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Sab to ride on ‘Idol’ success with ‘Indian Idol Taka Tak’
MUMBAI: When you’re a part of the number two television network in the country, you would definitely want to piggyback on the channel’s success or at least on one of its popular properties.
And that is exactly what Sony Entertainment Television India’s new baby Sab is looking at doing. Come January and Sab will be airing an exclusive behind-the-scenes show on the Indian Idol finalists titled Indian Idol Taka Tak.
The half-hourly Indian Idol Taka Tak will be aired on Sab from 10 January at 9:30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is immediately after the Indian Idol episode ends on Sony. (The latter airs from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm).
The second season of Indian Idol, which launched on Sony in November, will crown its second Indian Idol towards the end of April 2006.
Speaking exclusively to Indiantelevision.com, Sab senior vice president and business head Vikas Bahl says, “A whole lot of elements are a part of Indian Idol, the winners, the losers, their emotions and the changes galore that take place in their lives. It is a very tight format and there is a limited amount that the viewer can see on the show. Keeping this in mind, we decided to launch this behind-the-scenes show, which will aim at drawing mileage from the happenings on Indian Idol. We saw enough scope in it to launch an entirely separate show around it.”
Indian Idol Taka Tak will revolve around the final 12 contestants of the show. “We believe this will drive a serious amount of traffic on the channel and provide a funnel to us in terms of getting new audiences and sampling on Sab,” says Sab marketing head Ajay Modgil.
The show will be promoted via a small film that will essentially encompass funny and light hearted moments. “The promotions will be in accordance with the beliefs that the channel stands for, which is light hearted entertainment. Sab is targeted at the Indian heartland and all our programming and marketing efforts will be targeted at addressing that audience,” Modgil adds.
Miditech, which is producing Indian Idol, will also be producing Indian Idol Taka Tak. However Aman Yatan Verma and Mini Mathur (the hosts of Indian Idol) will not host the Sab show. “The show’s host has not yet been decided upon but we are in talks with a couple of top ranking television celebrities,” informs Modgil.
While Indian Idol is definitely a winner among audiences, it won’t come as much of a surprise if Indian Idol Taka Tak follows big brother’s footsteps and becomes equally popular.
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.
