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Zee readies two big screen films
MUMBAI: After a hiatus of almost year and half, Zee Telefilms is back in the Friday race with Khosla ka Ghosla and Dollar Aunty. The Subhash Chandra promoted Zee Telefilms had joined the big screen bandwagon with the Sunny Deol- Amisha Patel starrer Gadar- Ek Prem Katha in 2001.
Although Gadar… was labeled a blockbuster hit and Zee notched up a good profit for the year ended March 2002, the company is playing safe and following the market trend this time. All upcoming releases are readied with modest budgets, unlike the Gadar… extravaganza.
While Khosla Ka Ghosla is schedule to release in December and Dollar Aunty will roll out in the theatres in about four months time. An off-beat bilingual (Hindi and English) film Khosla Ka Ghosla is also being aimed for a release abroad in a festival competition circuit. A directorial venture of Dibakar Banerjee, the small-budget project stars Boman Irani and Tara Sharma. The second release, Dollar Aunty is in the last stages of production.
That apart, the company has entered the distribution segment too. It has bought the all India distribution rights of Kagaar which after being postponed a number of times, is finally scheduled to release on 30 October. Starring debutante Amitabh Dayal along side noted actors Nandita Das and Om Puri, Kagaar is the story of a cop, an encounter specialist to be precise.
Written by Saransh, Arth and Prahar fame writer Sujeet Sen, the movie tell a story of two friends who come from a remote village. One becomes a police officer and the other one becomes an underworld don. Needless to say Dayal portrays the police officer; Das plays the role of his wife and Om Puri that of a senior cop. The movie is directed by Excuse me fame N Chandra, who is also working on a feature film on the life of India’s former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
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.
