News Headline
Production house Symphony to enter marketing, airtime sales
MUMBAI: The newly formed Thiruvananthapuram-based production house Symphony Entertainment Private Ltd is currently chalking out its expansion plans. The company, promoted by former Kairali TV COO V Krishnakumar, will get into marketing and airtime sales by October 2005.
“Apart from production, we are getting into commercial deals with channels for marketing programmes. We might pick up a weak property and market it in a better way. We will take up airtime sales also at a later stage,” says Krishnakumar.
Symphony Entertainment was formed with an initial investment of Rs.10 million. Krishnakumar, who is also the managing director, holds the controlling stake of about 50 per cent in the company. The Kerala government promoted Kerala Venture Capital Fund has 40 per cent stake in the company while the rest of the stake holders include Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, media personality Sashi Kumar and author Paul Zacharia.
Symphony, which kickstarted its production activities in June, has been using the Mohanlal-owned Vismaya Studio. According to Krishnakumar, the company has completed the first phase of its maiden venture Melody, a musical programme.
Melody will go air in August in Surya TV. The weekly has been slotted for Saturday primetime.
“We are bringing veteran singer Hariharan for the first time on TV in Malayalam with this show. Melody will also feature singers like Usha Utuppu, Chitra, Markose, Jayachandran and Janaki. Since we are using all the mainline artists, the production cost is very huge,” says Krishnakumar.
Apart from the musical programme, Symphony is planning to cover genres including current affairs and comedy this year though it has no immediate plans to produce soaps.
“Our target is to get our shows featured in all the Malayalam channels by 2005-end,” says Krishnakumar.
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.
