News Headline
Aakash Aath to woo cine-lovers with movie festivals
KOLKATA: Aakash Aath is all set to entertain its viewers with four movie festivals for an entire month starting 5 December.
The channel will air films everyday from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm from its library and the festival will last till 3 January 2015.
The festival will start with the telecast of Uttam Kumar films from 5 to 14 December. The movie list includes ‘Sanyasi Raja’, ‘Moroner Pore’, ‘Jay Jayanti’, ‘Rajlakshmi o Srikanto’, ‘Sudhu Ekti Bochor’ among others.
“Uttam Kumar is an all-time favourite and we have some of his best movies in our library. It is one of the rarest collections which one will get to see nowhere else,” says Aakash Aath director Eshita Surana.
Comedy films like Dhanni Meye’, ‘Miss Priyambada’, ‘Proxy’ and ‘Sriman Prithviraj’ will air from 15 to 21 December.
From 22 to 28 December, the channel will air movies of the veteran actor Prasenjit which will include movies like ‘Duti Pata’, ‘Amar Sangi’, ‘Aboojh Mon’, and ‘Sangharsha’ among others.
Last but not the least, the year ending dhamaka will start from 28 December and continue till 3 January which will see films like ‘Joy Bijoy’, ‘Chameli Memsaheb’, ‘Sankhachur’, and Bhagya Devta among others.
The channel is working hard at marketing the film festival? She answers, “We are promoting it through the channel, mailers across agencies and clients and a viewer bank, whatsapp, push messages, news paper ads and listing.”
When asked about expected viewership, she said the package will pull viewers of all ages as numerous genres have been captured.
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.
