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Big Ganga launches 4 new Bhojpuri shows
MUMBAI: Big Ganga, ZEE Entertainment Enterprise Ltd’s Bhojpuri general entertainment channel in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal is all set to cater to the demands of its audience for original content with two hours of weekday and one hour of weekend with four new shows.
All shows will be aired from 18 March, Monday to Friday between the time band 6 pm to 8 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 6 pm to 8 pm. All the new shows are offered to the viewers in a bid to entertain the entire family viewing during the prime time slot.
Big Ganga business head Amarpreet Singh Saini said, “In the region we have received high demand for original content, especially amongst genres like socio-mytho and comedy, which is also is amongst the most consumed genres in the non-Bhojpuri content space as per the consumer research data. Thus we are extremely confident that through our fiction offerings we will be catering to this need gap and will once again be triumphing our core consumers’ cause. With the backing of iconic and topical non-fiction properties, we are sure to further deepen our pride positioning amongst Bhojpuri viewers as they will now have their own original Bhojpuri Prime Time. We are very optimistic about a positive and buoyant response from our viewers.”
On weekdays, the prime time will start with ‘Memsaab No 1’. This will be followed by the first-time launch of two Bhojpuri fiction shows for the region given the growing demand from viewers – Divya Shakti and Bagal Wali Jaan Maareli. Adding to the list will be Raag Chunavi to facilitate relaxed weekend viewing. With the channel being a prominent entity on Free Dish and other distribution networks (Airtel, D2H, Tata Sky, Dish TV), this quartet of offerings shall cater to the growing demographic of the Bhojpuri-speaking audience in the region.
ZEEL regional hindi speaking markets cluster head Amit Shah further added, “Bhojpuri entertainment is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and being a network with one of the highest viewership in the market, it is our key focus. The market has grown exponentially in the past few years and like other regional Hindi speaking markets, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal regions are also seeking differentiated customized regional content. We at ZEE have always set new benchmarks in national as well as regional content space. With our new launches, we aim to form a further deeper bond with our viewers by offering content that resonates with their sensibilities as well as caters to their growing aspiration. With these launches, we are not only making inroads in the region but are opening doors for many of our stakeholders as well as advertisers. We have some of the most talented names associated with these shows which have received an unprecedented viewership in this respective belt.”
Memsaab No.1 is a reality series in the region. It will provide a status platform for women to display their skills across dance, music, games and various challenging activates to win the coveted title of being the best Memsaab of the season.
Bagal Wali Jaan Maareli is a fun-filled ride of two neighbouring gentlemen who despite being in love with their wives, also strongly adhere to the idea of ‘love thy neighbour’s wife’. The show’s quirky humour is bound to be a success with young and old alike, given the region’s high liking for OTT.
Divya Shakti is a socio-mythological fiction showcasing stories of the power of faith and bhakti. The show will feature topical vrats, festivals, regional spiritual figure, bhakti and miracle stories, which shall evoke a high connect amongst the viewer.
Raag Chunavi will be a multi-talent format non-fiction show featuring the region’s best stand-up comedians, comedy poets, mimicry artists, who will take pot-shots at various election-related themes through a common man's viewpoint and pathos. It will have high traction given the topicality as well as the connect with on-ground reality of a common Indian voter.
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.
