News Headline
Miditech to set up Singapore base by year end
MUMBAI: Miditech, the production house better known for its adventure reality shows, is planning to set up a base in Singapore by the end of this year
The company, which has created its first regular soap Saara Akash for Star Plus due to launch tomorrow, is also planning to build on its strenghths of documentary making for international broadcasters. Singapore, that is fast becoming the documentary hub of Asia, is also an attractive base due to facilities of funding offered by the Singapre government, Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva, presently in Mumbai, told indiantelevision.com.
Miditech creates several hours of non fiction software, mostly related to environment and travel, for distribution internationally. A documentary made by the company recently for the National Geographic Channel, UK, has in fact, been co funded by the Singapore government, Alva said. The company now intends to pitch itself as a n Asian production house and not merely focus on Indian themes and shores.
Miditech is also beefing up its presence in Mumbai, where it set up base three years ago to bolster the Delhi headquarters. While the over 100 strong Delhi team manages the international projects, Mumbai will handle other genres more suited to the requirements of satellite channels based in the metropolis. The production house, which plans to create more fiction in the future, is also creating news features and shows for news channels as well as for Doordarshan.
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.
