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Broadcasters kick off Diwali celebrations, announce special programming
Mumbai: This Diwali festival, broadcasters have announced a strong line-up of shows to win a significant share of TV viewing that will take place over the four-day long weekend starting from 4 November. Ranging from marquee reality shows to blockbuster films, TV channels have left no stone unturned to attract eyeballs.
General entertainment shows
Star India network will air beloved programs such as “Dance+” season six on Star Plus, “Bigg Boss Diwali special” on Star Maa and Star Vijay, mythological series “Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki” on Star Bharat, “Me Honar Superstar Jallosh Dancecha” on Star Pravah and “Comedy Stars” on Asianet.
Zee Tamil will air a one-and-a-half-hour special of “Olimayamana Ethirkalam” on 4 November at 7 a.m. This will be followed by “Diwali Special Pattimandram” at 9 a.m. This will be followed by a special two-hour episode of “Survivor- Naanga Vera Maathiri” at 10:30 a.m and special program “Mega Thala Diwali” at 4 p.m.
Viacom18’s regional entertainment channels will entertain viewers with Diwali specials that celebrate the themes of the festival. Colors Bangla will air “Sangeet Er Muhajuddho” where the theme for this weekend will be a piano special. It will also air episodes of the fiction series “Mon Mane Na.”
Colors Tamil will present fiction shows like “Amman 2,” “Abhi Tailor,” “Sillunu Oru Kaadhal” and the channel’s acclaimed shows “Enga Veetu Meenakshi” and “Idhayathai Thirudathey 2.” On the non-fiction front, there will be engrossing performances on its show “Dance vs Dance” season two and a special music show “Voice of Legends.”
Colors Marathi channel will air special episodes of “Bigg Boss Marathi” and air special episodes of its fiction shows “Jeev Maza Guntala” and “Raja Ranichi Ga Jodi.”
Zee Café, &Flix and &PrivéHD will air some of the most beloved Korean dramas on TV including titles such as “Boys Over Flowers,” “Descendants Of The Sun,” and “Bread, Love And Dreams” on the weekends.
Movies
On Star India network’s movie channels blockbusters like “The Big Bull,” “Mimi,” “Hungama 2,” and “Bhuj: The Pride of India” will air on Star Gold. Hollywood hits such as “Disney’s Frozen 2,” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” “The Empty Man,” and “A Welcome Home Christmas” will be telecasted on Star Movies.
&pictures will showcase the premiere of Rana Dagubatti’s “Haathi Mere Saathi” on 7 November.
Zee Tamil will air the Dhanush starrer “Karnan” on 4 November at 12:30 p.m and the world TV premiere of “Dikkiloona” at 6 p.m.
Tamil movie channel Zee Thirai has lined up the crime thriller “Kavalthurai Ungal Nanban” on 3 November at 7 p.m and “Ka/Pe Ranasingam” on 4 November at 7 p.m.
Colors Tamil has announced a line-up of films that will be telecast every day starting from 1 November at 1:30 p.m. These include “Uththaravu Maharaja,” “Meendum Oru Mariyadhai,” “Chasing,” “Magamuni,” and “Devadas Brothers.”
Times Network’s English movie channels including Movies Now, MN+, MNX and Romedy Now have also announced a power packed movie line-up for Diwali. Some of the movies that will be featured include “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Spiderman: Far From Home,” “Zombieland: Double Tap,” “Rain Man,” “Raging Bull,” “Irma La Douce,” and “Fly Me To The Moon.”
Kids’ entertainment shows
POGO will premiere their new show “Krishna Aur Kans” and air special episodes of “Smashing Simmba” “Titoo” and “Shaktimaan.” Cartoon Network aired “The Tom and Jerry Show” Dusshra special on 18 October and will be airing fresh episodes of the program during the festival weekend.
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.
