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Huge on ground activity around ‘Spiderman 2’
MUMBAI: One of the biggest films of the year Spiderman 2 will swing in to cinemas on 23 July. Columbia Tristar is pulling out all the stops to generate buzz.
On the ground it will put up 100 hoardings across the country. In Mumbai, it is looking at tying with Cafe Mocha in Juhu. Here you will have Spiderman sitting on the roof. It will also have a hoarding made of fibre glass in the suburb.
On television it has promotions with among others the action oriented AXN. The Spiderman logo started appearing on top of the channel yesterday and will stay there for a few more days. The broadcaster is also running a contest. Merchandise is being handed out like umbrellas, T-shirts, beach towels. The on air promotion leads into the Spiderman website.
Columbia Tristar is also using the huge youth marketing pull of Mtv. The broadcaster is running promos and spots. It also having a contest wherein the winner is flown for the London premiere. In Mumbai the studio is also planning a star studded glittering premiere normally reserved for Hindi movies.
The studio is also planning major in cinema promotions. While walking up the staircase for instance patrons looking up will be able to see Spiderman. One of the studio’s partners on the movie- Kelloggs is running a school programme. A kit is given to school children, who buy a Chocos pack. This will contain a crossword puzzle, a Spidey game, labels.
Another partner, Sony Ericsson will push the film through in store visibility and its new digital camera called Cybershot. The company will conduct retail activity in shopping malls.
The question that arises is why Columbia Tristar did not go in for a same day same date release as the US. Warner had done this for the third Harry Potter movie. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Columbia TriStar Films of India publicity and acquisitions head Vikramjit Roy said, “We wanted to cash in the buzz that Spiderman 2 got in the US. It has made $40.5 million on the opening day which is a record. The first movie had made $39.4 million.”
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.
