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SET India looking to revive IPO plans
NEW DELHI: With conditional access all but consigned to limbo bar an official announcement, television companies have started turning their attention to other issues.
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India, a joint venture between Columbia TriStar, a Sony company, and a clutch of Indian shareholders, is all set to restart the process of preparing for an initial public offer (IPO) in India.
Even while pointing out that the climate for an IPO is still “not good”, SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta maintained, “We have been so busy with CAS for the last seven or eight months, that we could not concentrate on the (IPO) issue. Now that things have cleared (aroound CAS), work will start on it.”
According to Dasgupta, before an IPO is done, detailed background work has to be completed, including building up of business and the financial performance of the company. “With CAS almost behind us, there was total confusion; now we can concentrate on our work,” Dasgupta said.
He informed that before an IPO takes place, SET’s Indian entity would have to merge with the Singapore entity, which is the actual broadcasting company. This would enable the valuation of the company to go up. “That (merger) work too, had been held up because of CAS,” Dasgupta said, explaining that things would be set in motion once again.
However, he refused to give a time frame for an IPO, stating that such things cannot be predicted. Last year, while announcing the launch of a marriage-related show featuring Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit — termed by Dasgupta today as the “biggest flop” – the SET India CEO had said that active work had started on the IPO and that it would entail merging of the Singapore and Indian entities.
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.
