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Asianet introduces fixed-duration serial
MUMBAI: After successfully innovating with horror serials and mega serials, leading Malayalam regional language channel Asianet is introducing a new concept (for India at least) – a daily series that will run for exactly 11 weeks.
Asianet has now come up with a new serial Avicharitam (the unexpected) directed by KK Rajeev with the tag line: “the serial that is completed in 44 episodes.” Avicharitam kicks off today, and will air Monday to Friday.
“This is the first time a channel is showing the guts to announce exactly how long a serial is going to be. Audiences have been complaining about serials that are stretched to no-where just because they are mega-serials and we decided to come up with a serial that gives the audience the exact number of episodes it would be on air,” Asianet COO Mohan Nair told indiantelevision.com.
Speaking about how the channel had consolidated its leadership hold on the Malayalam language entertainment stakes, Nair said, “We have been doing very well. In the overall channel standings, Asianet has been dominating the prime time (6 pm to 11 pm) segment. Asianet’s new horror serial Kadamattathu Kathanar has become a roaring hit with all sections of the audience and this has contributed to the channel’s excellent ratings in recent times.”
Talking about the channel’s programming initiatives for the NRI Keralites, Nair said programmes like Gulf News, the Sunday news weekly Gulf Round Up and many entertainment-based programmes were targeted at the Gulf’s Kerala community.
“Asianet has been initiating similar kinds of programmes for viewers in the Europe and US too,” said Nair.
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.
