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‘Chicken Soup For the Soul’ comes to DVD
MUMBAI: The book phenomenon Chicken Soup For The Soul will now extend its brand to the DVD. Madacy Entertainment in association with Vision Films & Hello Media have announced the launch of the Chicken Soup For The Soul branded home entertainment line.
A Piece of Eden and More Than Puppy Love are the first two DVD?s that will be released later this month under the Chicken label. Then four more titles will be released during the course of the year.
Under the agreement, Vision Films and Hello Media will handle the acquisitions of the films, Madacy Entertainment will handle the distribution, and Chicken Soup For the Soul Enterprises will be licensing their brand name.
A Piece of Eden stars Tyne Daly Judging Amy, Rebecca Harrell, Frederic Forrest. It is a bittersweet romantic comedy about three generations reconnecting with their family roots. More Than Puppy Love stars Pamela Bach Baywatch, Diane Ladd and Craig Benton . It is the story of a young girl who must learn to give up her dog to help a handicapped man regain his self-reliance. Another title that will be released is Time Of The Wolf. It tells the story about how an orphaned boy and his aging aunt and uncle learn life?s lessons from a wounded lone wolf. It stars Burt Reynolds, Jason Priestley and Marthe Keller.
Chicken Soup For The Soul Enterprises COO Russell Kamalski was quoted in a company release saying., “The Chicken Soup For The Soul home entertainment line provides us with another great opportunity to present heartwarming and inspiring stories to the American public. Perhaps considered a bit of Americana or stories of the heartland, this reinforces our on-going commitment to change the world one story at a time.”
With a focus on independent productions, each theatrical title submitted to the Chicken Soup For The Soul team will be evaluated in a manner similar to stories submitted for their books. A team of viewers will watch each film and grade it according to its fit within the Chicken Soup For The Soul brand.
This year Chicken Soup For The Soul celebrates its 10th anniversary: It claims to have sold over 80 million books and has been translated into 30 languages . The current retail sales of Chicken Soup licensed products exceed $100,000,000 a year across a wide variety of merchandise, including greeting cards, apparel, games, CD collections, chocolates etc.
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.
