News Broadcasting
Star Plus’ valiant ‘Hatim’ wins over audiences on debut
MUMBAI: Welcoming the New Year, Star Plus has good reason to fan out its plumage and show it off in full splendour. The grandeur and special effects of the fast-paced fantasy saga Hatim seem to have struck a happy chord with the audiences – if the ratings notched up by the weekly in its opening episode are anything to go by.
According to All India CS 4+ TAM data, the fantasy adventure series that debuted on Star Plus on Friday, 26 December 2003 at 8 pm has knocked up a TVR of 5.3 claiming the 23rd position in the all India rankings for the week ended 28 December 2003.
The numbers for the Hindi speaking market are even better. Hatim has notched a healthy TVR of 7.9 in the Hindi speaking markets, which as a Star India spokeperson put it, is a more accurate indicator of audience response for a Hindi language series.
And as with most new serials it throws up, the channel made sure there was some innovative promotional efforts behind Hatim. As part of the outdoor campaign is the colossal 30-feet inflate of Hatim, the lead character in the serial, that is being taken across Mumbai and positioned at strategic locations in a bid to woo kids.
The spokesperson said the Hatim inflate is constantly on the move and is being placed where children are likely to converge in good numbers. While the inflate will remain stationed near Haikone at Hiranandani Complex, Powai till today, it is expected to move on tomorrow to R Mall in Mulund, after which it will travel to Phoenix Mills in Lower Parel. It has no fixed route. Other regular outdoor and on-air promos have been going on in full force since the last month.
The series goes the whole hog to weave rich production values like 3D characters, visual effects, psychedelic sets and graphics into the story. What is imparting superior value to the series is the dramatic presence of Hindi film villain Nirmal Pandey who, as per the common perception, ends up with a deeper impact than the hero himself.
The fantasy saga directed by Amrit Sagar and Shakti Sagar is about the adventures of the prince of Yemen, Hatim (played by Raahil Azim) who is on a mission to rescue his beloved princess and the world from the clutches of the evil Dajjal (played by Nirmal Pandey). Hatim’s quest to find answers to the seven questions that can save the world leads him to strange lands and alien creatures.
This is not the first time the Hatim Tai saga is being shown on television. It is a story that has been told several times over through films and TV serials, not to mention numerous comic book series. Nonetheless, kids and other audience groups have taken well to the mythological adventure saga.
Now it remains to be seen whether the series will sustain the response that it has generated on debut or fizzle out like some of the recent high expectation – low results programme launches.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
