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IPL: Sony will have Telugu, Tamil & Bengali feeds, non-committal on Sidhu
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India is planning to inject adrenaline into the 10th season of the annual cricket fever beginning 5 April.
Having over 361 million viewers glued to the screens during the last season, Sony network will continue to have Telugu feed for this year’s edition as well. The broadcaster this year aims to sustain the viewership growth by continuing the Hindi, Tamil and Bengali feeds as well.
The English feed will be available on Sony Six channels whereas the Telugu, Tamil, Bengali and Hindi feeds will be available on Sony ESPN channels. Sony Max will exclusively air the Hindi feed.
SPNI EVP and business head of the Sports Cluster Prasana Krishnan said that IPL was the most successful start-up in the history of sport. IPL was an ode to viewers and fans and local flair resonated better with the IPL followers, Krishnan said.
If Navjot Singh Sidhu (now a minister) would be part of the team, Krishnan said that was a decision the government of Punjab would take. He said they would love to have him as he was one of the most popular faces and voices. This year, the six-member panel of commentators will include former international cricketers Venugopala Rao and Venkatapathy Raju, besides former Andhra and Deccan Chargers paceman Kalyan Krishna. Backing the trio will be P. Chandrasekhar, Sudheer Mahavadi, and C. Venkatesh.
Krishnan played down competition from other global cricket leagues. There was no evidence of IPL slowing down, he remarked. The viewership in India is about 25 times that of other leagues, he added.
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.
