News Headline
Sun Life enters Tamil market in BARC week 28
MUMBAI: Sun Life, the movie channel by Sun TV Network came as a new entrant this week after Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) released its ratings for week 28. ZEEL’s Bengali and Marathi channels Zee Bangla and Zee Marathi continue to rule their respective regions. Star is still ruling the south regions – Malayalam and Telugu through channels Asianet and Star Maa. There wasn’t much change in the hierarchy for Bhojpuri, Kannada and Tamil with Big Ganga, Colors Kannada and Sun TV retaining their top slots
Bangla
Zee Bangla continued to be placed in the numero uno spot in week 28 but saw a decrease in viewership from 290285 impressions (000s) as recorded last week to 276815 impressions (000s) this week. Star Jalsha too remained in the second slot with 269241 impressions (000s) followed by Jalsha Movies, Colors Bangla and Aakash Aath, who retained their third, fourth and fifth positions this week with 64568 impressions (000s), 55190 impressions (000s) and 47873 impressions (000s) respectively. This week, all channels in this market saw a decrease in the viewership as compared to last week.
Bhojpuri
This week Big Ganga managed to gain the highest number of viewership with 47476 impressions (000s), while Bhojpuri Cinema came second with 42089 impressions (000s). Bhojpuri Dhamaka Dishum and Mahuaa Plus retained their third and fifth slots with 5818 impressions (000s) and 1804 impressions (000s) respectively. News18 Bihar Jharkhand came back in the fourth position dethroning Oscar Movies Bhojpuri with 2391 impressions (000s).
Kannada
Kannada region remained unchanged this week as well. Colors Kannada retained its number one slot but underwent an increase in viewership from 389352 impressions (000s) as recorded last week to 414372 impressions (000s) impressions (000s) of this week. Zee Kannada and Star Suvarna retained their second and fifth positions with 331327 impressions (000s) and 156191 (000s) respectively. Udaya TV and Udaya Movies swapped their third and fourth positions this week with impressions 209998 impressions (000s) and 210375 impressions (000s) respectively.
Malayalam
Asianet, the Malayalam general entertainment channel of Star TV retained its first position this week as well with 299372 impressions (000s). Flowers TV moved to the second position with 87823 impressions (000s) pusing back Flowers TV to third position with 86495 impressions (000s). Mazhavil Manorama and Asianet Movies swapped their fourth and fifth positions this week with 77405 impressions (000s) and 85909 (000s) impressions respectively.
Marathi
This week, the Marathi market didn’t notice any change. Zee Marathi remained steadfast in the number one position with 276783 impressions (000s). Zee Talkies gained second position with 157497 impressions (000s) followed by Colors Marathi, Star Pravah and Zee Yuva in third, fourth and fifth positions with 136974 impressions (000s), 108315 impressions (000s) and 46851 impressions (000s) respectively. But this week most of the channels in this market saw a decrease in viewership.
Tamil
Star Vijay, Zee TV and KTV retained their second, third and fourth positions with 442056 impressions (000s), 431969 impressions (000s) and 294428 impressions (000s). Sun TV retained its top position and saw an increase in viewership from 890935 impressions (000s) as recorded last week to 984862 impressions (000s) as of this week. This week Adityha TV was dethroned from the fifth position and Sun Life, a film channel by Sun TV Network came as a new entrant with 70755 impressions (000s).
Telugu
Telugu region didn’t notice any change this week. Star Maa, Zee Telugu, ETV Telugu and Gemini TV retained their first, second, third and fourth positions with total viewership of 534453 impressions (000s), 473971 impressions (000s), 404724 impressions (000s) and 195384 impressions (000s) respectively. Gemini Movies also retained its fifth position with 195384 impressions (000s). But this week all the channels in this region saw an increase in their gross viewership.
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.
