News Headline
Kingfisher Airlines plans Jennifer Lopez concert on first birthday
MUMBAI: Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines is bringing down popular international singer Jennifer Lopez to India, as part of the celebrations of Kingfisher Airlines’ first anniversary.
Lopez will be making her debut in India with the concert, which will take place at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai on 21 May. The pop diva’s first visit is part of a world tour after the release of her latest album, Rebirth. So fat the album has spawned the hit Get Right and has sold four million copies worldwide.
The concert is being organised and produced by DNA Networks. Tickets for the concert are priced at Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,200. Tickets will go on sale from 12 May, 2006.
Kingfisher Airlines also announced that it was launching an exciting promotion around the much awaited concert in India for all guests who fly the Airlines during the promotion period from 6 May onwards.
All a first class guest has to do is exhibit two boarding passes of Kingfisher First in his/her name at the counter at the airport and avail two special tickets to the concert. Guests traveling Kingfisher Class can also win free tickets to a premium enclosure at the Jennifer Lopez Concert along with loads of exciting prizes during the month of May.
Announcing the first anniversary celebrations, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd chairman and CEO Dr. Vijay Mallya commented, “Ever since its launch on 9 May, 2005, Kingfisher Airlines has been blazing new trails and has consistently raised the bar both in terms of service and product offering. The various awards and recognitions conferred on Kingfisher Airlines, a market share of 8.7 per cent in under a year and the milestone of having carried over a million guests, all these are an encouraging testimony that travelers have welcomed our efforts to redefine flying.”
Kingfisher Airlines expects its market share to grow by about 95 per cent by next year. “In an expanded market, we are targeting a market share of 15 per cent for the next year. The number of our flights will go up from 13 to 23 by the end of this year,” said Mallya.
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.
