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Star India to back its Star Jalsha and Jalsha Movies HD launch with aggressive marketing and adequate content
MUMBAI: It is very easy to say that the television industry in India is in a state of stagnation and soon will fall prey to the new predator- digital, as has happened in the west. But then, when you have a constantly innovating broadcaster like Star India, the perception can be false. Setting trends has been a regular habit for the media baron Rupert Murdoch backed broadcaster and it’s repeating itself again.
“We launched the first HD channel in India and the rest followed the trend. Now we are launching the HD feed of Star Jalsha and Jalsha Movies, which is a first in the Bengali space,” says Kevin Vaz.
This Bengali new year (Poila Boishak), the front-runner in the Bengali entertainment space, Star Jalsha and Jalsha Movies will have their HD offering to woo their consumers with an exquisite viewing experience. “We have a 51 per cent market share when it comes to viewership, we have 8 to 9 shows always featuring among the top shows, which clearly proves our superiority and our leadership in the space. It’s our responsibility to go and invest on an innovation like this,” asserts Vaz.
There are a lot of new shows that Jalsha has launched recently and a good number of them are there in the pipeline. “It’s not just launching a channel, it’s about backing it up with adequate content also. We have shows like Krian Mala which in HD will give viewers an all new experience to cherish. We are coming up with our 100 episodic show Mahanayak starring Tollywood super star Prasenjit Chatterjee. It will be our biggest production ever and when you have a show like this going HD, is a certain proposition,” explains Vaz.
“The HD feeds will be exact replicas of the SD channels” confirms Vaz, which also rules out the possibility of exclusive HD premiers. But the network will not follow the replicating strategy when it comes to monetisation. “As a group, Star India monetises HD separately, and we will continue to do this with the two new Bengali HD offerings also,” he adds.
A media planning expert on condition of anonymity says, “HD is emerging as an exclusive platform to cater to the niche or rather the top of the pyramid audience and the rates too are reaching a premium, at least in the English entertainment genre. This new offering from Star in the regional Bengali market too will have its premium price. And it’s not only the people from that region who will consume the content, Bengali people across the country will enjoy the offering, so from the brands point of view, its not only that particular region but the entire community that the channels will reach out to.”
The launch will be backed by aggressive 360 degree marketing, “We will promote it across all our HD offerings, this is a big launch that we are doing and we will back it in every possible way,” Vaz concludes.
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.
