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Zee Kannada to launch on 11 May
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms’ proposed Kannada general entertainment channel Zee Kannada is now ready for launch. According to market sources, the channel will hit the airwaves on 11 May.
Zee Kannada will target the general Kannada-speaking universe and the programming space will cover soaps, movies, gameshows, talk shows and current affairs programmes.
The channel will be headed by Venkat Giridhar in the capacity of business head. He will report to Zee Telefilms South initiatives head Ajaykumar.
According to sources, soaps and films will constitute 25 per cent of the channel programming. Gameshows and talk shows will make another 25 per cent. There will be a stress on current affairs programmes and film-based shows.
Zee Kannada has acquired a combo package of new and old films to create its movie library. Having strong film content would matter a lot for the channel’s strategy in the movie-crazy market. “Since the TG is the same, Zee Kannada will have a head-on collision with Sun Network’s Udaya TV and its sister channels. In this context, having strong film content will be crucial,” says a market source.
“We have conceptualised our fiction programmes with fresh themes and innovative concepts. The effort will be to give a new direction to this segment and thus get a foothold in the market,” says a Zee source.
Zee Kannada’s positioning is in direct contrast to that of its South sibling Zee Telugu. The one-year old Telugu channel targets the young upwardly mobile viewer segment.
“You can experiment a lot in Zee Telugu as the market is huge. You have various options to choose your TG in Telugu. Kannada is however a comparatively smaller market and we have to stick to the basic strategy,” adds the source.
The Rs 1.4 billion Kannada television ad market is dominated by Sun Network’s Udaya TV. Another key player in the market is ETV Kannada.
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.
