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‘Bigg Boss’ holds appeal across languages: Viacom18’s Ravish Kumar
MUMBAI: Viacom18’s punt on Bigg Boss, the biggest reality show in the country, has paid off in a big way over the last ten years with an astronomical number of viewers on TV as well as the company’s digital platform Voot. After entertaining the Hindi masses, Colors launched the show in Kannada, Bengali and Marathi in order to garner regional audiences.
“We were the first to pioneer Bigg Boss in Kannada and that expanded the franchise beyond. At that time, it was huge because we didn’t know how it would work and it was a big chunk of the budget for a market that has always shown an appetite for reality shows,” Viacom18 head of regional entertainment Ravish Kumar told Indiantelevision.com.
While Bigg Boss Hindi usually has an hour-long episode, some of the regional slots stretch as much as an hour and a half. “The beauty of the show is, no matter what language you do it in, the moment you put new people in the house, it becomes an entirely new show,” he said.
Colors, according to Kumar, shares a great overall working relationship with Endemol, the producer of the show, although, at times, there are creative differences. The duo has utilised its respective experience in markets effectively. “They were good in listening to us especially in the regional space, where their expertise was low and together we have built that. They, on the other hand, have a lot of learning from the other markets internationally,” he added.
With over 331 million viewers hooked on to the show across India, the first ever edition of Bigg Boss in Marathi premiered with a grand launch event on 15 April at 7 pm. The show, anchored by actor-director-producer Mahesh Manjrekar has Dabur Red Paste as presenting sponsor.
Prior to joining Viacom18 in 2011, Kumar was the executive VP and business head – regional channels at Star TV and a global category director at Reckitt Benckiser. He brings more than 23 years of experience in building brands, driving innovation, creating high-performance teams and delivering superlative business results across leading Fortune 500 companies in the US, the UK and India.
In the latest episode of Indiantelevision.com’s Executive Dossier, Viacom18 head of regional entertainment Ravish Kumar spoke about the show’s success in Kannada, his experience of working with Endemol Shine and plans for other languages.
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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.
