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Star Movies lines up ‘Life is Beautiful’ for Christmas
Christmas seems as good a time as any to remind audiences that life is beautiful. Star Movies does just that. On December 25 at 9:30 PM, the channel will Life is Beautiful, a heartwarming tale calculated to make viewers laugh even in the face of tragedy.
Life is Beautiful is all about a father (director Roberto Benigni), who along with his young son, are sent to a concentration camp during the Nazi reign. To spare his son the traumatic experience, Benigni pretends that the whole saga is nothing more than a game that everyone, adult and child alike, can play. The film proves that if one uses one's imagination, one can make light shine in the darkest of places.
In one hilarious scene early in the film, officials mistake Bemigni for a Mussolini representative. He is expected to talk about the greatness of the Aryan Race in a school. He pretends that he is the perfect Aryan specimen and shows off his body to the most comical effect.
In the camp, he tells his son that one of the game's challenges is that all kinds of hardships will be presented to them like cramped quarters, but come what may they cannot voice any complaint. If they do, they will be sent packing home early. He says that the more silent they remain, the more points they get. If they are able to collect 1000 points, they will get the grand prize of a tank.
He dismisses stories of evil that his son tells him saying that is just a tactic on the part of the other 'competitors' to gain the upper hand. This way, the father is able to give his son the simple pleasures of life and the child's innocence is preserved.
The film bagged Oscars for the best evocative score, best foreign language film and best actor for Roberto Benigni. The real star, however, is Giorgio Cantarini as the five-year-old boy who shows wisdom far beyond his years.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
