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Rainshine Entertainment to foray into regional footprint, launches Tamil original show ‘Meme Boys’
Mumbai: Rainshine Entertainment on Thursday announced the launch of a Tamil original show, Meme Boys, with the aim of strengthening its presence in the Tamil regional market. The new show will be exclusively available on SonyLIV from 22 July, 2022.
The show will be a hilarious eight-episode series starring Guru Somasundaram of Minnai Murali fame and Aadhitya Baaskar of 96 fame. Produced by Rainshine Studios (formerly CM Studios), created by Rajiv Rajaram & Drishya, directed by Arun Koushik and A. Gokul Krishna, the show will revolve around a college and its playful students who make viral memes on an anonymous social media page to tackle their authoritative dean! Meme Boys is the latest title to join Rainshine’s array of shows and franchises that have kept audiences across the country hooked to their streaming screens.
Speaking on this launch, Rainshine Entertainment (India) CEO Anuraag Srivastava said, “This show exemplifies what we, as a studio, wish to stand for: hyperlocal, contemporary, and young. We worry about engagement a lot – be it the story or episodes. And as far as we are concerned, so-called “regional” is mainstream. We neither take our clients nor our audience for granted—and therefore see no reason to classify them as less or more important. With an excellent line-up of titles, we are building our reputation as a powerhouse in entertainment. We are excited about our partnership with SonyLIV as we push the envelope on content in India together.”
Rainshine Studios vice president – content – originals and & creator of Meme Boys Rajiv Rajaram said, “Memes are an intrinsic part of our lives in this post-social media world. Through Meme Boys, we hope to capture the zeitgeist with a story about a motley crew of misfits armed only with humour and self-awareness. We hope that Meme Boys on SonyLIV will make viewers love original content more than ever.”
Rainshine Entertainment’s rapidly growing roster of regional content includes the massively popular Kannada series Humble Politician Nograj streaming on Voot, the National Award-winning documentary film Amoli, and the Tamil medical drama series Emergency, to name a few. Rainshine’s upcoming regional projects include the Telugu feature film Sangeet, written and directed by Saad Khan and produced by Chandru Manoharan of Lahari Music and Nikhil Kumarswamy.
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.
