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Star Vijay to air Rahman magic on 18 May
MUMBAI: Its ‘Shakalaka baby’ time on Star Vijay this Sunday 18 May at 5 pm. Star’s ‘south’ regional channel will be airing music maestro A R Rahman’s first ever concert in his home town Chennai -Unity of Light.
Besides the performance by AR Rahman, the concert held earlier on 21 February 2003, also showcased the performances of popular playback singers SP. Balasubramaniam, S. Janaki, Hariharan, Chitra, Shankar Mahadevan, Sukhwinder Singh, Srinivas Sadhana Sargam, Mahalakshmi, Anupama, Vassundra Das and Karthik, says a Star Vijay release.
With the unplugged receiving overwhelming response, the channel will be airing that show in a two part series- first on 18 May and second on the subsequent Sunday 25 May.
The concert that was organised on 120 ft x 60 ft stage specially designed by Canadian designers and accompanied by 60,000 watts was attended by more than 35,000 fans. During the musical evening, several songs from Rahman’s past projects like Roja, Bombay, Dil Se were performed but the highlight of the show was song to which Rahman lent his vocals, adds the release.
According to the release, Rahman performed for this concert to fulfill a friend’s last wish to raise funds for the Mahesh Memorial Trust. The money generated was donated for noble cause of pediatric cancer care in the state.
While it is the first time that Rahman’s show is being aired, the channel had begun airing special events like Netru Indru Naalai – a song-n-dance extravaganza in January 2003. The event held on 14 December 2002 had leading actors like Kamal Hassan, Simran and Rambha performed for the four hour event that drew a 25,000 strong audience.
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.
