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Zee Cinema trains its sights on morning band with comedy
MUMBAI: Zee Cinema is continuing its strategy of getting its viewers into appointment viewing groove. Following up on the success of last months Har Shaam Bajenge Paanch which targeted the 5 pm slot the channel is now looking to increase its share in the morning.
In August, the channel promises a smile everyday at 10 am, under the programme band Bollywood Brunch: 31 Days 31 Smiles. The content will run the gamut from old time classics to modern slapstick hits. Last year, Zee Cinema’s business head Yogesh Radhakrishnan had told indiantelevision.com that research showed that audiences tune into the channel even at that hour.
An official release informs that the channel is focussing on building individual time slots. The channel is using a slot-by-slot approach and the aim is to conquer time zones or bands one by one.
Zee Cinema’s business head Yogesh Radhakrishnan has been quoted in the release saying: “The idea is to help the viewer in taking a prior decision to watch a particular slot or movie.” The films showcased in this band will include Naram Garam, Bombay To Goa, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, .
As reported last year by indiantelevision.com, Zee Cinema started the revamp process in December with the unique Ek Ka Teen Premiere. That slot is now designated Ek Ka Teen Platinum. A blockbuster airs on Friday 1 pm, with repeat telecasts on Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 pm. The logic is that the TG for each telecast is different.
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.
