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ESPN to give Mumbai action buffs a dose of X Games excitement on the big screen
ESPN’s film Ultimate X, The Movie produced in conjunction with Touchstone Pictures will hit Mumbai shores on 24 May, through SPE India.
The film, which will be shown at the Imax dome theatre in Mumbai, chronicles the excitement and explosive drama of action sports shown on ESPN and takes a behind the scenes look into the channel’s Summer X Games.
The 2001 X Games in Philadelphia take centrestage in the film, covering the extensive preparations atheletes go through for sports like skateboarding, biking, moto X, and street luge competitions where athletes lie their backs on their boards and speed feet first on to the giant screen. In addition, the film will present the stories of the athletes themselves.
And the state government is attempting to push through a local act at a time when the Central government has proposed an amendment of its Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 to incorporate conditional access systems.
Special P.O.V. camera mounts on bikes, skateboards and motorcycles guarantee an intense experience, says the company. The film moves back and forth between action, sound bites with faithful followers of the X Games, interviews with competitiors like Bucky Lasek, Mat Hoffman, Dave Mirra. The open and frank nature of the interviews illustrates the nave attitudes of both the participants and the audience, especially when it comes to the issue of injury.
A special highlight sees coloured cycles soaring fifty feet above the ground. Riders perform aerial acrobatics with their machines. The 40 minute film written and directed by Bruce Hendricks, has a puslating soundtrack, either from the likes of Fat Boy Slim, Moby and 3rd Strike.
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.
