News Broadcasting
AFI to recognise ‘Desparate Houswives’, ‘Sopranos’
MUMBAI: It is awards season time for the American film and television industries. The American Film Institute (AFI) has chosen what it considers to be the best that television and film had to offer this year.
Its television programmes of the year included HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm which airs in India on Zee English and ABC’s Desperate Housewives. The show took ABC to second spot in the November sweepstakes.
The other winners included Fox’s Arrested Development, The Shield which airs in India on AXN and HBO’s The Sopranos which airs on Zee English in India.
Unlike other film or television awards, the AFI selections are made through a 13-person jury process in which scholars, artists, critics and AFI trustees discuss, debate and determine the most outstanding achievements of the year, as well as provide a detailed rationale for each selection. Two AFI juries — one for motion pictures and one for television — convened in Los Angeles for two days of deliberation.
AFI will honor the creative ensembles for each of the honorees at a luncheon on 14 January 2005, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The jury rationales for each selection will be revealed at this event. In fact three years ago when the AFI first announced their awards they had a ceremony in a bid to compete with the Golden Globes. However, after getting a lukewarm response the organisation decided to simply announce the winners.
As far as the best film list was concerned Martin Scorcese’s The Aviator which is considered by some to be the favourite to win the Best Picture Oscar in February was chosen by AFI as one of the top ten films of the year. Sony’s blockbuster Spiderman 2 also made the cut along with Collateral where Tom Cruise played a ruthless killer, the comedy classic Sideways which deals with wine tasters in California and the mind bender Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind.
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.
