News Headline
Good Times with New shows
MUMBAI: With slicker look, crazier anchors and edgier shows, NDTV Good Times has come up with a slew of new shows to reach out to Gen Y. To suit its rebranding last year of ‘#LiveYoung’, the channel has come with two new food shows FoodMad and Veggistan in July.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, NDTV Good Times’ channel head Aarti Singh says, “With an increasingly maturing lifestyle space in India which is at an inflection point and as pioneers in that space, we redefined the lifestyle entertainment category codes and now we cater to the youth. We are where the youth and young-at-heart consumers are.”
Launched on 26 July, Veggistan is a 100 per cent vegetarian cookery show spread across 52 episodes and hosted by chef Ajay Chopra. Produced by Ttweetyy Production, a Bengaluru based production house owned by Gopal Kulkarni, the theme based show will highlight the lifestyle of the youth in India. The show will focus on themes such as Quick Veg Bites, Mango Special, Independence Day Special, Monsoon Special etc. It airs every Sunday at 7pm.
FoodMad is a 17 episode series where Rocky and Mayur take the audience to best joints across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, while savouring everything from biryani to kebabs to street food to bar food. Restaurants include Soi7, Smokeys, Fat Lulu’s, Assam Bhavan, Karim’s, The Table, Meghana Biryani, Rajdhani etc. FoodMad is an in-house production, airing every Saturday at 9pm.
As the channel caters to the youth and urban Indian, the marketing and promotions of the shows were done mainly by on-ground events and digital platforms. FoodMAD magazine ads can be spotted in the August issue of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Health and Nutrition, Stardust, Travel Plus and Outlook Traveler. The channel also organised a ‘blogger’s meet’ to launch Veggistan, wherein Chopra cooked 3 easy-to-make delicious vegetarian dishes with various food bloggers.
Commenting on the promotional strategy for the shows, Singh says, “We always make sure that we leverage and communicate our expertise; online, on-ground, print, web and everything in between. On-ground show promotion took place in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata via branded cabs plying around the cities.” Campaigns will run on Oye FM and Zomato for the promotion of the two shows.
Talking about the cost involved in promotion of these shows, Singh says,” Show promotions are planned at par with the production cost.”
The sponsor list of FoodMAD includes Dettol as presenting sponsor, Ask Me and Hike as powered by sponsors, Rooh Afza, Zomato and Tempo as other sponsors. Veggistan is powered by Monini Olive oil.
News shows that will go on air within the next three months include Best Sandwich of America, You Got Magic, Cutthroat Kitchen, Kingfisher Supermodels.
The channel says that while it has skewed younger as a brand, it found that youth is a mindset and not a segment. Says Singh, “Content that is young-at-heart and dynamic has an appeal across segments and demographics. Our focus has always been multi-platform content creation, and we will continue to do that as we reach across to our consumers through all platforms.”
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.
