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‘Bindaas Challenge’ engages viewers of Udaya TV
MUMBAI: The Sun Network owned Kannada general entertainment channel (GEC) Udaya TV has been hosting a new quiz TV show. Christened Bindaas Challenge, it airs at 10:30pm from Monday to Friday in which viewers get prizes in response to correct answers to questions.
Created by Brain Share Creations, the show comes with the tag line ‘your win is guaranteed’, thus stating that every participant gets a prize in the form of either shopping vouchers or brands. Launched on 18 August, the entire series consist of 40 episodes, of which 20 have been shot.
Hosted by Chandana Devaraj, Bindaas Challenge has four sponsors Kanva Mart, Indus TMT, Sasi Soaps and Kurvez. Lucky viewers get prizes worth Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 while others get points that are accumulated and can make one a weekly or monthly winner. The consolidated mega winner of the entire series gets a Tata Nano. Questions are based on general knowledge. Viewers are then directed to go to the Facebook and YouTube pages to know their scores and winners of the quiz.
The production house says that the initial response has been to the tune of 75,000 responses. This is due to its intense promotion through social media, SMS and print media in Karnataka, being done by Innovative Advanced Media.
The programme is technically supported by cloud servers and IVR that can handle 9000 calls and 4 lakh SMS per second. The brainchild behind this show, Madhusudhan says that the USP is that the ratings can be analysed on the basis of the responses.
Targeted at viewers above 14 years of age, the set location is Bengaluru. Currently being telecast only on Udaya TV, talks are on to telecast it in the other south states as well.
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.
