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Vibhu Agarwal brings new Hindi GEC Atrangii
Mumbai: A renowned name in OTT space, Vibhu Agarwal has announced the launch of its new Hindi GEC ‘Atrangii – Dekhte Raho.’ The channel will launch in the first week of June.
The Hindi GEC will cater to the segment of 15+ HSM audiences and will have both fiction and non-fiction series spanning genres like action, mythology, comedy, drama, horror, suspense and thrillers, said the statement. “It will bring quality content for the HSM markets and from the first day itself, launch with a rich original programming lineup of four hours. Its unique proposition is that it will bring finite series with world-class production and treatment, giving the content a definitive edge over currently produced shows in the Hindi GEC space,” it added.
Atrangii will launch with original shows starring some of the industry’s biggest talent and created by popular production houses. Popular actors like Shweta Tiwari, Rashmi Desai, Isha Koppikar, Shilpa Shinde, Rahul Roy, Vishal Aditya Singh, Bhumika Gurung, Hrishita Bhatt, Rituparna Sengupta and Ashmit Patel amongst many others will be seen headlining the shows.
The channel will be launched with a robust library of content that is sure to keep the audiences gripped. This will also be followed by a dedicated all-new OTT platform Atrangii 2.0 for the digital audiences that will stream live content and will also have catch-up television.
Atrangii will be available across all pay platforms namely Tata Sky, Airtel, D2H, Dish and all cable networks like Hathway, Den, GTPL in India.
Under the leadership of Vibhu Agarwal, Atrangii will be helmed by Nivedita Basu, who joined the company earlier this year. With her proven track record of over two decades in television production, Nivedita’s role will entail developing, creating, and producing disruptive original content. She will also lead strategic business alliances for the channel.
Speaking on the launch of the channel, Atrangii founder and CEO Vibhu Agarwal said, “We are extremely delighted to foray into the broadcasting space and build on our vision to offer quality content for everybody across age groups. We wanted the channel name to define our varied multi-genre content offering, yet was catchy and stood out of the clutter.”
“Hence Atrangii, a phrase extremely common in the Hindi heartland and means unusual and entertaining, the terms we feel also defines our content offering. We want the channel to have its own identity and hence we move away from the never-ending soap operas to finite series. With this new GEC, we expect to not just enter the households across the length and breadth of the country but also emerge as the go-to destination for entertainment across both satellite and digital space,” he added.
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.
