News Headline
Vijay TV schedules auditions for ‘Airtel Super Singer’
MUMBAI: There is an opportunity for talented Chennaities to walk in to the video booths at Chennai and register their voice to compete in the upcoming Vijay TV talent hunt initiative, the Airtel Super Singer.
The video booths are located different locations at Chennai on the following dates: Abirami Mega Mall – April 11 to 14, Udayam Theatre – April 11 to 14, Spencer Plaza – April 12 to 14, Satyam Cineplex – April 13 to 14.
Interested candidates can also register through the Vijay TV Super Singer vans which would be stationed across Chennai, informs a channel communiqué.
In case a person is not short-listed, they can still try their luck on the day of the Chennai zonal audition that is scheduled on 16 April at the Chennai Convention Center, Nandambakkam. The judges for the Chennai audition would be music director Iman, noted playback singers S.P. Shailaja and Malathi.
Auditions are restricted to the first 600 registrations only on a first come first serve basis. One can give any number of auditions and if not selected in the Chennai zone, he or she can audition in Madurai, which is to be held on 23 April. The Madurai audition that was originally scheduled on 8 April has been postponed to 23 April due to the heightened election campaign in the region.
The show will be on air from 28 April, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm. The winner of Airtel Supersinger gets to sing in a Harris Jeyaraj Movie
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.








