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Star launches innovative promo campaign for ‘Vandana’
More effective than hoardings, more direct than radio and higher recall than print ads. When it comes to innovative promotions of new serials, Star can often take the cake.
One of the double-decker buses which plied between Siddhivinayak temple and Borivali, on Tuesday last
To promote its new Sunday morning religious band Vandana, Star lugged into service a double decker bus that carts piously inclined citizens to the Siddhivinayak temple from suburban Borivali via S V Road on Tuesdays. The temple is thronged with visitors on this day as people from all corners of Mumbai converge for a darshan of the deity. Star, which has launched three shows – Gurukul, Jai Mata Ki and Yatra – in the 8 to 10 am band on Sundays from 14 July, ensured a
high recall value by running the bus free of charge on 16 July, a service that will be repeated on 23 July, says the channel. The channel also distributed Kaalnirnay calendars (which highlights auspicious Indian dates) and agarbattis (incense sticks) outside several Indian temples to remind people about the three shows.
Some of the flower stalls outside temples in Mumbai, had posters announcing the religious show
The crowd outside one of the temples collecting the Kaalnirnay calenders and agarbattis
The response to the service, every half hour, says Star, has been overwhelming with the buses packed with devotees. The first bus left at 5:30 am on 16 July and the last at 8:30 pm. Five specially done up double-decker buses, with posters of the three serials, took the devotees back home without having to jostle through the crowds.
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.
