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[V] to announce ‘Popstars’ finalists on Thursday
Channel [V] Popstars is all set to announce its first pop girl band.
The names of the girls who have made it to the final five will be made public on Thursday at 8 pm on the channel. The real drama, says the channel, begins now as the finalists go through a complete transition from being girls next door to raving divas. Leading stylists, makeup artists, voice trainers, music directors, lyricists, video producers, and the record companies will work their magic to effect the transition. All this will be captured on camera live.
Popstars travelled across Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai and Goa auditioning and searching for the perfect five. Jury members toured the six metros making the crucial selection based on voice followed by confidence, and personality.
Extensive tests were conducted when the semi finalists were brought to Mumbai where the girls had to prepare their compositions, make dummy tracks, go through dance training sessions, sing difficult tracks all with a hope of making it as the ultimate pop band. Thursday’s episode will feature the jury visiting the girls at their homes to inform them if they made it or not.
Popstars, launched amid much fanfare (Star TV CEO James Murdoch flew in for the formal announcement) late last year and has been promoted aggressively across the Star network. Novel promotional efforts like three kilometer long banners, wedding bands on the streets of metros and hoardings have marked the Popstars journey. It now remains to be seen if the band lives up to its name.
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.
