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Star Vijay to strengthen primetime band
MUMBAI: Star India’s Tamil general entertainment channel (GEC) has decided to spruce up its fiction offering by making changes to its primetime daily shows.
The newest addition to its primetime band is the Tamil version of the hit Star Plus’ ongoing show Ye Hai Mohabbatein, called Kalyanam Mudal Kadal Varai (KMKV). Similar to what the Hindi GEC has done, KMKV was introduced on 3 November at two slots 7 pm and 9 pm. The Hindi version is being aired at 7:30 pm and 11 pm. The remake is directed by Thai Selvam.
The reason for introducing it at 7 pm was to fill in the slot left empty by the dubbed version of Star Plus’ Mahabharat. The 9 pm slot, on the other hand, was chosen to push the other shows, in order to extend primetime from 6 pm to 11 pm.
The other big change will be the re-introduction of the dubbed version of Mahabharat which was aired from late last year, in a primetime slot which is yet undecided. “There has been a cult following of the show and we are very confident that the repeat will also give us minimum 4 TVRs,” says Star Vijay GM K Sriram. After the last airing, the channel took a feedback of people and found out that the earlier several episodes had been missed by viewers, who wanted to see it again.
The channel plans to air Mahabharatham from second week of December. “The success of the first airing has made us take it up again. Purvika Mobile has already shown keen interest to be on board as an advertiser,” adds Sriram. This will follow a mega marketing campaign to the tune of Rs 1 crore.
Additionally, its nonfiction show Super Singer has been shifted from 9 pm to 9:30 pm to make space for KMKV while Office has been shifted from 10 pm to 10:30 pm.
Sriram points out that the shows at 8 pm and 8:30 pm are its blockbuster ones- Deivam Thandha Veedu and Saravanan Meenatchi and they wish to build the 9 pm band along with it. Unlike Hindi where 9pm is the supreme primetime slot, in southern GECs it is 8pm.
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.
