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Onam Special Programmes From Amrita TV

Published

12 years ago

September 14, 2013

Uthradam, the first day of Onam on September 15th begins with a special episode of Taste of Kerala at 7.00am in which the show along with Renjini Menon the anchor, treks deep into the heart of Wynad to the Coffee County Farm Resort where in a hundred year old tharavadu,they tuck into a lavish Onam repast picking up tips on the proper ways of serving a sadya. In Ona Sparsham at 7.30 am Amrita TV strives to bring a touch of warmth and joy to the star-crossed sections on the fringes of society who are shut out of the Onam festivities and in its 1st edition, actress Sarayu who celebrates Onam with differentially abled children is amazed at the depth of their artistic talent. Narrated in the soft shades of a British autumn, Shyamaprasad’s English, which braids together the lives of 4 immigrants in London, co-stars Jayasuriya, Mukesh ,Nadiya Moidu and Nivin Pauly is aired for the first time on Television at 8.45 am.

Ona Sadya at 12.30 pm spreads its plantain leaf at the homestead of legendery vegetarian chef Pazhayidom Mohanan Namboothiri, to relish the taste of a typical, traditional Thripoonithara Onam feast as he prepares pineapple payasam and kay varuthathu specially for Uthradom. Mammootty in a custom made role of a wronged cop who decodes a gruesome murder mystery, shares screen space with Roma and Ragini Dwivedi in the spine chiller thriller Face to Face slated for its grand TV premiere at 1.15 pm. Sweta Menon opens up her heart and mind in an interview at 5.30 pm. In Akathalakkaryam at 6.25 pm, an interview series that holds in confidential conversation the better halves of famous celebrities, Saboora wife of director Kamal thinks back to their courtship days when Kamal’s mother used to indulge in ‘match fixing’ eligible girls in the neighbourhood for Kamal to which his reply was always an emphatic no, but when Saboora came to stay with them one summer holidays, his usual nay changed to a resounding yes; Saboora is a true soul mate to Kamal, literally being with him through thick and thin, sharing his highs and supportive in his lows. Amrita Sandhya , an exhilarating combination of dances ranging from the irresistible seductiveness of the Arabic belly dance, the controlled finesse of the Chinese dragon dance, the mesmerizing grace of Indian classical, the foot-tapping variety of Hindi cinematic, is made headier by songs from the winners of the top music reality shows, led by playback singer Akila Anand follows at 7.00pm. Bhama shares her happiness at the upswing in her career graph, ;her delight at how well her transformation from country lass to city gal was received by her fans and so on in a cozy chat at 8.00pm. VVS Laxman in his 1st ever interview to a Malayalam channel ,Very Very Special Onam at 8.30 pm divulges that as the son of a doctor couple, he joined for medicine but chose cricket as a career; recollects the grand debut in the Under 19 team where he top scored against Australia; the hurt at being dropped towards the end of his career; hints at his entry into the National Cricket administration through the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Prime time highlight belongs to Mohanlal in Hridayapoorvam Lalettan at 9.00pm which catches him in a rare pensive mood.

