News Headline
Star Plus rules the comedy roost too
MUMBAI: The numbers say it all. Star’s funny side is outshining the sunniest of laugh riots on other channels, with Sab and Sahara TV marking the next largest territory on the television comedy scene.
TAM television ratings (TVR) for comedy programmes, based on a survey of cable and satellite households that tuned in during the week starting 3 August 2003, give away some interesting trends. If the numbers are to be believed, the ratings seesaw is leaning heavily in Star’s favour.
Those who tuned in during the week to whet their appetite for comedy showed a marked preference for Star Plus’ Shararat which tops the line across the markets to claim the number one slot with a TVR of 9.89 in the Gujarat market, 10.02 in the Hindi belt, and a very encouraging 13.59 in the PHCHP market. The PHCHP market covers viewership in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh.
Barely does any other comedy crawl anywhere near Shararat. Those that come close, if at all, are Tu Tu Main Main of Star Plus which notches a 2.92 in the Gujarat markets and Hukum Mere Aaka of Sahara TV, which marks number three with a TVR of 2.39. Hum Saath Aath Hain of Star plus hogs the ratings in the PHCHP and UP markets with the TVR hovering around 3.0 over the week.
Interestingly, with a relatively new Shararat holding sway over the funny side, Rajiv Mehra could well be the next comedy king. Though it wouldn’t be objective to slot people like Rajiv Mehra of Shararat and Office Office as comedy specialists, the success of Shararat close on the heels of Office Office on Sab TV could be fuel enough.
Affirming this, in a way, is the fact that Shararat raised the market share for Star Plus to 54.78 in PHCHP while the UP and Gujarat markets saw a channel share of 37.45 and 30.66 respectively. While Zee doesn’t figure anywhere on the top ten lists for the three markets, Sony finds mention at number eight on the top ten for the Gujarat and UP markets and takes the number six place in PHCHP with a TVR of 1.66. With dismal numbers for Sony and Zee, the mass channels, it seems, are lagging behind in the race to tickle the funny bone of a nation preoccupied by gut wrenching family drama and game shows.
Clearly, for the week starting 3 August, it was largely Star Plus that was firmly parked in the comedy zone with four of its comedies ranking in the top ten and with Sahara managing a balancing act with four of its own but with weaker TVRs.
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.
