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Colors Tamil ropes in six sponsors for ‘Kodeeswari’; premiere on Dec 23
MUMBAI: Colors Tamil and Studio Next are all set to premiere the all-women edition of ‘Kodeeswari’ from December 23 at 8 pm onwards every Monday to Friday. The show has also roped in brands like Nippon Paint, Arun Excello and RIN along with Kotak Mahindra Bank as Banking Partner and Tamil Matrimony App and Helo App as Special Partners.
Kodeeswari is produced by Studio Next, the production house of Sony Pictures Networks. Studio Next holds the license of the format, for all Indian languages and has produced more than 1,800 episodes of the show across nine languages.
“The Tamil market is an incubator for path-breaking content, be it in films, art, print or television. COLORS Tamil has, since its inception, pushed the boundary in terms of innovative content – through the stories we tell and through the way we tell them,” said Viacom18 regional entertainment cluster head Ravish Kumar adding, “How apt a homage to the culture and ethos of this market that one of the world’s most successful format shows ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ will go in for a global first with an all-women version on COLORS Tamil. Because we at COLORS Tamil believe that hearts which beat for others, should not forget to beat for themselves.”
Expressing delight on putting together such a purposeful show said COLORS Tamil business head Anup Chandrasekharan, “It gives us great pleasure to put together this experiential stage that will empower women who are smart, aware and knowledgeable. We have had an overwhelming participation from the Tamil speaking women across the nation whose life stories are heroic in their own unique way. While the format of the game remains unchanged, our endeavour is to encourage strong-willed women to challenge stereotypes and emerge victorious. We are happy to have on-boarded the indomitable superstar Radikaa Sarathkumar in this journey who will multitask as a host, a friend and a guide.”
The popular television game format will see host Radikaa Sarathkumar quiz contestants on the Hot Seat 15 questions with prize money ranging from ₹1000 to ₹1 crore. If a contestant successfully answers all 15 questions correctly, she will be awarded a prize money of Rs 1 crore. During the play the contestants get to take 4 help-lines namely, 50-50, Audience Poll, Ask the Expert and Flip to survive through the game.
Radikaa Sarathkumar who has over 300 films across several languages to her credit said on hosting a distinctive concept like Kodeeswari, “The thought of making an ordinary woman a ‘Kodeeswari’ is extremely gratifying. Forty years back when I had made my debut, I too had dreams in my heart and small desires which grew over the years which I fulfilled with my work and I can see the same vision in each of these contestants.
And I am glad that this platform is there for them to take a huge leap in fulfilling their dreams and desires.”
On this occasion, Studio Next head Indranil Chakraborty said, “This year Studio Next is completely in charge of this iconic show across the languages, making Tamil the 6th launch for the year 2019. While the game has been evolving through the years, this is the first time we are going to have an all women contestant show in Kodeeswari. This season will give all the women a great opportunity to take the front seat and drive their
dreams forward with their knowledge.”
COLORS Tamil viewers can now download the VOOT app and Watch, Play Along and Win every day! This time around VOOT – India’s 2nd biggest premium AVOD platform, gives the digital audiences a chance to not only win Gold Coins everyday with “Watch and Play Kodeeswari on VOOT” but also gives them a shot at reaching the Kodeeswari Hotseat – a real time opportunity for highly engaged fans to reach the Hot Seat via VOOT’s interactivity gameplay. Upping the entertainment experience further for the digital natives, VOOT will also bring to life exclusive videos showcasing the contestants stories.
Leaving no stone unturned for the promotion of the show, COLORS Tamil has designed a 360-degree marketing and promotional campaign with touchpoints across On-ground, Outdoor, Radio, Print, Cross channel and Digital.
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.
