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Distraction Formats using sex to entice broadcasters
MUMBAI: Sex, sex and more sex! It’s not that anyone needs proof of the old adage, but entertainment broker Distraction Formats says that it has the share figures to support projections foracy sales on its new package of one-hour documentaries about sex.
Distraction Formats is offering international broadcasters a package of three one-hour documentaries about sex that were first produced for Five in the UK.
Making Time, who also produced Under Hypnosis James Hewitt, is the original producer of the three shows, which are aimed at the adult 18 to 35 year-old market.
First, there’s Shaving Ryan’s Privates a documentary. It takes an amusing look at porn films that parody classic American movies, Dsitraction says that Ryan’s Privates achieved a 15 per cent share in the 11 pm time slot in the UK. A voiceover and clips track the not-for-primetime versions of Apocalyps Now, The Terminator, The Matrix, Anthony and Cleopatra, Singing in the Rain, China Town and, of course, Saving Private Ryan.
Next up is The Story of Sex.com. This surreal saga of the adult web portal and the battle for its valuable domain name was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award and selected as Critic’s Choice by The Sunday Times Newspaper, describing it as “a serious tale of new technologies and intellectual property issues” and “an X-rated panorama”.
The documentary contains archival material of internet trickster Stephen Michael Cohen, interviews with his estranged wife, and testimony from Gary Kremen, the man who claims Cohen stole his million-dollar website. The Story of Sex.com premiered in last year and garnered a 14 per cent audience share.
Celebrity Sex Tapes provides the naked truth about the stars, tracing the long-flourishing underground trade in celebrity pornography. From Marilyn Monroe’s more revealing appearances and Jane Crawford’s alleged early stag films to the recently infamous Cameron Diaz S&M tape, this upbeat documentary sets the record straight, highlighting the outright fakes, the provocative come-ons that fizzle, and the mysterious artifacts of disputed origin. Celebrity Sex Tapes premiers this month in the UK.
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.
