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Gaurav Banerjee takes the hot seat at BARC India
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) managing director & CEO, Gaurav Banerjee has been named chairman of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. He replaces Shashi Sinha, whose two-year reign saw BARC go on a digital diet-adding smarter meters and deeper dives into premium households.
Banerjee, who cut his teeth as a journalist before climbing the content ladder at Star India and Disney+ Hotstar, is no stranger to the BARC ecosystem. In 2022, he sat on its technical committee during his stint with Disney Star-where he helped bulk up Hotstar’s Hindi and regional original slate, making viewers binge and advertisers grin.
At SPNI, Banerjee now drives the company’s strategy and operations, while juggling board roles at MSM-Worldwide Factual Media and Bangla Entertainment. Known for his editorial flair and boardroom savvy, his elevation to the BARC chair signals a continued bet on execs who straddle both streaming and broadcast worlds.
He takes charge just as the lines between TV and digital blur, and advertisers cry out for unified currency metrics. Expect Banerjee to double down on transparency, turbocharge tech upgrades and push into under-measured markets. With over 20 years in media, a master’s in filmmaking from Jamia, and a nose for what India wants to watch, he seems well-placed to script BARC’s next act.
Industry watchers will be looking to see if Banerjee sticks to Sinha’s reformist script—or flips the channel entirely. Either way, the remote is now firmly in his hands.
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.
