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Raj TV Telugu COO Swapna Sundari moves to Sun Group
MUMBAI: She is one of the leading ladies in the Telugu news market and not to forget a classical singer as well. After a three month stint at Raj TV Network as its Telugu market COO, Swapna Sundari has decided to shift to the popular Kalanidhi Maran run giant Sun Group.
She joined as a consultant for the Sun group yesterday and viewers of leading Telugu GEC Gemini TV will be able to catch her every night at 10:30 pm on its new show Newsroom. The show will be a political discussion that has been timed to suit the election mood in the country. “Sun is a wonderful group to work with. The assignments are exciting and since elections are soon approaching it will be enriching to work during this time,” says Swapna.
Her decision to leave the company comes in the wake of Raj TV Network’s delay in relaunching its Telugu bunch of channels. Although the network targets a March relaunch, Swapna has decided to focus on the upcoming election season through the new show on Gemini TV. The show, she adds, may stick around even after the elections are done.
The strategy to place the news show at a late night slot on a GEC is a strategic move by the Sun group to get viewers hooked to it. Gemini TV also claims to have the best distribution in Andhra Pradesh.
Prior to Raj TV, Swapna was executive editor at Sakshi TV. Apart from this, she has also worked with TV9 and Reliance ADAG’s FM department.
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.