September 16th ,Thiruvonam day’s shows begins with a special episode of Udayamritham at 6.30pm. Mandahasa Pushpam, an interview with Lekshmi Gopalaswamy follows at 7am.Ushering into the mainstream those who had been sidelined during the Onam revelry, Amrita TV visits the Attakkulangara Vanita Jail with actress Lekshmipriya in Ona Sparsham at 7.30 am who spends quality time with its inmates interacting, dancing and sharing a sadya with those unfortunate souls who had stepped over the boundaries drawn by the law. Shaji Kailash switches to a new genre in the chirpy action comedy entertainer Madirasi, high on humor and hilarity with Jayaram, Tiny Tom and Meghna Raj providing the guffaws, making its debut screening on TV at 8.15 am. Pazhayidom Mohanan Namboothiri whose culinary wizardry had delighted thousands of hungry students at State Youth festivals shares the secrets of his trademark Palada Pradhaman, making it from scratch in Ona Sadya at 12.30pm. Seasoned director Joshiy and actor non-pareil Mohanlal joins forces in the SN Swamy penned runaway hit Lokpal, boasting of Kavya Madhavan and Manoj K Jayan also in the lead, appearing for the 1st time on the TV screens at 1.15 pm. Akathalakkaryam at 6.25 pm, features Saraswathy teacher, the 2nd wife of celebrated novelist and scriptwriter MT Vasudevan Nair, as she skims over the years to the time she got acquainted with MT as his daughter Sithara’s music mistress; how she succeeded in toning down her abrasive and caustic husband to a mellower self; MT’s fondness for their daughter Aswathy with whom he discusses everything under the sun, to which Saraswathy is a silent listener. Amrita Sandhya, an international medley of dances from far and near with popular songs by talents on the doorstep of fame lend rhythm and melody to Malayalee’s global festival at 7.00pm. Appearing for the 1st time on a Malayalam channel ,Kapil Dev in Kapil Devinoddoppam at 8.30pm recalls the intoxicating days of the World Cup win, the defining moment of Indian Cricket history; how he was sure towards the end that his devils were a match for the mighty Windies; regrets the crass commercialization that is gobbling up the sport; reveals the shock and disbelief he felt on being stripped off his post as Head of National Cricket Academy without prior warning or notice. Mohanlal’s meditative mood continues in the rendezvous Hridayapoorvam Lalettan on Thiruvonam at 9.00pm.Dileep is his usual exuberant self in an uninhibited dialogue at 9.30 pm in Chiri Noolizha Naitha Onappudava.

Avittom starts off with the pleasing harmony of traditional folk music in Nadanppattukal at 7.00am in which Nattuppolima, an organization dedicated to popularizing our ancient folk legacy re-creates the spirit and soul of the folk songs sung by peasants during the Onams of yore. Carrying on with the concept of a different Onam for those forsaken by Fate, Amrita TV and Anila Sreekumar revel in its spirit, with the inmates of Asha Bhavan, a rehabilitation centre for destitute female mental patients in Ona Sparsham at 7.30am.Lucky Ali, in his first ever appearance in a Malayalam channel sketches the notes of his musical journey past, present and the plans he has drawn up for his future in Good Luck at 8.15 am. Premiering for the premier time on television, Players that veers off the beaten track to speed along the fast lane, tells the tale of a band of young bike riders comprising Jayasurya, Jishnu, Nishant Sagar with Kavya and Siddique riding pillion at 8.45 am. Pazhayidom Mohanan Namboothiri, connoisseur of the vegetarian wonders of Kerala cuisine serves up rose munthiri payasam and olan in Ona Sadya at 12.30pm. Providing good value for money with its theme of a middle-aged man’s infatuation for a teenager, is the Sreenivasan starrer Money Back Policy with Sarayu, Nedumudi Venu and Sreeith Vijay also in the credit list, in its inaugural appearance on the small screen at 1.15pm.

Villain turned comedian and occasional hero Baburaj discusses his make over in a get together at 5.30 pm. In the Akathalakkaryam series at 6.25 pm, Sheela wife of business tycoon Kochouseph Chittilappilly and herself hailing from a wealthy family was dismayed when her bank employee husband resigned to start his own venture V-Guard; she didn’t dare protest when Kochouseph donated his kidney for fear that if she did, he ‘d donate both his kidneys; but donation was beneficial after all for after being relieved of a kidney, her grouchy husband was a much easy going man now. It is a red letter day in Deepak Dev’s life when Dev and his family, Sayanora and her baby and the families of the Super Star Junior contestants get together for a free wheeling chat session and watch Dev’s twin daughters make their Arangettam on the Super Star Junior stage in a Utsava Thalam at 7pm. Dev marvels at the impishness of Fate which earmarked the same stage that skyrocketed him to household fame for the musical debut of his daughters. Celebrities join in the fun and frolic as TV serial stars Aneesh Ravi buttonholes festival visitors splashing about in the rides at the Wonderland Water Theme Park and bamboozles them with teaser questions on Onam in Ona Sallapam at 8.30pm. Kunchako Boban analyses his latest releases and the reasons for his dream run at 9.00pm in Ona Thillakavum Chakkochanum. Dileep’s frank and forthright views continue in the informal talk Chiri Noolizha Naitha Onappudavaat 9.30 pm.

