Awards
TV9 Bangla honours Bengal’s brightest, with Ganguly leading from the front
MUMBAI: The stars weren’t just in the sky.
They were on stage.
In a grand show of Bengal’s cultural, academic and humanitarian muscle, TV9 Bangla rolled out the red carpet for its second edition of Nakshatra Samman on 3 April 2025. Held at a luxury hotel in Kolkata, the evening saw a stellar line-up of awards, applause, and a few heavy-hitting truths.
Led by TV9 Network MD Barun Das, the event honoured the spirit of Mahasweta Devi’s legacy with this year’s theme “Manusher Pashe” (With the People). Six high-impact individuals from fields as diverse as sports, theatre, cancer research, archaeology, social service and inclusive arts were recognised for elevating Bengal’s name at home and abroad.
The coveted “Prothom Theke Prothome” award was reserved for none other than Sourav Ganguly. In his signature composed charm, the former Indian cricket captain accepted the honour for redefining leadership in Indian cricket. His presence sparked a humorous yet poignant reflection from Das, “Had Sourav continued with football, perhaps India would’ve been dreaming of a World Cup by now.”
Veteran thespian Rudraprasad Sengupta bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring influence on Bengali theatre. Others who took home the honours included:
. Asima Mukherjee for path-breaking cancer research.
. Bahata Anshumali for decoding the ancient Sindhu script.
. Subhashish Ganguly, who directs plays with visually impaired actors.
. Arup Roy for his work in educating marginalised children.
TV9 Bangla also spotlighted five unsung local heroes whose acts of everyday courage and compassion often go unnoticed:
. Padma Shri awardee Dukhu Majhi has planted trees in Purulia’s rocky terrains.
. Reba Murmu, who builds schools for Santhal children in Bankura.
. Prabir Pal, a specially-abled educator who uplifts young minds.
. Saju Talukdar, who offers shelters to the homeless.
TV9 Bangla managing editor Amritanshu Bhattacharya summed up the spirit of the evening, “There are many who work silently, away from the spotlight, yet their presence and actions inspire us. By bringing them to this platform, we hope to honour their service and spark inspiration in others.”
But it wasn’t just about awards. Das delivered a power-packed keynote that wove AI, geopolitics, Vivekananda, Trump, Tagore, and even MAGA into one sweeping narrative. Calling 2025 an “inflection point”, he painted a world split between those who flourish and those who perish in the age of disruption. His message? Bengal must rise—and lead.
“Historically, whenever India has risen, Bengal has led. From Vivekananda to Tagore, Bose to Ray, our legacy is global. Today, we’re at a turning point again. The youth must dream bigger, work harder, and dare louder,” he said.
With that mic-drop moment, Nakshatra Samman 2025 proved it was more than just another awards night. It was Bengal, reclaiming its place on the world map—one changemaker at a time.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
