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NetGuru to work on two Tagore poems in 2D animation
NEW DELHI: NetGuru India, a division of the Nasdaq listed NetGuru, is working on a new 2D animation VCD series based on two poems of Rabrindranath Tagore.
The Kolkata-based animation and digital content company had a tie up with Visva Bharati for copyrights of production and retailing of famous literature from Tagore.
NetGuru, which had forayed into animation earlier this year with a Bengali animation series on the Panchatantra tales, is working on Tagore’s two poems Devatar and Puratanbhrittya in the new VCD.
NetGuru India’s COO Suranjan Bhanja said, “The new VCD’s title is yet to be decided. It is expected to be out in the market in two months’ time. It will be launched in Bengali but gradually we will introduce this in English as well.”
In association with Visva Bharati, NetGuru had produced a VCD, titled Sisu on three poems of Tagore earlier this year. The three poems depicted through 2D animation were The Hero (Birpurush), The Little Big Man (ChotoBoro) and The Champa Flower (Lukochori).
Besides Sisu, NetGuru had also launched Aparajita Bani, the audio CD containing a collection of a number of Tagore’s songs, sung by Santidev Ghosh.
“We market these CDs through our e-commerce portal netguruIndia.com. Besides this, we have tie-ups with music shops and retail outlets. Our parent company in the U S manages the overseas sales and in the foreign markets, we basically target non-resident Indians worldwide,” added Bhanja. The company also hopes to attract people who are interested in teaching their children about Indian literature and culture.
NetGuru, which had launched the Panchatantra animation series in Bengali, has dubbed the same in English, Tamil, Gujarati and Telugu. “After regional languages, dubbing in Hindi is in the pipeline” said Bhanja.
NetGuru is also currently in touch with countries in the Far East for production work from Japanese and Korean studios. “We had negotiations with these countries but due to the SARS scare, these couldn’t materialise. With Indian studios being chosen for outsourcing of work, we are keen on expanding our clientele from this region,” he added.
NetGuru’s AXA Team 2D and AXAweb software offers full-service animation for corporate users as well as the animation industry.
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.
