News Broadcasting
NDTV India production head Garabadu quits to join Broadcast News
MUMBAI: Among The first to leave the NDTV fold after Rajdeep Sardesai is one of the two NDTV India channel heads (production), Rajen Garabadu , who has just put in his papers after nine years at the helm. Garabadu will now proceed to Broadcast News to take over as executive producer at the newly floated Rajdeep Sardesai-Sameer Manchanda venture which is backed and funded by Raghav Bahl’s TV 18.
Garabadu will be in charge of all production related activities including designing the work floor, deciding on the state of art technology, manpower, training and editing graphics. Sources say Garabadu is scheduled to join Broadcast News after a fortnight.
During his nine year stint at NDTV, Garabadu was part of the invigorated Big Fight and was part of the team responsible for mopping up several awards for Prannoy Roy’s company like the Asian Television Award 2003 for Best Talk Show for three consecutive years, and the Indian Telly awards for the same category in 2004.
Garabadu took over as channel head (production) at NDTV India in December 2004. Previously, he was the producer and director of the Big Fight since the first show aired on NDTV 24X7.
He joined in as production assistant, junior- assistant producer, assistant producer, associate producer, programme producer to producer and later elevated as channel head (production) of NDTV India.
He played a key part in the rejuvenation of Big Fight managing its look and feel of the show, although the core aspect remained the same. He was also part of Nation-Wide on Star News (which has been discontinued after NDTV ceased being a content provider to the Rupert-Murdoch’s Indian news broadcast arm).
Garabadu was also involved with Question Time India, which airs on BBC World. This show was earlier commissioned to NDTV. At present it is being produced by Karan Thapar’s company ITV.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
