News Headline
Epic launches wildlife and quiz shows to attract new viewers to the channel
MUMBAI: Epic channel will soon be launching a show on wildlife after experimenting with genres like mythology, sports, food, history, travel, culture etc. Additionally, mid-September will also see the launch of a new quiz show Epic India Quiz Challenge. The new shows are an attempt to garner new and different viewers.
In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Epic channel head – content & programming Akul Tripathi said, “At Epic we are trying to create or curate programming that caters to different interests. We have been providing content regarding infotainment in as many non-conventional ways as possible and we will continue to do that. We believe in the diversity of India and showcasing that through all type of programming categories that are available to us.”
Epic boasts of a vast content library including Raja Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan related to food category, Mid Wicket Tales with Naseeruddin Shah, Umeed India, Indian Martial Arts in the sports category, Ekaant, Road Less Travelled, Kahi Suni in the travel category, Devlok with Devdatt Patnik in the mythological genre, Regiment Diary, etc.
Tripathi mentioned that with every new type of program launch, a new set of audience joins the channel. “We are trying to reach out to different groups of audiences based on the kind of programmes they like watching, so that they come and sample the channel and then they realise that there is a lot more content for them.”
The channel in association with Rupa Publications also announced a long-term collaboration of adapting its TV shows into books. Following the success of Adrishya, and Khwabon Ka Safar, the partnership launched three books that are literary adaptations of Epic’s immensely popular series – Umeed India, Sharanam, and Dharmakshetra.
Tripathi said, “We have always been exploring on how we bring our stories to the larger audiences. Television offers a 24-hour window and a finite amount of catalogue. Compared to that, a book has a longer shelf life which can be referred to as and it adds a different dimension. All infotainment things we create are timeless in nature and having it in a book format adds to that timelessness dimension.”
The partnership with Rupa is a long-term sustained initiative to convert TV shows into books. The upcoming Epic India Quiz challenge will also be adapted in the book format.
The channel re-launched itself as an infotainment channel on July 2017 and Tripathi believes that the viewership of India-centric programmes has increased. “The genre has immense potential. There is a significant shift or increased interest of viewers to watch factual programming especially about the country which has been deprived to them via infotainment channels in the country because most of the programmes that we had have been skewed towards international content. This has opened up an entirely new genre of content for a lot of people who have seen this kind of content for the first time. The future is going to be about India-centric infotainment content,” opined Tripathi.
Epic is also striving to show content in other languages such as Tamil, Bengali and even English through its app. “I don’t see anybody else in this space doing this much for the infotainment-loving audience,” said Tripathi.
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.
