News Broadcasting
Action heats up at 29th Annual Rapa Awards
MUMBAI: It might be 29 year old, but it still remains one of a kind.
The awards instituted to laud excellence in television and cinema AKA Rapa, will is all geared to present awards in 53 categories comprising works from television, radio and advertising and has invited entries in 17 Indian languages. For the first time, the committee has instituted a Best Radio Jockey award.
“We have had 700 entries last year and this year we have already crossed 1000. There is no question of extending the date but in fact I think we might even have to turn down couple of entries,” Rapa President Brij Mittle offered.
Speaking about the quality of the content Mittle offered, “We often hold the awards ceremony either in the last week of April so that we include the all the work from last year. This time on looking at the amount of entries we might have it in the first week of May. It is a clear indication the quality is better and the competition is going to be tough this year.”
As for the actual break up of the awards, there are 13 categories for radio, 10 for television advertising, and 25 for television (including serials, Music Video and telefilms), while the remaining five are special awards. Last date for receiving entries is 28 February 28 2004.
“Just like last year, we will be having a group of 60 judges, from across the country. We will be getting them to Mumbai to judge the winner directly and not the nominee list. During the day of award we will be announcing the winners. But to ensure that the winners are present at the venue, we will be informing them a couple of days in advance,” Mittle offered.
The special Rapa Awards include Rapa Hamid Sayani Trophy for all around contribution to Radio/Television, Rapa K.K Suvarna Trophy for Outstanding voice performance, Rapa Sheel Kumar Trophy for Best Performance on TV, Rapa S S Oberoi Trophy for Campaign of the year on Television and Rapa D S Mittle trophy for Campaign of the year on Radio. The Awards committee includes Danish Khan, CM Patel, R Jankiraman, R Swaminathan, Pramod Suri and Manoj Lunia.
While last year the awards ceremony was sponsored by Radio Mirchi, Sony, Sab and Pritish Nandy Communication, MTV sent in their VJs as the presenters. The organising committee is keen on signing some sponsors this year as well. But the organizers will approach the sponsors only once the judging process is underway, so that “that they don’t influence the judging” offers Mittle.
The awards function might be held at Taj Lands End, like last year, or they might look out for a new venue like Grand Intercontinental.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
