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Globo TV, Marvista’s bonanza at ATF
MUMBAI: Brazils Globo TV International has designed a special catalogue of programmes to present at this years Asia Television Forum in Singapore. The event takes place from 30 November – 2 December 2005.
Specifically tailored for the Asian market, the showcase comprises telenovelas and miniseries that include romantic plots and address family conflicts, such as The Taste of Passion, Students Heart and Shades of Sin. Childrens and youth programmes and special shows will also be presented, including Rio de Janeiros Carnival in Rio, which was sold to Indonesia earlier this year.Earlier this year it had sold a package of the children’s programme Pirlimpimpim to Philippines and a special show about the Carnaval in Rio to Indonesia.
Globo TV International says that it is mindful to the potential viewership of its products in the Asian market. Early this year the distributor mapped the dynamics of the Asian market and established contacts with potential clients to define the catalogue that was going to be offered at the ATF. Globo TV International claims to have sold more than 300 products to approximately 130 countries in over thirty years.
Meanwhile Marvista Entertainment will for the first time attend ATF to present a diverse programme line-up to the Asia Pacific market. It will showcase eight new television movies and 56 hours of kids entertainment.
Marvista will also debut the prime time series Makaha Surf,. This is a co-production between Viacoms The N, Marvista Entertainment and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment. The drama series is about four girls pursuing their dream to become professional surfers. The TG of the show is teenagers and young adults, ten one-hour episodes of the series will be distributed to the international marketplace exclusively by Marvista, and will debut in the US next year.
Among the new kids programming, the pre-school animated series Ribert & Robert’s WonderWorldwill will be presented, along with the two live-action series for tweens, Prank Patrol and Surprise! Its Edible! Incredible!.
A kids hyper cooking show gives 8 12 year olds a taste for healthy living. Hosted by Julie Zwillich, the show positions itself as chaotic fun culminating in a wild cooking match held in a boxing ring. The show’s tagline is – Good food, good health, and good fun go together.
Additionally, four animated features headlined by A Fairy Tale Christmas, as well as The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree, Romeo and Juliet: Sealed With a Kiss and the Easter Egg Adventure will be showcased. Marvistas slate of new television movies includes the family suspense thriller Love Thy Neighbour and the action disaster movie Absolute Zero
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.
