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Zee Khana Khazana ropes in Srikant Malladi as programming head
MUMBAI: Zee Khana Khazana, the 24-hour food channel, has appointed Srikant Malladi as head of programming.
Formerly with Colosceum Media as non-fiction head, Malladi played a pivotal to make MasterChef India one of the most popular shows in the Indian TV industry.
Zee Khana Khazana business head Amit Nair believes that the channel has been growing at an incredible momentum and it is time to take it to the next level. “We are honored to appoint Srikant Malladi as the head of programming for our channel. Srikant comes with a lot of valuable experience across the entertainment and media platform and we are happy to have him on-board. We are confident that he will help us take the brand to greater heights,” he said.
Malladi comes with over 14 years of diverse media experience – web journalism, films (Bollywood and Hollywood) and television. In the last eight years he has focused and specialised in large format, prime time, non – fiction shows for a variety of Indian broadcasters.
Malladi joined Miditech India in 2006 as associate creative director (non-fiction) for shows like Lead India (Star One), K for Kishore (Sony) and Acting Ki Funshala (Sab TV). Post that he joined Colosceum Media in 2007 as supervising producer and moved up the ladder to become head of development and eventually got appointed as the head of entertainment (non-fiction). In his seven year stint at Coloseum Media, he was part of several mainstream non fictional shows like Covershot 2: Mission North East, Roadies X1, Jaanbaaz, MasterChef Junior, MasterChef India and MasterChef Season 4.
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.
