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After Star Jalsha, Star India all set to launch Star Pravah HD on May Day
MUMBAI: Star India is all set to celebrate the occasion of Maharashtra Day on 1 May with the HD offering of Star Pravah HD in the Marathi general entertainment (MGE) space. The network had recently launched its Bengali GEC offering Star Jalsha HD.
The move to introduce Star Pravah HD is in line with the objective of enabling viewers of Marathi content to experience the world of high definition television.
Now MGE viewers will enjoy the world television premiere of Dagdi Chawl with superlative picture quality and great sound in HD at 1pm and 7pm on 1 May. Among the new shows for Star Pravah viewers, includes a multi-starrer new fiction show Lek Majhi Laadki to be launched on 2 May at 9 pm coming up in the same week as Mother’s Day.
Lek Majhi Laadki is an emotional story of a mother and daughter, who are separated at birth, longing to unite. Maharashtra’s favourite real life couple Aishwarya and Avinash Narkar will be coming together on screen in this show.
Since its inception in 2008, Star Pravah has been at the forefront of entertaining Maharashtrian viewers with culturally relevant stories like the megahistorical saga of Raja Shivchatrapati, family dramas like Agnihotra, Pudhcha Paaul and Devyani.
Speaking on the launch of Star Pravah HD, Star India’s spokesperson said, “With the increasing demand for High Definition TV viewing, this was a great opportunity for the channel to enter the space. We have always strived to offer the best to our viewers. With the launch of our HD channel, the Marathi general entertainment viewers will now be able to enjoy their favourite shows, events and blockbusters in richer colours, greater clarity and sharper images.”
With the launch of Star Pravah HD, among the first few Marathi channels to be available in high definition, Star India is reinforcing the start of a new HD revolution in the regional genre. Star Pravah HD will available on all leading carriers. To begin with, the Star Pravah HD schedule will be similar to that of the SD Channel.
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.
