News Broadcasting
High fives for [V] Popstars’ chosen ones
It was a countrywide search and a mega promotion that spread across all the channels in the Star Network, besides both print and public hoarding campaigns. Finally, after a 45-day, six-city search, Channel [V] announced yesterday its “chosen 5” to front the all girl Coke [V] Popstars band.
GIRL POWER: (From left) Pratichee Mohapatra, Seema Ramchandani, Neha Bhasim, Anushka Manchanda, Mahua Kamat.
The five girls who get a shot at fame as India’s Spice Girls are Pratichee Mohapatra, Neha Bhasin, Mahua Kamat, Anushka Manchanda and Seema Ramchandani.
Future episodes of Coke Popstars the series will see the girls training in different areas like modulating their vocal chords, fine tuning their dance skills as well as a health and fitness regime. They will also undergo a complete makeover so that their looks fit their profile.
The name of the group is yet to be decided and model Noyonika Chatterji will manage the band. They will spend several sessions in a studio recording their album, which is due for release sometime towards the end of May.
Javed Akhtar is writing the album lyrics and the music is being composed by eight music directors including Jatin Lalit and Sandeep Chowta, an official release states.
Their first live performance takes place in Mumbai on 26 April.
Pratichee is a Mumbai girl, 24 years old. She has been trained in Hindustani Classical music for over six years.
Delhi girl Neha Bhasin, 19, is a second year student doing her Sociology honors. Her hobbies include dancing and writing songs.
Anushka, is all of 18 and ‘dead serious’ about her career as a musician. She has had little formal training in music even though that did not stop her from learning to play several instruments like the piano, guitar, drums and at the moment she is trying to learn to play the flute!
Seema Ramchandani, 22, is from Pune and a postgraduate diploma holder in school psychology. She comes from a musically inclined family and likes all sorts of music from the romantic Kishore Kumar to the rocking Led Zeppelin.
Mahua Kamat, 20, from Pune and in her Second year B.Com, gave up a year to get into music. She has been training in Hindustani classical music for a very long time. She is greatly influenced by Alanis Morissette, the Cranberries, Tracy Chapman, Dido and lot of R&B, hip-hop, for their rhythmic beats.
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.
