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Channels make a Holi-day of it
MUMBAI: It’s Rang Barse time in tellydom.
The festival to celebrate the triumph of good over evil is here, and the television industry has different plans to celebrate the festival of colours.
While some have used Holi infuse more emotional drama there are others that have used it simply to add some colour to existing programmes.
While the protagonist of the afternoon show Kumkum, long sufferer of emotional turbulence – finally manages to cope up with the ever-volatile life story, is about to settle once more into marital bliss, Holi day will make her realise that her husband number two still has the hots for his ex-flame.
Another Star Plus production to telecast a special occasion for Holi is the desi take on Small Wonder, Karishma kaa karishma. The weekly aired on Fridays at 8:00 pm has a special episode on the spring time festival. Next in line is Picket Fences inspired Kehta hai Dil aired Tuesdays at 9:00 pm which has chalked out a ‘saas-bahu’ power tussle with Holi as the backdrop.
While ‘Dev’ of Des mein niklaa hoga chaand is dead for some few weeks now, grief-struck ‘Pammi’, the protagonist of the serial, in the midst of the Holi celebrations at a temple, gets delusions of his presence.
Not to be outdone, in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, ‘Parvati’ and ‘Avantika’, who have been at daggers drawn for some time now, will make up in a Holi sequence. Quite a colourful week at Star Plus, for sure.
The festival to celebrate the onset of spring seems an apt occasion to introduce a special thrill in Devi, the thriller aired every Friday at 9:00 pm on Sony too. The surprise hit of the season for the distant number two channel will air a Holi special with a special twist in the plot involving protagonist Vikram and Gayatri, say sources.
This Holi, Sabe TV too intends to go beyond the obvious depiction of the festival through their specially designed fillers.
The three fillers drive home the message that – Colours are not just seen but also felt. “We cannot say that the under privileged, the physically challenged say, the blind, cannot enjoy the festival. Holi is a state of mind and that is what we want to emphasise through these fillers, which are abstract, colourful and stark. The fun filled fillers play with music and colours to depict the theme,” says Sabe TV creative supervisor Shubhra Shandilya.
While the spirits at other channels may be subdued, Zee is all set to celebrate Holi in style. The channel has already begun to air Holi greetings on the channels. It stars all the lead character from serials Kittie Party, Lipstick, Miit, Astitva, dressed in white along with their respective cast members playing holi.
Music talent show Sa re ga ma pa will celebrate the festival of colours in traditional style with gulal. While the musical game show Sansui-Antakshari, which being airing women special all this month, will be airing a Holi special episode in its usual style.
Zee’s show catering urbane sensibilities Kittie Party has colourful Hawaiian theme kitty party episode as the Holi special. The show sports bright and colourful sets and stars in vibrant colours. Not to be outdone, Zee has also managed an Ariel detergent ad with lead protagonists of Lipstick. Novel tack, that.
MTV too has planned to air a line up of Holi songs. But in true MTV istyle, there might be some surpise Holi episodes featured in its popular shows.
Star’s music arm , Channel V has a filmi Holi planned. Channel [V] VJ Kim will be seen celebrating Holi with the Big B himself. She had visited the sets of Amitabh Bachchan latest film Baghban, co-staring Hema Malini, while they were shooting a Holi special songs to be aired exclusively on Channel [V].
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.
