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SWA Awards 2020: Article 15, Soni & Gully Boy win big
MUMBAI: The first ever SWA Awards 2020, organized by the Screenwriters Association, to felicitate screenwriters and lyricists was held yesterday and was a thundering success. Hosted by actors Varun Badola and Rajeshwari Sachdeva, the event focused mainly on the writers – with the jury members who are eminent screenwriters, directors and show creators themselves announcing the winners among almost 90 nominees in 15 categories in feature films, tv shows, web series and lyrics.
The evening exuded a lot of charm and a celebratory tone with several performers – writer, producer and director aatish kapadia doing a comedy sketch on how the world generally behaves with writers, writer and stand-up comic varun grover taking potshots at the Hindi film and television industry on the bizarre writing inputs and notes that screenwriters often receive; poets and lyricists Shellee and Hussain Haidry doing a lyrical jugalbandi on the hardships and joys of being a writer and mentalist Akshay Laxman weaving his illusionary magic on audience members. The evening concluded with a soulful performance of two songs by singer Rekha Bhardwaj and screenwriter, filmmaker and composer Vishal Bhardwaj.
The first ever SWA Awards 2020 was held online and the buzz was palpable as the jury panels announced the awards in various categories.
TV Shows:
The jury comprising of Anand Mahendroo, Ajai Sinha, Kamlesh Pandey, Liliput Faruqui, Manjul Sinha, Purnendu Shekhar and Sanjay Upadhyay announced the winners in the TV shows categories:
1. TV Comedy- Best Story: Nitin Keswani for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
2. TV Comedy- Best Dialogues: Bhavna Vyas for Baavle Utaavle
3. TV Comedy- Best Screenplay: Aatish Kapadia for Bhakharwadi
4. TV Drama- Best Story: No Award
5. TV Drama- Best Dialogues: Preeti Mamgain for Mere Dad Ki Dulhan
6. TV Drama- Best Screenplay: Kartick Sitaraman for Mere Dad Ki Dulhan
Orginal Series:
The jury comprising of Ruchi Narain, Suhail Tatari and Weksha Bhagat for original drama; Juhi Shekhar, Reshu Nath & Shiv Subrahmanyam for Original Comedy; and Anuraadha Tewari, Anuya Jakatdar and Ketki Pandit for original series Adaptation announced the winners in the original series categories:
7. Series- Best Original Drama: Richie Mehta & Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh for Delhi Crime
8. Series-Best Original Comedy: Devika Bhagat & Ishita Moitra for Four More Shots Please!
9. Series- Best Adaptation: Dhruv Narang, Nihit Bhave, Pooja Tolani and Varun Grover for Sacred Games – Season2
Lyrics:
The jury comprising of Amit Khanna, Ila Arun, Kausar Munir, Mayur Puri & Panchhi Jalonvi announced the winners in the lyrics categories:
10. TV/OTT- Best Lyrics: Zama Habib for the song Ek Chup Tum, Ek Chup Main from the show Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein
11. Feature Films-Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir for the song Teri Mitti from the film Kesari
Feature Films:
The jury comprising of Apurva Asrani, Ashwiny Iyer TIwari and Leena Yadav announced the winner in the Best Gender Sensitive Script category:
12. Best Gender Sensitive Script: Ivan Ayr & Kislay for Soni
The jury comprising of Ashok Mishra, Atul Tiwari, Juhi Chaturvedi, Saket Chaudhary, Urmi Juvekar, Vijay Krishna Acharya and Vinay Shukla announced the winners in the Feature Films categories:
13. Feature Films- Best Debut Writer: Ivan Ayr & Kislay for Soni
14. Feature Films- Best Dialogues: Vijay Maurya for Gully Boy
15. Feature Films- Best Story: Anubhav Sinha & Gaurav Solanki for Article 15
16. Feature Films- Best Screenplay: Anubhav Sinha & Gaurav Solanki for Article 15
Several members from the board of Screenwriters Association spoke at the occasion – Robin Bhatt, president; Sunil Salgia, Gen Secretary; and EC members Satyam Tripathy, Shellee, Manisha Korde, Ketki Pandit and Anum Rajabali.
The event can be viewed on Screenwriters Association’s YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/A0-EWP4vPSk and on their Facebook Page.
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.
