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SPN appoints Indranil Chakravorty to head StudioNEXT
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has roped in Indranil Chakravorty as the head of StudioNEXT, its independent production venture, who will be reporting to Danish Khan.
Chakravorty is an engineer from IIT Kharagpur and has completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM, Lucknow. He has rich and wide experience of around 30 years, working with organisations across sectors, handling varied job functions across business verticals such as marketing and sales. His most recent stint was as the CEO of Big Synergy where over a period of eight years he spearheaded its expansion in different geographies while creating high impact properties.
StudioNEXT has been mandated to create original content and IPs for TV and digital media. An independent business unit of SPN, StudioNEXT will function as a content creator for SPN media business as well as for other channels, networks and OTT players within India and globally. This newly formed venture began its journey with co-producing Season 10 of KBC in partnership with Big Synergy. Going forward, StudioNEXT will produce new IPs whilst leveraging the existing ones under SPN media.
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) business head Danish Khan said, “I am excited to have Indranil spearhead StudioNEXT. I am confident that Indranil, with his excellent understanding of the entertainment ecosystem, along with his abilities to nurture creative talent and build a creative culture, will make StudioNEXT a cutting-edge content creator.”
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.
