5 min readKochiApr 13, 2026 10:29 PM IST Renowned for revolutionising Malayalam television anchoring by bringing authenticity, originality, and identity to it, Ranjini Haridas has often been cited by several of her successors as an inspiration. Although many have tried to fill her shoes over the years, Ranjini remains a league apart. After grabbing attention by anchoring the music reality competition Star Singer, she quickly made a place for herself in the hearts of Malayalees with her fearless presentation, ease in interacting with everyone, polished English, and anglicised Malayalam. While she garnered a large section of the audience as fans, some were not content with her anchoring, as it openly defied the conventions and behavioural patterns mandated by a patriarchal mindset. Once, she was even publicly insulted by actor Jagathy Sreekumar, who made sharp criticisms about the way she hosted shows and shared her opinions on performances. Although his comments, made in front of a live audience over a decade and a half ago, drew laughter at the time, they have since been widely criticised …