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Zee Cinemalu added to US portfolio
MUMBAI: Leading content conglomerate, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), has announced the launch of its Telugu movie channel, Zee Cinemalu. The channel is available on Dish and Sling TV in the US as a part of the popular Telugu pack. This launch brings the total tally of Zee channels in the US to 37, making Zee the biggest multi-cultural broadcaster in the United States.
Zee Americas business head Sameer Targe said, “Movies are an integral part of the lives of the Telugu audience and the stars of Telugu cinema are worshipped as demigods. The Telugu community in the USA is close to half a million strong and is growing at more than 10pc every year. With the positioning of ‘Dil Pai Super Hit’, Zee Cinemalu offers a wide variety of movies from different genres with an aim to win the hearts of the Telugu audience.”
To represent such a larger than life environment, megastar Chiranjeevi unveiled the Zee Cinemalu logo at an event in India last year in September, which was attended by the most prominent members of the Telugu film fraternity.
The channel will entertain US audiences with its major blockbusters including Akhil, Brahmotsavam, Kumari21F, Supreme and A Aa. To further engage viewers, Zee Cinemalu will showcase first-of-its-kind properties like ‘7 days 7 premieres’, the simulcast of mega events, Just For Laugh gags, ‘Bangaru Bujji’ – a filler which connects cinema and the day-to-day life of an individual and DSP Live in USA, a musical show featuring Devi Sri Prasad.
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.
