News Headline
BARC week 5: Big Ganga is No. 1 in Bhojpuri genre; no leadership change in other regional genres
MUMBAI: While there were not many changes in the regional channels space in week 5, the prominent gainer was Big Ganga, which climbed up to the first spot in the Bhojpuri channels’ space.
Additionally, there was also a new entrant each in the Oriya and Tamil language regional channels Top 5 list in week 5 of BARC ratings in Alankar and J Movie respectively.
Regional channel leaders in the Bangla, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Tamil and Telugu space continued to maintain a stranglehold on the top slot.
Bangla GECs
Star Jalsa retained the top position with 243019 (‘000s) followed by Zee Bangla in the second place with 138047 (‘000s). Jalsa Movies held on to its third position with 69803 (‘000s). Zee Bangla Cinema with 34628 (‘000s) climbed up one place to perch at the fourth spot, while Colors Bangla dropped one place to take the fifth place with 31471 (‘000s) in week 5 of BARC data in West Bengal (U+R): NCCS All : 4+ Individuals.
Bhojpuri GECs
Even as it witnessed a fall in ratings, Big Ganga climbed up to the top position in week 5 with 10365 (‘000s). On the other hand, Bhojpuri Cinema forfeited its leadership slot and dropped down to the second place with a considerable drop in ratings at 9727 (‘000s) as compared to 17459 (‘000s) in week 4.
Dabangg retained its third place but yet again with a drop in ratings at 5707 (‘000s). Dangal TV too saw a drop in ratings but maintained its fourth place with 4613. ETV Bihar Jharkhand too held its fifth spot with 2591 (‘000s) in the Bihar (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals according to BARC India.
Kannada GECs
Colors Kanada stood firm in the first spot even in week 5 with a drop in ratings at 261277 (‘000s). Zee Kannada in the second spot witnessed a rise in ratings with 159937 (‘000s) as compared to 145618 (‘000s) in week 4. Udaya Movies pipped Suvarna to claim the third spot in week 5 with 159785 (‘000s). On the other hand, Suvarna dropped to the fourth slot with 139413 (‘000s). Udaya TV maintained its place in the fifth position with 111309 (‘000s) in Karnataka (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals.
Malayalam GECs
Asianet continued to hold the top slot with 330282 (‘000s) followed by Mazhavil Manorama with 97830 (‘000s) in the second place. Flowers TV maintained its place at number three with 88167 (‘000s). Asianet Movies with with 50598 (‘000s) climbed up one place to stand at number four, while Surya TV dropped one place at number five with 49294 (‘000s) in the Kerala (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals market in week 5.
Marathi GECs
With no change in the Top 5 channels’ pecking order in the Marathi genre, Zee Marathi retained its numero uno position with 152180 (‘000s). Following it was Colors Marathi with 96885 (‘000s), whereas Zee Talkies maintained its place in the third spot with 63998 (‘000s). Star Pravah in the fourth slot was with 50095 (‘000s), whereas Maiboli stood in the fifth slot with 20489 (‘000s) in the Maharashtra / Goa (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals market.
Oriya GECs
Sarthak TV maintained its place on top with 105782 (‘000s) and was followed by Tarang TV with 23447 (‘000s) in the second spot. Colors Oriya was in the third position with 23447 (‘000s), whereas Odisha TV retained its fourth position with 15420 (‘000s). Prarthana bowed out of the Top 5 list, paving the way for Alankar, which made an entry in week 5 at the fifth spot with 8948 (‘000s) in the Odisha (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals market.
Tamil GECs
Sun TV remained the undisputed leader in the Tamil space with a spike in ratings at 962670 (‘000s). KTV was at number two with 280055 (‘000s) whereas Star Vijay continued to hold its third spot with 196249 (‘000s). Polimer climbed up one place to take the fourth place with 80166 (‘000s), whereas a new channel J Movie with 79722 (‘000s) made its presence felt in the fifth place. In week 5, Zee Tamil, which was in the fourth position last week, dropped out of the charts in the Tamil Nadu/ Puducherry (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals market.
Telugu GECs
The Telugu genre too saw no change in the pecking order from last week. ETV Telugu continued to lead the genre with 426874 (‘000s) followed by Zee Telugu with 370362 (‘000s). Maa TV was in third spot with 364618 (‘000s), whereas Gemini TV retained its place in the fourth rung with 268420 (‘000s). Gemini Movies with 194587 (‘000s) stood in the fifth position in week 5 in the Andhra Pradesh – Telangana (U+R) : NCCS All : 4+ Individuals market.
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








