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Star Sports launches #KhelBolega campaign around IPL 2020
MUMBAI: Amid the heightened social media chatter within fans, Star Sports along with the Board of Cricket Council of India launched Khel Bolega, a television commercial (TVC) ahead of IPL 2020.
Khel Bolega indicates that the coming season will clearly end the response to all the chatter (#BolBakar) surrounding the IPL when the player performances will speak for themselves – with the hashtag #KhelBolega, translated in English as – “The Game will do the Talking”.
The TVC has been conceptualised by the in-house creative team of Star India and it highlights the non-stop fan chatter and features plenty of colorful motifs and pop culture references symbolising the pan India nature of the domestic league.
The film is also released in multiple regional languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali across TV and digital platforms and it is the beginning of an integrated marketing communications campaign to the season.
This year, both non-live and franchise-based shows have been planned in the run-up to the season, with special programming during the length of the tournament.
Super Funday will also be back for IPL’s thirteenth edition with the show’s spotlight on kids’ who will have entertaining interactions with cricket experts and Bollywood celebrity guests.
The campaign raises various questions on the team and star players of each franchise in the form of a meme. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans have waited for 12 seasons to end the drought and bring home the elusive trophy of IPL. Whereas, the Chennai Super Kings’ fans have waited long enough to watch their captain Thala or MS Dhoni on the cricket pitch again and hopefully lift the trophy this year.
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.
