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Colors Kannada to launch three primetime shows; earmarks Rs 3 crore for marketing
MUMBAI: With a view to up the entertainment quotient in the prime time band of 9 – 10 pm, the leader in the Kannada general entertainment channels’ space, Colors Kannada is planning to launch three new shows in February.
The channel has earmarked a budget of Rs 3 crore on the marketing campaign of all three shows.
While the two fiction shows are titled Om Shakti Om Shanti and Manedevru and will go on air on 8 February, the channel will also launch the second season of the non-fiction show Super Minute on 13 February.
The channel has brought on board Emami as the co-powered by sponsor for the game show Super Minute season 2, whereas Manedevru is powered by GRB. The channel is in advance stages of negotiations with a brand for Om Shakti Om Shanti.
Super Minute season 2 will be hosted by Kannada actor Ganesh. The show, which is an adaptation of the international format Minute To Win, will be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm.
Om Shakti Om Shanti will be aired from Monday – Friday at 9 pm and tells the saga of revenge, whereas Manedevru produced by Kannada actor Power Star Punit Rajkumar will occupy the 9.30 pm slot on the channel. The show depicts the tale of Janaki, a na?ve simple girl from a quaint village who is offered the hand of an NRI in marriage but destiny seems to deal her another hand altogether.
Colors Kannada business head Parameshwara Gundkal said, “We understand the wants of the Kannadiga viewers’ heart and mind… From getting Ganesh to host the much loved Super Minute to building an ensemble cast and weaving an intriguing plot for our fiction dailies, Colors Kannada strives to push the envelope by offering its viewers compelling content that keeps them glued to their TV screens daily. Our three new shows promise to entertain our loyal viewers in the 9 – 10 pm primetime band throughout the week.”
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Colors Kannada, Colors Bangla and Colors Odiya project head Ravish Kumar added, “Super Minute season 2 returns with double the entertainment and double the fun. The idea behind adapting the show from an international game Minute To Win was to come up with light hearted games, where everyone in the family will enjoy and play together. The idea was to build a family connection.”
Last year Super Minute witnessed one common man facing off with a celebrity to win the prize money. However in the new season there will be a new twist, where seven contestants will battle against each other in the first stage. These contestants will be from different walks of life and the winners from amongst the seven will get a chance to play in the second stage with the celebrity. With each game that the common man and the celebrity play, the money in the tree will be scaled up and the final reward will be then given to the common man. The format is owned by Endemol Shine and the show will run for 12-13 weeks.
Colors Kannada will promote the three new shows through radio and television targeting news channels like TV9 in big way. Apart from this, the shows will be promoted via the outdoor medium through hoardings in Karnataka. The channel is also targeting close to 30 lakh people through SMS blast. Super Minute season 2 will also be promoted in print through a half page ad in Vijay Vani magazine. The channel will also take to social media to touch a chunk of the audience.
Speaking on the channel’s leadership position in the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India ratings data, Kumar opined that being the number one channel was great but staying in the position was difficult. “In order to stay in the lead, one needs to have great strategies. Our strategy is to satisfy our consumers by experimenting and innovating with new content, which will be entertaining for the audience. Furthermore, we will continue to give viewers a great mix of reality content – both in Indian and international formats. Our motive is to bring the best for our audiences.”
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.
