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UTV launching thriller, kids show on DD1 in August
MUMBAI: In an interview to indiantelevision.com last month UTV group CEO Ronnie Screwvala had stated that his company was looking to increase its exposure on the national broadcaster.
UTV will be doing just that with the launch of a thriller as well as a children’s show on DD1 next month.
Launching in August is a bi-weekly thriller in the post 9:30 pm slot. The show has been given a working title Chandni but that may change, Screwvala says. The exact timing is still being discussed and the half-hour show will air in the 9:30 pm, 10 pm or 10:30 pm slot.
UTV is also putting up kids based programming that will air on Sunday mornings. Whether it will be a one-hour show or two half-hour shows, is yet to be finalised.
For the kids show, there are two formats under consideration – an adventure show and a music game show in the ‘antakshari’ mould.
Queried as to whether there were any new projects coming up on Hindi satellite channels, Screwvala replied in the negative. However, a new daily was launched three weeks ago on the regional Tamil language channel Star Vijay (in which UTV has a 49 per cent stake). Titled Salanam, it airs at 7:30 pm. It needs noting that the majority of UTV’s Tamil programming is on the leader by far Sun Network and not Vijay.
UTV currently has on air three daily shows and three weekly shows in Hindi; seven regional language dailies; and five dailies for the Malaysian and Singapore markets in Malay, Cantonese and English.
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.
