News Headline
Bigg Boss Malayalam fined one lakh for Covid inappropriate behaviour
Mumbai: The third season of Bigg Boss Malayalam got suspended temporarily after Tamil Nadu authorities sealed the EVP Film City in Chennai where shooting was ongoing. The sealing of Bigg Boss house comes in the wake of six members attached to the show’s technical crew testing positive for Coronavirus infection.
Shooting schedules of the third season of the reality show, which enjoys very high popularity in neighbouring Kerala, where show host Mohanlal is a superstar, had continued unabated for 95 consecutive days till the government action.
The reality show was well into the season when the Tamil Nadu government enforced a complete lockdown from 10 May and imposed a complete ban on film and television shootings. The sealing of Bigg Boss’ house came with only five days remaining for the climax of the reality show that had already aired 95 consecutive days of content.
A team led by Thiruvallur Revenue Divisional Officer Preethi Parkavi reached the Bigg Boss Malayalam set and sealed it for allegedly flouting Covid norms. After sealing the Bigg Boss house, authorities assessed and then imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on the show organizers.
Parkavi revealed that the organizers continued film shooting despite the decision by the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) of halting all shooting and related activity in Tamil Nadu. A case was registered against organizers of the show under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, an act that allows for blanket powers to government authorities in the wake of a national disaster (the COVID-19 pandemic in this case) for violation of government guidelines.
The show’s third season contestants including Manikuttan, Dimpal Bhal, Anoop Krishnan, Kidilam Firoz, Sai Vishnu, Rithu Manthra, Noby Marcos, and Ramzan Mohammed were shifted to a nearby hotel facility.
Although the six people who tested positive for the virus were not directly in contact with the contestants of the show, they are believed to have had direct interactions with other members of the production crew. All the six infected technicians have been quarantined since the sealing.
An official release from the channel airing the show stated that it would resume airing the episodes once the pandemic situation begins to improve (read the shooting ban is lifted).
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.
