News Headline
Presidential Fleet Review ’22: DD deploys multi-camera setup on land & sea
Mumbai: Doordarshan came up with several innovations to undertake the coverage of the Presidential Fleet Review of the Indian Navy this year. President Ram Nath Kovind reviewed the Indian Navy’s fleet at a ceremonial event at Visakhapatnam on Monday.
The event witnessed the participation of nearly 60 vessels of the navy, including ships from the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Merchant Marine, aircraft from the Navy and the Coast Guard. The Review also commemorated the 75th year of Independence with the theme ‘Indian Navy – 75 years in Service of the Nation.’
Doordarshan’s coverage of the event this year included a vast array of multi-camera set up on land and water with at least 30 cameras in place. Drones with special lenses were used to streamline the broadcast from land and sea while ensuring seamless connectivity. Various elements of the Fleet Review consist of anchorage, a steam past in a mobile column, a flypast and parade of sails, different formations of large columns of vessels etc. All of this was captured by DD cameras deployed on land and sea.
Doordarshan and All India Radio had been preparing for this mega coverage since October 2021. Teams did extensive site surveys and carried out recce around the venue prior to final deployment on land and sea.
Multi-camera setup included special vantage points on the hills, high-rise buildings and near the shorelines of Visakhapatnam. DD crew was positioned at five such critical points to provide Live visuals. The entire coverage was done in HD format.
Grappling with the challenging environment at the sea, the team of DD Engineers by identifying multiple and critical camera positions brought to life the Indian Navy’s full might and prowess. DD crew was deployed on five ships to provide live shots of the president’s yacht during the ceremony. Drones, backpacks, wireless, signal streaming, and satellite uplinks were done at the sea to ensure a seamless live broadcast of the event.
HD camcorders and PTZ cameras were deployed on the President’s yacht. To enhance viewers’ experience, specialised lenses and state-of-the-art high-resolution PTZ cameras were installed.
The grandstand master control room was set up at All India Radio Visakhapatnam to receive all the camera sources from the land and sea using RF, backpacks, data links and satellite down-linking.
The high-definition visuals were made more engaging through graphics and a battery of professional commentators who elaborated upon every detail in Hindi and English as the event unfolded, from the AIR control room.
Uninterrupted live coverage running for almost three hours was broadcast on DD National, DD News, DD India and multiple regional channels of DD, starting from 8.30 a.m on 21 February till the end of the events. The entire coverage is also available through live-streaming on DD’s YouTube platforms.
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.
