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Sponsors make a beeline for ‘Lagaan’ premiere on SET
MUMBAI: It will be raining ads on Sony Entertainment Television when Oscar nominated Lagaan airs on the channel on 27 October.
One among the many top brands that have bought airtime during Lagaan is Hyundai Santro, which will premiere the third and final in its latest series of ads. “Lagaan has not surprisingly roped in many advertisers,” says SET India senior V-P sales, Abraham Thomas.
Santro’s latest commercial, the third part of the sequel to the ads currently on air will feature actors Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta together for the first time. In the earlier ads, both actors have featured separately.
“So far there are 12 official sponsors for the movie including Tata Indica, Pepsodent, Sony Music Systems, Thompsons and Hero Honda, to name a few,” informs Thomas.
Post production delays, have however, put paid to another innovative idea. The latest Close Up ad for its new lemon-mint variant was slated for its premiere during the Lagaan telecast, but has had to be postponed by a week. The interesting angle to this was that both the Close Up commercial and Lagaan have had Ashutosh Gowariker in the director’s chair.
There is another curious coincidence to the ad put out by JW Thompson (formerly Hindustan Thompson Associates – HTA). While Gowariker is behind the camera for this one, he was in front of it and had actually featured in a Close Up ad early in his career.
Gowariker does have a walk on role though in the 30-second commercial, which has veteran actor Anupam Kher in the lead. A switch in generation as well as the brand has always focused on youth.
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.
