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Star One terms Nach Baliye a ‘universal success’
MUMBAI: The first season of the Star One celebrity couples dance show Nach Baliye is over, but the excitement it recreated refuses to die down. Indiantelevision.com sister concern Tellychakkar.com has already drawn a list of Nach Baliye 2 probables.
Now, speaking on the show’s contribution to the Star One scorecard, the channel executives are excited about the fact that it cut across all the TGs and turned out to be a ‘universal success’.
“Nach Baliye has been a universal super hit. Not only has it captured the imagination of Mumbai, Delhi and the metros, it has cut through into smaller towns of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. This is one show that has broken the barriers of mass and class,” states Star India EVP Marketing Ajay Vidyasagar.
Vidyasagar feels that the popularity of the participating soap stars coupled with the uniqueness of the format and the high quality production made Nach Baliye a huge success, helping it to woo the CS4+ Hindi speaking markets. And that is good news for the channel which has been constantly demanding a position in the General Entertainment Channel (GEC) category with CS4+ as the target audience (TG).
The success of Nach Baliye is also an acknowledgement to Star One’s constant efforts to come up with homegrown brands. According to Vidyasagar, this is one achievement Star One has made with the property apart from scoring on the rating front.
“Nach Baliye has marked the emergence and success of homegrown formats which Star One has specialised in. Our formats have found favour with the audiences at a time while many of the international formats are having a tough time. The show has set high standards for us and now the viewer is identifying Star One with differentiated entertainment.” he says.
Replacing Nach Baliye is the soap Yeh Dil Chahe More which Vidyasagar chose to call as India’s first fictional road show. “Our soaps have been treated differently. Ye Dil Chahe More is much more than a soap. The entire story is set with a road journey as a backdrop. So Star One continues to get into unchartered territories and we are confident that we have a winner on our hands,” he sums up.
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.
