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Tamil channels plan mega bash to celebrate Rajnikant birthday
MUMBAI: Tamil entertainment channels Vijay TV, Raj TV and Raj Digital Plus have lined up a slew of activities to celebrate South Indian superstar Rajnikant’s birthday on 12 December. Apart from blockbuster screenings, various visibility campaigns have also been planned.
On the birthday, Vijay TV will telecast a special show which traces the journey of birthday cards through Chennai city finally arriving at the superstar’s residence.
Another on-ground activity planned is the journey of a mobile unit which visits select places in Chennai. Fans get a chance to write their birthday message on this special card which will be sent to the star. The van commences its journey today.
On the movie front, Vijay TV will telecast the Rajnikant classic Viduthalai on 10 December. This will follow with Vairavel on 11 December and Naan Adimai Illai on 12 December. The promos will commence on 8 December.
Raj TV is planning a month-long movie festival to celebrate the superstar birthday in style. The channel will telecast super hit Rajni movies on all the Fridays of December. The campaign starts from Friday, 2 December. The movies Raj TV has lined up for Friday are: Pudhu Kavithai, Annamalai, Sri Ragavendrar (Rajni’s 100th film), Siva and Naan Maghan Alla.
However, the pick of the Raj lot is going to be, the blockbuster it has lined up for 12 December, Dharmathhin Thalaivan. On the same day, the channel will telecast a birthday special from 10 am to 11 pm.
Raj Digital Plus has also lined up various activities to celebrate the superstar birthday. Apart from movie screenings and on-air celebrations, the channel has lined up various on-ground events also.
On 12 December, at 9 am, the channel will telecast Rajaathi Raja followed by Thanikkatu Raja at 12 am. At 3:30 pm, the channel will telecast Maaveeran and then in primetime, at 8 pm, comes the blockbuster Pandiyan. At 7 pm, Raj Digital Plus has lined up a special birthday programme also.
The channel will also screen two Rajni blockbusters in theatres; one each in Chennai & Coimbatore on 12 December. A giant greeting wall will be created at these Theatres in Chennai and Coimbatore for people to write their messages to the Superstar. Free passes for the film will be distributed to our viewers through a contest, which will begin in the first week of December
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.
