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Sony, Colgate ‘Spread A Smile’ this month
xMUMBAI: A children’s music video with a social message! That is what Colgate and Sony have come up with on the occasion of Oral Health Month. The video will air on Sony on 10 October at different time slots following which it will go to other channels like Max.
Colgate had run a songwriting contest at 210 schools for the song. It conducted a direct school contact programme through fun-filled activities for the kids. They included a quiz on oral care and tooth song and dance with Colgate’s global mascot Dr Rabbit. Six hundred and thirty entries were shortlisted and then 36 were chosen. Javed Akhtar who penned the lyrics for the ‘Spread A Smile’ song captured the essence of these entries. The song brings to the core the importance of dental hygiene and how it can improve one’s life.
Speaking on the initiative Sony executive VP sales and revenue management Rohit Gupta said, “We are honoured to be associated with Colgate and The Indian Dental Health Association on their Oral Health Month initiatives. We used the show Hum 2 Hain Na as a platform to create awareness among kids to send in their entries. We did a promotional video for the contest which featured the stars of the show. Our star Hansika was the ideal choice to create enthusiasm among the kids. In fact later on this month one episode of the show will have the kids talking about dental care. We are also running another promotional video now showing the joy kids got in participating.
“As a responsible corporate we do social initiatives. Last month we had worked with the Indian Labour Organisation on a series of PSAs on the evils of child labour. Our initiative with Colgate is a refreshing change from the usual ad sales deals that are done. We had also gotten involved with Akanksha through our show Boogie Woogie. In August we had worked with the World Health Organisation. In a year we usually do four to five activities with organisations that have a social message to spread,” Gupta added.
Colgate-Palmolive India executive VP marketing Vinay Hegde added that through out this month the company would be organising free dental health check ups in schools, slum areas. This weekend the company is organising an oral fest campaign in Mumbai. The company will now come out with print ads and TVCs across different channels promoting its dental healthcare initiatives.
Akhtar added that going through the 630 entries had not been easy. “The thing is that with seasoned poets you find a lot of cynicism, bitterness. The innocence and honesty is sometimes missing. The kids entries had these two qualities in abundance. Of course we had rejected some entries outright if they looked too mature. They gave the impression that outside help had been sought from teachers and parents.”
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.
