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Soon: Season 8 of ‘Mirakkel’ on Zee Bangla
KOLKATA: Riding on the success of the earlier seven seasons, Zee Bangla is ready to soon roll out season eight of its popular reality show, Mirakkel Akkel Challenger. The upcoming season will once again see host Mir Afsar Ali aka Mir in top form, and will be directed by Subhankar Chattopadhyay.
While the previous season ran for 72 episodes, the eighth season is likely to have around 56 episodes initially. This season too, there will be participation from Bangladeshi stand-up comedians – a norm established since season six of the show. To encourage promising talent from the neighbouring country, Zee Bangla has even held auditions at four locations there including Chittagong.
Asked about the focus on comics from Bangladesh, Chattopadhyay said they could speak well and had a unique style of entertaining the audience. About the auditions, he informed, “In the first week of this month, auditions in north Bengal including Cooch Behar were completed. Auditions in Kolkata will be decided only after the polls.”
The channel is upbeat about promoting season eight of Mirakkel. Plans are afoot to launch a marketing campaign around the show theme, i.e. fatafati 8. The show’s official facebook page has already garnered over 964 likes, what with the ever popular Mir posting “Khub taratari asche Mirakkel akkel challenger 8” on it.
A one-of-its-kind reality show, Mirakkel premiered on Zee Bangla in 2006 and has been a hit with the people of Bengal ever since. “It is also very popular among the youth and many puns and wit from the show are common amongst all sections of people,” said a media expert. He attributed the show’s success to Mir’s larger -than-life presence and the satirical and political songs in the show among others.
For Chattopadhyay, the format of the show is the winner. “On an average the GVT (gross viewers in thousands) last year was around 1400,” he said.
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.
