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A musical cut celebrating the upcoming World Cup
Football fever is building with the soccer World Cup fast approaching, and everyone is trying to cash in on it.
And hoping to get off on the right musical note with the football crazy are Virgin Records, in association with Royal Stag Mega Music and MSN India with GOAL! – a football album.
Among the songs included are We Are The Champions by rock legends Queen. Also included on the album is Queen’s anthemic We Will Rock You. Then there is Chumbawumba’s football sing-along favourite Tubthumping, Scorpions with Rock You Like A Hurricane, EMF’s Unbelievable, Billy Idol asking for more on Rebel Yell and the least known and most appropriate track in the album – DJ Alligator’s Whistle Song, an energetic mix of a thumping beat and whistles blowing.
Mohan Mahapatra, managing director, Virgin Records India says: “We are extremely happy to be associated with MSN India and Royal Stag Mega Music and present GOAL! to coincide with the ongoing World Cup rage. The album presents some of the favourite football songs that capture the spirit of the World Cup.”
Shriram Adukoorie, Director MSN India adds, “World cup soccer is just around the corner and MSN India and Virgin Records with Royal Stag Mega Music is unleashing the soccer mania with the launch of GOAL!, the hottest football album of the year. We are also doing a contest called Score A Goal where the winners will win tickets to the World Cup Soccer match in Korea.”
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.
