News Headline
Colors Bangla to launch ‘Great Music Gurukul’ from 13 Apri
KOLKATA: Bengali general entertainment channel (GEC) Colors Bangla (erstwhile ETV Bangla) is all set to launch a non-fiction musical show called Great Music Gurukul. Premiering on 13 April, the show will air every Monday to Wednesday from 9-10 pm.
The development comes in light of the ETV regional general entertainment channels being re-branded as Colors by Viacom18.
On the day of the show’s launch, 32 contestants, who have already proved their mettle, will come together for the year’s biggest musical face-off. Four renowned singers have been roped in as mentors to guide the contestants in their battle to win the show.
The mentors including Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Javed Ali and Bengal’s music composer and singer Jeet Ganguly will guide 24 singers, who will make it to the main rounds.
The show has been produced by Frames.
The top 24 will then be selected by the mentors to represent their respective ‘Gharanas’. With elimination each week, the top 10 contestants will be then vying for public votes for the winning title.
Colors Bangla and Colors Odiya channel head Sujay Kutty said, “A musical show that resonates with Bengali music lovers is an apt marker to flag off this journey. Great Music Gurukul is sure to strike a chord amongst Bengali viewers of all ages.”
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.
