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Zee Kannada restructures management and teams
MUMBAI: With an aim to improve its position in the south Indian market, Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zeel) has decided to go in for a restructuring process to ensure better quality on its channel Zee Kannada. In line, a few changes have been made.
Two months ago, the then Zee Kannada business head Gautham Machaiah decided to leave Zeel. His replacement was south cluster sales head Siju Prabhakaran who was elevated to look after the channel too. A new programming head Raghavendra Hunsur was hired from ETV Kannada. The mandate was to spruce up the channel’s shows and ratings.
Sources say that nearly 15 people from the production, programming and operation teams have since been asked to tender their resignations and have been offered a three month severance package. This includes professionals at both head of department level and the second level. They are being replaced with many more professionals who are being handpicked by Hunsur.
Says Zeel head of human resources Rajendra Mehta “Ours being the business of people, we are careful in aligning the organization aspirations with individual capabilities and talents. Therefore, we have taken such an exercise and brought in talent from across the industry and revamped the team. We are sure it will result in building the Kannada business from here on. We remain committed to improving the business performance with realigning to strengthen channel TVMs and marketshare.”
The channel is looking at revamping its look and feel by improving its overall packaging and layout. Also planned are big ticket nonfiction shows in the coming months.
Zee Kannada has been at the number four position in the market with Udaya TV, ETV Kannada and Asianet Suvarna occupying the top three slots.
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.
