News Headline
Big Magic Ganga ups ante for Bihar elections with special shows
MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year again when news channels are gearing up with special shows for the upcoming Bihar elections. This time round, the regional general entertainment channel (GEC) of Bihar – Big Magic Ganga has also upped its ante and prepped three new election special shows. The shows are titled: Raag Chunavi, Comedy Tabadtod and Baasi Khabar with Aarya Babbar.
The first show, Raag Chunavi starting from 10 October, will be aired on Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 pm. It’s a musical show on political and social satire where two teams will be pitted against each other – one will represent the Aam Adami and other will represent politicians. The show will take a bold view with its wit and sarcasm on various issues and will have Bhojpuri folk singers participating.
The comedy non-fiction show Comedy Tabadtod, starting from the first week of October, is a weekday series that comprises hilarious situational, topical gags, and skits. The segments on the show cover pranks, funny scenes from Bhojpuri movies and artists doing gags on different issues like socio political, mimicry, movie characters and many more.
The third show Baasi Khabar with Aarya Babbar starting from 24 October will be aired on weekends in the 7:30 pm slot. The news spoof TV show will see quintessential characters with different and opposing backgrounds come together and discuss about week old Big News. Babar, who anchors the show, will try seeing and analysing the current social and political developments in a funny and satirical manner. The show will have recurring set of actors with a sense of humor and great comic timing. In addition, the show will also have field reporters from the epicentre of each news item, reporting incidents in a quirky manner.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Big Magic Ganga TV programming senior vice president Partha Dey, said, “At Big Magic, we try to come up with something new every time. One of Big Magic Ganga’s specialties is to do a spike on the channel during festivals or even elections. Our aim was to come up with something different and entertaining at the same time for the elections. As the assembly elections start from 12 October, we are ready to launch our three new shows.”
Speaking about the show with Babbar as anchor, he said, “Since we are not a news channel, we can’t do a news show. However, we wanted to do something elections so we came up with the concept of Baasi Khabar with Arya Babbar. The show will start with the election season and will continue till March 2016. On the other hand, the other two shows will go off air after elections.”
Further Dey added, “We were keen to introduce a satirical TV show and Baasi Khabar With Aarya Babbar is a step in that direction. We are also planning to come up with another season in August 2016. Babbar is good with mimicry and comedy.”
The channel has already shot the promos for the show and will start shooting for the show from the first week of October.
Highlighting the marketing activities of the channel, Dey said, “We are trying to cover all the platforms. It would be available on our platform on air and also on our radio channel. We are also planning to run a contest.”
The channel’s agency Grey Worldwide will conceptualise the ad campaigns.
Dey also informed that Big Magic Ganga was also planning to launch four new shows during Navratari.
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.
