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MGM president Daniel Taylor to resign
MUMBAI: Film and television studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), recently bought over by Sony and a consortium of investors, have announced that MGM president Daniel Taylor is resigning effective tomorrow (31 January).
A company release states that Taylor’s departure follows the completion of the first phase of MGM’s transition to its new business model as well as restructuring MGM’s operations.
MGM chairman and CEO Harry E. Sloan says, “Dan Taylor has done an excellent job in overseeing one of the most complex transactions ever completed by a Hollywood studio. Also, after the sale of MGM, Dan was successful in planning the implementation of the structural transition of our business operations, which was an incredibly difficult process. He has given us a clean slate to build a powerful content-driven, entertainment concern.”
Taylor says, “MGM has been a home to me and I feel privileged to have played a key role in overseeing this important assignment. I enjoyed the challenge of overseeing the transitional effort as well as restructuring all of MGM’s operations. I am proud that MGM is now in a position to be a competitive player in the new media landscape.”
If MGM is able to make that transition, and soon, one beneficiary, particularly on the film side, would be Sony Entertainment Television India. Set India is expected to launch its new English movie channel SetPix next month and as of now, it will be relying mainly on MGM for new blockbuster titles.
This is because the output deal that Sony pictures Entertainment currently has with HBO Asia (in which it is a 25 per cent stakeholder) remains unaffected. This means that SetPix will get to screen films from the SPE stable only after they have aired on HBO.
Set India CEO Sony Kunal Dasgupta admitted as much when he told Indiantelevision.com, “Sony will honour its commitment to HBO as a 25 per cent stakeholder.”
HBO country manager South Asia Shruti Bajpai also clarified that Sony’s new channel will not affect the existing output deal that HBO has with the studio. “HBO will continue to bring the biggest, the newest and the most Hollywood blockbusters to our viewers in India from all our partner studios, namely Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal and Sony Pictures Entertainment,” Bajpai said.
SetPix’ premiere television opportunities will come from MGM releases. Among the big MGM titles that will have their theatrical release in the course of 2006 are the new Bond film Casino Royale, the new Pink Panther movie as well as a new Rocky movie. MGM also has the critically acclaimed Capote, which is expected to get a best picture Oscar nomnation tomorrow evening.
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.
