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Colosceum gets Siddharth Anand Kumar on board
MUMBAI: It was in July that Lalit Sharma, who was part of the founding team with Ajit Andhare and Rajiv Lakshman, took charge as the CEO of Colosceum.
And since then he has been working hard to take the production house, which saw a few senior exits in the past couple of years, to greater heights because he believes it’s the work that matters as people come and go. In the last couple of months three new hires have been made to strengthen the production house’s top line management.
“We have already introduced Hitesh Bhatia and Vikrant Bharadwaj in the non-scripted space, and now we have got on board Siddharth Anand Kumar as scripted creative head,” says Sharma while adding that the main aim is to strengthen the team.
“People come and people go, but what really matters is the work. One should let the work talk,” adds Sharma.
The deal was negotiated by content and talent management company, Tulsea Pictures, which represents both Kumar and Colosceum.
Kumar studied filmmaking in Hampshire College in USA and has worked as a freelance cinematographer and editor for several film and TV projects. He has worked as an assistant to Mira Nair during the making of Kamasutra (1995), as DOP and editor for Bobby Bedi during the production of the TV series Rajdhani (2000), and as the executive producer for Shekhar Kapur’s company Digital Talkies during which he oversaw the production of two feature films and the country’s first International Digital Film Festival (2001).
He has directed two films: Let’s Enjoy (2004), a film about a Delhi farmhouse party and Semshook (2010), a coming of age story set in the Tibetan exile community while his TV projects include Seven and Khotey Sikkey by Yash Raj Films on Sony and Mahabharat by Swastik Pictures on Star Plus.
Kumar states, “With various popular shows as part of their existing show reel, Colosceum has already started to establish its superiority in the Hindi GEC space. I am confident that my partnership with Colosceum will result in some exceptional fiction television content for India to watch. I am enthusiastically looking forward to working with Colosceum and to take its fiction shows to the next-level as ‘must-watch’ Indian television.”
Currently, producing Splitsvilla, the production house prouds itself of multi-seasonal properties for both youth channels and GECs. “With more and more GECs concentrating on younger audiences, the line separating the content between the two is thinning and GECs too want to attract younger eyeballs,” highlights Sharma. He credits his young-blooded team as well as experienced research team for grasping the new trends amongst youngsters and used those insights to create popular shows.
On International production houses making a mark in the Indian television industry, Sharma feels that the competition is healthy. “It is important as through these companies we get an exposure of how they work.”
The year (2013) Andhare left, the company did have to face a tough time, but things have improved now and business is only growing. The production house is already in talks with various broadcasters for new shows which will go air in the near future.
Apart from that, it is also concentrating in building the film arm and the next six months could see some good news.
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.
