News Headline
Aakash Aath to air ‘Om Sai Ram’ from 13 November
KOLKATA: Aakash Aath, a Bengali general entertainment channel (GEC), will launch a mega serial on Shirdi Sai Baba called ‘Om Sai Ram’ to go on air from next Thursday(13 Nov) at 6.30pm till 7pm.
“We thought that it was the right time to introduce a mega serial on Shirdi Sai Baba to not only enchant his numerous devotees but also to make the new generation aware about him, his principles, his vision and his virtue. We are looking at least 300 episodes, but can relook at the number depending upon the viewers’ response. More than 10-12 episodes have been shot at the forests of Bolepur, Kolkata and studios where we are trying to create the background set of Maharashtra,” Aakash Aath director Eshita Surana.
Bhashwar Chatterjee will be essaying the role of ShirdiSai Baba. Meanwhile, Debanjan Chatterjee will enact the role of the younger Sai Baba. The other key members of the cast include Rumki Chatterjee, Budhhadeb Bhattacharya and Falguni Sanyal amongst others. Susanta Bose is directing the mega serial while Debjit Roy is the music composer.
The early life of Sai Baba is still cloaked in mystery and we do not have reliable record of the Baba’s birth and parentage. “We had to do a lot of research to portray his story correctly,” said the director.
Not only this, songs of Kabir and dance with ‘fakirs’ would be another pull for viewers. “We have recoded 10 songs till now and we are aiming to have at least 100 songs. We have lots of background and traditional music in this mega serial,” said the music director.
Raja Biscuits has been roped in to presenter the show for three months and apart from this the channel is in talks with other brands to get on board as associate sponsors.
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.
