News Headline
BARC week 20: English entertainment and movie spots shuffled; Discovery continues to top
MUMBAI: According to week 20 of BARC India, 6 Mega Cities : NCCS AB : 4+ Individuals rating, Zee café climbed back to its top position. AXN dropped a place in the English entertainment space. Star Movies returned to top spot, pushing Movies Now to second spot. Discovery continued to top the infotainment genre.
English Entertainment
Zee Café climbed up and replaced AXN on first position, with a rise in rating to 247 Impressions (000s). AXN followed on second spot with 223 Impressions (000s). Star world with 183 Impressions (000s) grabbed third position. Comedy Central with 167 Impressions (000s) and Colors Infinity SD with 135 Impressions (000s) took fourth and fifth positions respectively.
English Movies
Star Movies repossessed its top position replacing Movies Now with 2684 Impressions (000s). Movies now dropped a rank to second spot scoring 2593 Impressions (000s). Sony Pix secured third spot with 1663 Impressions (000s). Zee Studio grabbed fourth position with 1415 Impressions (000s) and HBO got fourth spot with 1126 Impressions (000s).
Infotainment
Discovery continued to rule infotainment genre with 4881 Impressions (000s). History TV18 followed on second position with 3899 Impressions (000s). National Geographic Channel with 3305 Impressions (000s) and Animal Planet with 3298 Impressions (000s) grabbed third and fourth position respectively. Nat Geo Wild was on the last spot with 2005 Impressions (000s).
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.
