News Broadcasting
THUMS UP and Being Human campaign ‘VEER’
MUMBAI: Thums-Up Being Human VEER in association with CNN-IBN and American India Foundation (AIF), have started VEER, an awareness and fundraising campaign to unleash the potential of persons with disabilities (PwD) and make them employable. At the gala grand finale of this unique initiative held in Mumbai recently, we celebrated the rise of some of India’s most well known PwDs and took up the need for enabling PwDs by recognising their inner abilities.
Led by campaign ambassador Salman Khan, the panellists stressed the need to change social mindsets towards disability. The expert panel included: Sudha Chandran, Bharatanatyam dancer and actor; lyricist and poet Prasoon Joshi; Hemanth Paul, Country Director, AIF; Debabrata Mukerjee, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial at Coca-Cola India; Neelam Jolly, Founder, Vishwas; Prasana Karmakar, Arjuna awardee para swimmer; Mithu Alur, Founder, ADAPT; actor Anupam Kher; and Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, Founder, War Wounded Foundation.
During the event, the stage was taken over by breathtaking performances by PwDs. The performers included students of VMS School who performed malkhamb, visually impaired signer Diwakar, and partially blind standup comedian Sundeep Rao among others. Various celebrities such as Anup Soni, Gulshan Grover, Rahul Roy, Vishakha Singh, Sushant Singh, Swara Bhaskar, and Urvashi Dholakia also attended the event and lent their support to the campaign.
Catch the Grand Finale of Veer on Saturday, March 29, at 9:30 PM on CNN-IBN & at 10:00 PM on IBN7; and on Sunday, March 30 at 10:00 PM on CNN-IBN & at 12:00 PM on IBN7.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
