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Star Vijay to launch new shows in June
MUMBAI: Star Vijay is gearing up to launch a new set of shows in the coming months. The channel officials claim that its recent programming initiatives have received a good response from the discerning south Indian audiences.
In June, Star Vijay will woo viewers with a new soap in primetime called Salanam. Also coming up is the telecast of the recently held Filmfare awards – south. The show was held last week in Hyderabad.
From June onwards, the ‘live’ show Kathai alla Nijam will be aired in the evenings as well. Kathai alla Nijam is a reality show where common people come and speak about their problems, be it infidelity, transexuals, separated kith and kin, eunuchs amongst others.
The show is hosted by popular actress Lakshmi (of Julie fame). Star Vijay officials claim an amazing response to this show – call-ins to the show touches 20,000 calls in a week. The show is telecast ‘live’ daily at 12:30 pm and from 2 June it will go ‘live’ at 9 pm as well.
The channel’s programming team recently came up with the Jackie Chan film festival on 17 May and the festival will continue for six more weeks (till June end). According to the officials, the first movie has rated 9.6 TVRs (ABC 4+) in Chennai. Also, another leading show on Star Vijay is Kavyanjali which plays at 8:00 pm on weekdays which rates in the range of 7 -9 TVRs (ABC 4+). The channel also has shows like Nee Naan Aval which plays at 8:30 pm on weekdays; with ratings between 4-6 TVRs; Kalyani on weekdays 7 pm has ratings between 4-6 TVRs.
However, it is important to note that all these ratings pertain to the period between January and February 2003. In the last few months, the entire Star network was off in four out of five important centres in Chennai city due to problems with rival multi-system operators in the city. Industry sources say that MSO Hathway (Rajan Raheja owned MSO in which Star India has a stake) services close to 40 per cent of Chennai city while SCV (owned by Sun Network) services the rest of the market. Sources also claim that these issues have been sorted out and Star Vijay is available in more homes now.
Star Vijay also aired AR Rahman’s ‘Unity of Light’ concert on two consecutive Sundays (18 May and 25 May) as a two part series. The show was billed as one of the biggest ones in Chennai.
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.
