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Etc Punjabi to scout for musical talents
MUMBAI: Seems like star hunts are the order of the day. So while the Hindi mass channels are gearing up to launch their versions of talent hunts, Etc Punjabi promises to launch the biggest musical talent hunt in Punjab.
Touted as one of the most popular channels in Punjab, Etc Punjabi’s next mission is to scout for the next superstar of Punjabi music through its programme, Pepsi Ban Ja Stara Yaara II.
The massive two-month long exercise has already started with the channel inviting all budding singers to send in their entries along with a sample of their voice in an audio cassette.
According to ETC Punjab president Rabindra Narayan was quoted in a company release as saying, “It is our constant endeavor to discover and nurture new singing talent in Punjab and put them on the national and international stage.”
According to the statement, a unique feature of the hunt is its ability to reach the maximum number of people all over Punjab. Besides calling in the entries, the channel has also made provisions for aspiring singers living in remote areas of Punjab to enter the contest by simply calling up 309 and recording their voices on the phone.
The channel will also start mobile recording van services. The vans will be traveling all over Punjab to enable people to enter the contest.
Sponsored by Pepsi and co-sponsored by Ajit, Whirpool, Music Today and Alpha TV Punjabi, the contest is based on a rigorous process of selection. Out of the thousands of entries received, 100 contestants will be screened and called for auditions.
The auditions will be held by Punjabi music director Atul Sharma at his studio in Chandigarh, says the release. Out of these 100 aspiring singers, 24 will be selected to progress to the semi final stage. These 24 will be provided extensive grooming and training by Sharma before the semi-finals.
The semis will be four mega events to be held in Bhatinda, Amritsar, Jalandhar and for the first time in the city of Jammu on 21, 24, 27 and 30 May, respectively.
Says Etc channel Punjabi vice-president, programming, Rajiee M Shinde, “For the first time an event of this stature is being held in the city of Jammu, as part of our continuing effort to cater to the huge popularity of Punjabi music even outside Punjab.”
The entire process from the semi final stage onwards will be judged a set of jury, including likes of famous singers like Hans Raj Hans, Sardool Sikander and Dolly Guleria, apart from Punjab’s most famous lyricist Shamsher Sandhu and music director Sharma.
The semi finals will feature performance by some of the biggest names in the business, including Mika, Malkit Singh, Jazzy B, Amrinder Gill, Rani Randeep, Pammi Bai and Sarbjit Cheema.
The grand finale will be held at Ludhiana on 4 June, where the new star of Punjabi music will be crowned and will get a chance to record an album with Music Today.
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.
