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Sun targets April launch for Bengali channel ‘Surjo’
NEW DELHI: Come April and Bengal will get its first view of the southern “Surjo” (sun). That is the timeline that Kalanidhi Maran, the king of the TV media space in the south, has set for the launch of the Sun Network’s first non-southern regional language channel.
Christened “Surjo” (meaning sun obviously), Maran’s channel will be taking on five well-entrenched players in the Bengali regional language space.
Asked by indiantelevision.com about expansion plans on the sidelines of the India Economic Conclave 2005 organised by CNBC-TV18 in the capital today, Maran said, “A Bengali channel in April will mark our first foray into the non-South Indian market.”
This remark of Maran comes soon after Sun TV signed a $ 25 million joint venture deal with Malaysia’s Astro All Asia Network to originate, aggregate and distribute television programming and channels for a global audience. The agreement envisaged the launch of a Bengali channel for distribution in India, South East Asia and other markets within the Bengali diaspora.
In India, the Sun-Astro combine will face stiff competition in a market that already has five channels fighting for viewer attention — national broadcaster Doordarshan’s DD Bangla, ETV bangla, Alpha Bangla, Tara Bangla and ATN. In the pipeline is a Bengali news channel from the ABP-Star stable too.
According to Maran, after the Bengali channel, which will herald Sun Network’s arrival on the northern side of the Vindhya mountain range that roughly divides India into North and South, the next target would be to launch a Hindi channel.
“We have just launched a Telugu channel and now targeting a Bengali channel for April. I won’t rule out a Hindi channel, but that would happen some time next year (2006),” Maran said, adding that he possibly could not discuss at the moment the format and content of the proposed Bengali and Hindi TV channels.
Quite mysteriously, Maran indicated to journalists that another joint venture is in the offing on the lines of one with Malaysia-based Astro. “It would be a big one, but I cannot tell you the details now,” he tantalizingly dangled a carrot before whizzing out of the venue after having ruled out an initial public offer for the Sun group of companies.
Sun TV content reaches more than 100 million Indian-speaking viewers, covering Asia, North America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and recently, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
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.
