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Zee Tamil unveils Pongal special programming line-up
MUMBAI: Zee Tamil has announced its festive line-up surrounding the joy and celebrations of Pongal. With a wide selection of shows, across varying genres, the festivities are set to be taken up a notch.
The festivities begin on 15 January with a Carnatic music special, ‘Swara Raga Thalam’, at 8:30 AM. The show will feature a short concert, ringing in the auspicious occasion of Pongal with divine music. This will be followed by a special comedy show ‘Joker’, at 9:00 AM. With Bublo
Pritviraj, Chinni Jayanth and Sakshi Agarwal as judges, the show will bring together mimicry artistes and stand up comedians who will entertain the Zee Tamil viewers with a rib-tickling performance.
Enjoy a morning show of ‘2.0’, with Zee Tamil at 10:30 AM. An R. Shankar blockbuster, 2.0 brings back the story of Dr. Vaseegaran and ‘Chitti’ the robot, both played by Superstar Rajinikanth. 2.0 is a classic story of vengeance, sought by ‘Pakshi Rajan’, played by Akshay Kumar, on mobile phone users owing to the havoc it wreaks on avian life, ultimately causing a rapid decline in its population. The movie is a sci-fi visual treat thanks to a host of internationally acclaimed technicians who have worked on the movie. It is further enhanced by a scintillating score by maestro A.R. Rahman.
This will be closely followed by a World Television Premier of ‘Kennedy Club’ at 1:30 PM, a deep and engaging movie taking us along on the journey of an all-women kabaddi team and the struggles they face as they gear up to compete in a national-level championship. This film
features actor-director M Sasikumar, who plays Muruganandham, leading the kabaddi team through this journey. The film also showcases Director Bharathiraja in an integral role.
At 4:00 PM, sit back with a tub of popcorn for some nonstop entertainment with part II of the ‘Zee Cine Awards’ main event. The finest of Tamil cinema – actors, writers, technicians, etc. – will be felicitated for their invaluable contribution to Tamil cinema. This will be punctuated with a host of fantastic performances by many of your favorite movie stars and singers. The stage stood witness to the some of the biggest names in the Entertainment industry including Kamal Hassan, Dhanush, Nayantara, Vijay Sethupati, Samantha, Shankar, A R Rahman, Shreya Goshal,
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sudheep Kicha among others.
Start the second day of the festivities with ‘Namma Veetu Pongal’, at 9:00 AM, a Zee Tamil Pongal special hosted by Kamal wherein Zee Tamil’s leading stars come together for a gala time to entertain their viewers. At 10:00 AM, gear up for a nail-biting kabaddi match on ‘Celebrity
Kabaddi’ hosted by Mirchi Vijay. This show will bring to the viewers a match between two teams comprising of women who include Zee celebrities and kabaddi players from Tamil Nadu.
At 11:00 AM, sit back and enjoy ‘Kanaa’, a sports drama reminiscent of the patriotic spirit of movies like ‘Dhoni’. The movie, based on women’s cricket, is a critically acclaimed box office blockbuster. The movie stars Sathyaraj, Aishwarya Rajesh and Darshan in lead roles and Sivakarthikeyan in a supporting role. Arunraja Kamaraj has worn a director’s hat for the first time in this film.
Enjoy an exciting outdoor game show ‘Mr and Ms Local’, where 7 foreigners will be paired with 7 of Zee Tamil’s beloved stars to help groom and train them in the traditional Pongal games. This show, hosted by Madhan and Kathir, will air at 2:00 PM. Wind down the two-day Pongal bonanza with the World Television Premier of ‘Thumba’ at 4:00 PM. Thumba is a fantasy, adventure, comedy and drama movie rolled in one. The movie is the story of how two painters and a photographer hustle to stop a forest officer from poaching a tiger. The film stars Darshan and Dheena in leading roles. This movie also introduces newcomer Keerthi Pandian in a lead role. Actor Jeyam Ravi also plays a guest appearance in Thumba.
Speaking on the occasion, the channel spokesperson said, “This festive season, Zee Tamil strives to indulge its viewers with the perfect blend of music, drama, comedy and cinema that the viewers can enjoy from the comfort of their homes with their loved ones. We are confident that this unique assortment of shows lined up for the two-day Pongal holidays will showcase Zee Tamil as the ultimate destination for viewers looking for quality content”.
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.
