News Broadcasting
Hindi movie channels to salute the spirit of freedom
MUMBAI: As television channels across the country brace the patriotic spirit by weaving special programming for the day, Zee Cinema and Star Gold will also air special shows on this occasion.
With a special line up of movies all through the day, Zee Cinema will kick off an all day festival ‘Maze Ki Azaadi’ with 16th December at 9 am, Ab Tumhare Havale Watan Saathiyon at 12:30 am, Tiranga at 4:30 pm and Indian at 8:30 pm.
‘Maze Ki Azaadi’ promises to keep its viewers glued to their television screens with not just a line up of films, but an equally entertaining song capturing the free human spirit. The song, ‘Aazad Hoon’ has been specially scripted, composed and executed in house and will air on the channel intermittently. It has been written by Viond Pandole, composed by Adil and sung by Deepak.
Also in line with the Independence Day spirit, Star Gold will bring three patriotic films back to back on 15 August, including Main Hoon Na (uncut version), Jo Bole So Nihal and Ab Tak Chappan as part of the ‘Watan Ke Rakshak Film Festival.’
The central theme of each movie attempts to capture issues pertaining to the law and order system, crime, injustice and terrorism, which of late has gripped the nation.
With its youthful fiery patriotism, Main Hoon Na (Uncut) will air at 1 pm, followed by the Sunny Deol starrer Jo Bole So Nihal at 5:25 pm while Nana Patekar’s Ab Tak Chappan, which tracks the story of a Mumbai police encounter specialist’s commitment to rid the system of its injustice will air at 9 pm.
To make the day even memorable, SaharaOne Television brings the world TV premiere of Bose, The Forgotten Hero. Directed by Shyam Benegal and produced by SaharaOne Motion Pictures, the movie stars Actor Sachin Khedekar in the lead role of Netaji. The lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar and the music score have been by A R Rehman.
The film is structured in three parts, named Itmad, Ittefaq and Qurbani after the motto of the Indian National Army. In the first, Bose escapes house arrest and tries to enter Russia through Afghanistan, the second shows his days in Germany (including a meeting with Hitler, and marriage to Emilie Schenkl), the formation of the Azad Hind Fauj made up of Indian prisoners of war in Germany and his journey to Japan in a submarine; the last shows his leadership of the Indian National Army, the battles and that fateful plane trip out of Saigon.
Bose…The Forgotten Hero will air on 15 August at 11 am.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
