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Best of Indian cinema on DD Bharati every Saturday
NEW DELHI: Doordashan’s cultural channel DD Bharati, which has been telecasting some gems from the Best of Indian Cinema every week, is slated to telecast the Marathi film Shevri and the Kannada film Kanasemba Kudureyaneri during this month.
Under this series, Doordarshan along with the West Bengal government had telecast six Bangla films earlier this month – for the first time in a hall. It featured some award-winning and renowned films like ‘The Last Lear’ by Rituparno Ghosh, ‘Nishhabd’ by Jahar Kanungo, and ‘Kalbela’ by Goutam Ghose. Other films are ‘Prohor’ by Subhadro Choudhury, ‘Ellar Chaar Adhyay’ by Bappaditya Bandopadhyaya, ‘Mahul Banir Sereng’ by Sekhar Das. Some of these are slated to come on DD Bharati shortly.
Under the series launched to coincide with the centenary of Indian cinema, the films are telecast every Saturday at 8.30 pm and repeated at2.30 am and 20.30 pm the next day.
Under this section, the films have to be either winners of the Swarna Kamal Award for the Best Feature Film of the Year, a National Award winner for Best Direction, the Rajat Kamal Award for the Best Feature Film in any Indian language/dialect (including Hindi, Urdu and English), or have won the Indira Gandhi Award for the Best Film of a Director or it should have been selected for the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Films that have participated or showcased in any of 16 prominent International Film Festivals can also be screened. These festivals are- Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Nantes or Festival de 3 Continents, Rotterdam, Fribourg, Munich, Busan, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Rome, and Sydney.
Shevri is a Marathi film made in 2006 by the renowned Gajendra Ahire and produced by Neena Kulkarni. Noted Marathi actress Neena Kulkarni’s maiden production venture, Shevri (wisp of cotton) is a sensitive portrayal of the havoc played by divorce in a simple middle class woman’s life. The ‘Shevri’ in the title is embodied in the films protagonist Vidya Barve played by Neena herself, a helpless little soul drifting along with winds of change in her life, without a strong will or desire of her own. The title ‘Shevri’ suggests an insignificant wisp of cotton. Her coming to terms with her state today and becoming present to her life is what gives essence to the film which will be telecast on 13 September.
Girish Kasaravalli’s adaptation of Amaresh Nugadoni’s ‘Savaari’ is a film connoisseur’s delight. Kanasemba Kudureyaneri (Riding a Stallion of a Dream) is a 2010 starring Vyjanath Biradar, Umashree and Sadashiv Brahmavar in lead roles. It won the National Award for Best Screenplay and for Best Feature film in Kannada. Kasarvalli’s use of non-linear narrative for the first time succeeds in building the audience’s curiosity. Engagingly convincing, Biradar and Umashree are seen throughout the movie in tattered clothes, getting every inch into the characters. The film will be telecast on 27 September.
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.
