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Film starring TV star Shraddha Nigam wins awards
MUMBAI: A film starring TV stars and stage actors has been appreciated by international audiences in the US and has bagged awards. The film is The Truth Yathhaarth starring Raghubir Yadav, Milind Gunaji and Shraddha Nigam (TV serials such as Choodiyaan and Krishna Arjun) amongst others.
The listed company which has made this film is Giriraj Music and Media Exim (GMME). GMME managing director Rajesh Sheth has already announced his forthcoming venture: “We have commenced production of the new film Wonderful Moments starring Kabir Bedi’s son Adam Bedi. Our effort will be make meaningful feature films,” adds Sheth. Incidentally, the movie will also star TV stars Nishigandha Wad and Ashok Banthia.
Meanwhile, Sheth has acknowledged the efforts of the TV and theatre stars who were responsible for ensuring that the first film The Truth Yathhaarth won awards. The film has won the Four Race O.I.L awards 2002 on the national front; in addition to awards at the Publifilm April Film Festival (New York) and Riverrun International Film Festival (Salem, North Carolina in the US).
Sheth says: “The film got standing ovation and was also hailed by the media in the whole of US. The film won these honours amongst the two hundred odd films which had been invited from all over the world. In fact, the film was screened again on 27 April 2003 due to critics’ and public demand.”
GMME will hope that Wonderful Moments will do an encore and repeat the success of The Truth Yathharth!
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.
