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ISB&M, MAMI to host SIGMA 2003 in Mumbai
MUMBAI: The International School of Business and Media (ISB&M) is organising Sigma 2003, a media seminar in collaboration with MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) as part of their sixth International Film Festival.
Sigma will be held on 24 – 25 November at the Hotel Grand Intercontinental in Mumbai from 9 am to 7 pm. ISB&M will be the first media institute to collaborate with MAMI for their festival.
MAMI film festivals have over the years been a great meeting point for professionals to keep abreast with the best films internationally, as also discuss emerging trends in the industry.
The conference will attended by eminent personalities from the media sector such as Ronnie Screwvala (CEO, UTV), Alex de Grunwald (Production Manager of the Academy Award winning film, Gandhi), Akash Khurana (CEO, Nimbus), Manmohan Shetty (Chairman NFDC), Thomas Abraham (managing editor, Indiantelevision.com), Vikramjit Roy (Head, PR and Acquisitions Columbia Tristar), Rajat Kapoor (actor and theatre personality), Ajit Menon (MD, Dean – Pielle Communications) and many more.
The buzzword today is corporatisation and branding in the media industry, thus this seminar is organised at an appropriate time. For an established film production center – Mumbai, and a recently acquired official ‘industry’ status, it would be necessary to appreciate a whole gamut of new concepts, which are a norm abroad. Enhanced ‘Corporatisation’ is the need of the hour and over the last couple of years India has seen some positive results of this growing trend. Practices such as backward and forward integration from core competence, completion guarantee bonds, strategising market with merchandising etc. need to gain currency in the film industry’s day-to-day vocabulary.
Beyond doubt, filmmakers and technicians, who throng the MAMI festival in ever increasing numbers, would find Sigma 2003 worth while, invigorating and even necessary to their very practice.
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.
