News Headline
LIVE Viacom18 ropes in Nitin Alawadhi as national sales head
MUMBAI: Viacom18’s wholly owned subsidiary LIVE Viacom18 has roped in Nitin Alawadhi as national sales head.
Alawadhi joins LIVE Viacom18 from Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd. (BCCL) where he spearheaded the Integrated Brand Communications and Experiential marketing divisions.
In his new role, he will spearhead the business development team to drive revenues and build a strong clientele across India.
Launched in 2013, LIVE Viacom18 creates large format event IPs such as Vh1 Supersonic, MTV Bollyland, Emerge, MTV Indies Extreme and MTV Indies SPIRO along with international award formats like MTV Video Music Awards India (VMAI) and Kids Choice Awards.
LIVE Viacom18 senior vice president and business head Jaideep Singh said, “Nitin’s experience in successfully driving revenues for the Integrated Brand Communications and Experiential marketing platform will add a great value to the LIVE division at Viacom18. The experience and caliber is apt to be leading a dynamic and ever aggressive brand like ours that is always in a transition for better compliance with market needs.”
Alawadhi added, “LIVE Viacom18 is an iconic brand that works towards simulating marketing led initiatives with entertainment brands of the organisation, producing strong IPs in awards, music and kids’ space. I am truly excited to be a part of this wave that has the potential to change the DNA of brands. I hope my experience helps creating an upsurge in the “LIVE” business and provide unrivalled value to associating brands for strong and lasting partnerships.”
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.








