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Vijay TV’s reality hunt Airtel Super Singer 5 finale winners at grand finale
BENGALURU: Season 5 of popular singing reality show Super Singer 5 on the Star Network’s Tamil GEC found its winner in Anand Aravindakshan. The title sponsor of the show was Bharti Airtel.
Aravindakshan won the votes and the hearts of viewers and also won a house worth Rs 70 lakh from Arun Excello. Singer Fareedha won the runner’s up title and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. Raju Ganapathy won the Judges Choice award after an electrifying performance to the beats of Aaluma Doluma and winning a standing ovation from the Judges, while the other two fianlists Siyad and Lakshmi won cash prizes from Vijay TV.
The grand finale night on 17 March in the DB Jain College grounds saw celebrated singers Chithra, Sujatha, Mano, Usha Uthup, Nithyashree, Srinivas and mentor Ananth Vaidyanathan, the Super Singer stars and thousands of music lovers who amassed at the venue to cheer up their favourite contestants. Anchors MaKaPa Anand, Bhavna and Priyanka pulled the show together with the singers. With two rounds to show all their might, the finalist singers sang well with Stephen Devassy to support them.
The evening witnessed a medley performance by the Super Singer stars and celebrated singers Usha Uthup, Vijayprakash, Mano, Sid Sriram, Benny Dayal, Gaana Bala performed their blockbuster hit songs to entertain the mass audience present there. The little pianist Lidian Nadhaswaram and Stephen Devassy performed a mesmerizing act together to show their excellent stints. Singers Haripriya, Satyaprakash , Irwin Victoria,flautist Rasika alos entertained the audience with their performances.
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.
