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Channels spread X’mas cheer with music ‘n movies
MUMBAI: Snow or no snow, Christmas is here to spread cheer, and channels are all set to celebrate.
While the pubcaster Doordarshan will relay a live religious telecast from Vatican, Zee English, Zee MGM, the music channels and even AXN has fun programmes charted out.
DD will telecast the midnight mass and Pope John Paul’s message this Christmas (Thursday).
The Christmas midnight mass will be telecast on the channel from Vatican City (Rome) from 4:25 am to 6:20 am on terrestrial mode. Pope John Paul’s Christmas message will air from 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm.
While Star’s English entertainment and English movie channel are airing routine fare on Christmas day, counterparts from the Zee Group have an action plan ready to celebrate the festival of joy.
Zee English will be airing four Christmas special episodes of sitcom Friends, back-to-back on 25 December from 7 pm to 9 pm.
The sitcom revolves around the friends – Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc – struggling to survive in the real world with their only solace being the companionship, comfort and support they get from each other. The special concludes with the currently airing Season Nine’s Christmas episodes starring guest star Selma Blair.
While it’s friendship and celebration on Zee English, the movie channel will be touting its latest movie acquisition Chicago at 9 pm tomorrow. Starring Rene Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah, this Rob Marshall directorial venture has won six awards at the Oscars 2003.
The movie is about Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) who is a married chorus girl with hopes of being a headliner in Vaudeville. Both she and Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), an headliner, have one thing in common; they are both murderess.
Roxie has killed her lover when he walked out on her and Velma has killed her husband and sister, who were having an affair. With Chicago’s newspapers spending a lot of ink on Velma affair, Roxie’s entry has her competing for press’ attention. That apart, both are in tussle for the attention of the suave lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere).
Viacom’s MTV has nothing special is store, ditto for B4U and Zee Music. Star’s Music arm meanwhile has Beyonce Knowles as its Christmas special.
While the swimsuit calendar should be out soon, Channel [V] gets the lady with the gorgeous tresses to dazzle the viewers in an electrifying live performance.
The former Destiny’s Child member singer-turned-actress, who is ridding high on her hit singles Dangerously In Love and Baby Boy will be rocking the airwaves at 7 pm.
As for Hindi entertainment channel, they are quite ‘thanda” this Christmas. It’s programming as usual on the channels barring few obscure reference to the festivities. One interesting show will be Simply Shekhar on Sab TV. Shekhar Suman will get the three reigning Miss India’s on his late night show on the Christmas day. Also Zee’s kids programme Magic Make-Up Box has loads of action, magic and twists filled in its Christmas special episode
As for action and adventure channel AXN, it has a seven day line up, a countdown to the New Year’s called Christmas Specials.
Starting 25 December with Are you Hot! Marathon, the other specials includes Extreme Variety, Holiday Movie Special, Guinness World Records: Primetime Mini Marathon, Feature Movie Package, the Action Icon Movie Package, Fear Factor Marathon, Extreme Variety, World’s Freakiest Food, Things You Have to See to Believe and David Blaine Magic rolled out one by one till new years.
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.
