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Rahaman joins Adnan on ‘Super Singer’
MUMBAI: Channel [V] has roped in A. R Rahman for the auditions of the final phase of Samsung [v] Super Singer. The maestro will be judging alongside Adnan Sami.
30 participants from the zonal rounds have been short-listed and would be flown into Mumbai. The contestants will undergo intensive grooming and training and will then be further short-listed to five by Adnan and Rahman.
Channel [V] Head Honcho Amar K Deb says, “With Samsung [V] Super Singer Adnan Sami has travelled more than 9,500kms across 10 cities to discover the voice of India.
Not only this, we went on to cement our leadership position with the launch episode of the show with a TVR of 6.9, thus matching the popularity of daily soap operas on prime time television.”
The channel had adopted the simulcast strategy for the first episode of telecasting it on five channels across the bouquet.
“As we move into the finale of this show, it is befitting that we approach the country’s leading music director A R Rahman to help us in the final stage in the search of the next singing sensation of the country,” exclaims Deb.
The short-list of the contestants will further be reduced to five by Adnan and Rahman.The same will undergo a month of training, grooming to receive a complete makeover.
Channel officials point out that the last five contestants will also be given an opportunity to compose their own original tracks for the final audition. While the viewers during this period can cast their votes via SMS for judging the contestants
The winner of the Samsung [v] Super Singer will walk away with a recording contract for the release of a music album with the country’s leading composer and lyricist.
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.
