News Headline
Optimystix re-opens ad film unit
MUMBAI: Optimystix Entertainment India Pvt Ltd, a multi genre content company is all set to re-open its advertising film production unit.
In fact, director Sanjiv Sharma, along with music director Leslie Lewis, both with a track record of more than 1,000 commercials, have already shot their first commercial for Donear, a leading textile brand.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com on the new venture, Sharma said, “After a three year break we’re again getting into ad film making. It will not be a separate company but the unit will function under the Optimystix banner.”
He further added, ‘In terms of resource allocation, my writer director Vipul Shah will be overseeing the scripts and Rajeev Vyas will be looking into the business side of it. And like in our television projects there will both be a business and a creative head.”
Sharma actually comes from a background in ad films and had started Palette Communications Pvt Ltd in 1987. He went on to do many successful ad film campaigns with Maruti Udyog, Hindustan Lever, Shaw Wallace and Pepsi Foods, amongst others. It was in 2000 that he, along with writer director Vipul Shah, started Optimystix.
Adds Sharma, “Most of the people we have with us have dabbled in both the genres; advertising as well as TV production. Earlier, we had diverted people and resources from Pallete into TV production and now we’ll be using the same for TV commercials.”
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.
