavil (Kuwait) were other social workers voted as the best in the GCC.

Among the three expatriate organizations voted as the best by Media One viewers is an Indian restaurant in Khorfakkan - Calicut Restaurant famous for serving free food to the hungry and poor expatriates for over 40 years.

The Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) and Sevanam Center, Sharjah, are two others organizations that are voted as the best community associations. KMCC is selected as the best organization for its humanitarian and charity driver.