News Headline
ETV Kannada hopes to repeat success story with ‘Gokuladalli Seete’
MUMBAI: Marriage, trials and tribulation is the topic of the new serial that has just begun airing on ETV Kannada, replacing the erstwhile Mahaparva.
Directed by Ramesh Krishna and produced by his production house Vaishnavi Movie Makers, Gokuladalli Seete is about a humble and righteous girl Pavani who gets married to a young business tycoon Rahul. Rahul who is commitment phobic and a non-believer in the institution of marriage tells her to sign an agreement that will terminate their marriage in 11 months since he has only married on the wish of his mother.
The show does not have any fixed number of episodes but will continue as long as viewers like it. The commissioned programme is being shot in HD quality with 15-20 episodes in the bank already. Airing from 24 November at 9:30 pm, Gukuladalli Seete has about 50 people in its production team from Bengaluru.
The earlier show Mahaparva had reached a natural conclusion and a mutual decision was taken by the director Sitaram and the channel to end it. “Given our success with shows like Lakshmi Baramma, Agni Sakshi, Ashwini Nakshatra amongst others, we hope to repeat the same with Gokuladalli Seete as well,” says Viacom18 EVP and project head (ETV Kannada, Bangla and Odiya) Ravish Kumar.
The channel has already embarked on a 360 degree marketing campaign. The launch day saw ads in papers Vijay Karnataka, Prajavani, Udayavani, Samyukta Karnataka and Vijayavani. 15 days prior to the launch, TV ads were run across channels with more than 200 spots. Key markets will witness more than 100 outdoor hoardings along with bus shelters, bus sides and intercity train branding.
The digital traction is being roped in through contests, quizzes and interactive posts, updates on shows, character profiling, live chats, show reminders, stamp ads, FB link ads, display banners on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
Sponsors are being approached for the show now. “In this particular market, the 9 to 10 pm slot is the core primetime slot that normally features content that is high on drama. This is a trend that has and is working historically in the business,” says Kumar.
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.
