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Madhavi Mutatkar turns independent software producer
MUMBAI: Former Zee TV president and Doordarshan longtimer Madhavi Mutatkar is back to her first love, content creation.
Mutatkar has launched an independent production company, Impact Vision, that is in the process of creating at least three serials for DD Sahyadri. Mutatkar, who was with Doordarshan Mumbai for over 15 years before moving on to Zee TV, where she helped launch nine channels, is now working on a series that focuses on children and habits shaped during their formative years. The Marathi series will have a celebrity talking about his or her own childhood habits, followed by a dramatised version of bad habits and their aftermath. “A mix of reality and fictionalisation is important for a child to imbibe values,” says Mutatkar.
She has already finished shooting two docudramas that are to be aired shortly. One on Savitribai Phule, the pioneer of women’s education in India and the other portrays the life of Sane Guruji, the pioneer of children’s literature and education.
Another serial due to come up shortly on DD Sahyadri, deals with parenting in the present world. Instead of panel discussion on the subject, the series will cover touchy topics like sibling rivalry and puberty through short stories. Each episode could have a child psychologist or an eminent personality from the field of child development as an anchor, says Mutatkar.
She has also finalised a deal with DD Sahyadri to create a series on the stories of women victimised at home and work, in association with the Maharashtra State Commission for Women. Tentatively titled Saakshi, the show is likely to be a DD inhouse production.
Impact Vision is also set to launch an English feature film, based on a ‘very Indian theme’. Scripted by Gajra Kottary, the film is essentially aimed at the international market, says Mutatkar. Scheduled for a 2004 launch, the film will either be dubbed in Hindi or shot as a bilingual movie, she says.
Impact Vision, founded by Mutatkar, is also currently working as a media strategist for corporates, conceptualising and creating television campaigns for the companies it works with.
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.