Chatayam , the last day of Onam, gets going with attempts to revive our folk heritage to entertain us with the lilt and tempo of authentic folk music in Nadanppattukal at 7.00am .Ona Sparsham continues to cast a ray of hope on sections bypassed by society at 7.30 am.

Dance and Music at 8.15 am serves as a early preamble to the visual extravaganza to follow with riveting performances from previous editions of Super Dancer Finales.Tracing the thread of the stirring story of a young widow woven into the backdrop of the rigidly traditional Palakkadan Brahmin community of the pre -Independence era, Gramam starring Nishan , Samvrutha Sunil Mohan Sharma etc celebrates its 1st showing on TV at 8.45 am.Pazhayidom Mohanan Namboothiri shows glimpses of his lip smacking repertoire with the flavours of Ari Payasam and pineapple pachadi in Ona Sadya at 12.30pm. A taut political satire that will etch a place on the mental map of the audience, Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam with Sreenivasan , Iniya and Nivin Pauly heading the starcast makes its inaugural appearance on the small screen at 1.15 pm. Mazhaneerthullikal, an interview with Meghna Raj and VK Prakash comes on at 5.30 pm. In Akathalakkaryangal at 6.25 pm, cine actor Sudheesh’s wife Dhanya who surpasses him in witticisms and sense of humour remembers their ‘bride seeing ceremony during which how they were ushered into a room for a private conversation, only to discover that a couple of inquisitive young cousins had taken position under the bed to eavesdrop on them; Dhanya an artist by profession had developed a crush on her arts master at college but found him snatched away by her best friend. Celebrity Onam questionnaire continues in Ona Sallapam at 8.30pm, as those who waded in Onam celebrations at a water theme park find themselves in deep waters under the teaser queries. Interview with Anoop Menon Puthumayude Ponnonam will be telecast at 9.00pm followed by Festival of Colors ,a intimate chat with Fahad Fazil at 9.30pm.

Related Topics:Amrita TV British autumn Jayasuriya Mukesh Nadiya Moidu Nivin Pauly Pazhayidom Sreenivasan Renjini Menon Shyamaprasad Taste of Kerala

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Awards

Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards

Published

7 days ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

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.

MAM

Why the best campaigns today start with insights, not ideas

Published

7 days ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: For decades, creative storytelling has been the cornerstone of brand communication. The “big idea” amplified through catchy jingles, striking visuals, and memorable hooks was once the gold standard for relevance and recall. Creativity defined presence, and the loudest, boldest campaigns often won attention.

But the marketing landscape today looks very different.

Audiences are more exposed, more discerning, and far less patient. They are inundated with messages across platforms, formats, and creators, often encountering hundreds of brand touchpoints in a single day. In this environment, creativity alone especially when untethered from real consumer truths is no longer enough to move behaviour. Great ideas are abundant. Meaningful impact is not.

This is where insights matter.

The difference may seem subtle, but it is fundamental. An idea represents what a brand wants to say. An insight reflects what the audience is already thinking, feeling, or experiencing. The most effective campaigns emerge not from cleverness alone, but from the intersection of these two forces.

From creativity to relevance

As the marketing ecosystem becomes increasingly saturated, consumers are growing immune to inflated claims and surface-level storytelling. Even beautifully crafted campaigns can fail if they are disconnected from lived realities. The gap between a brand’s internal enthusiasm and the audience’s actual sentiment can be the difference between attention and indifference.

Insights help bridge this gap. They force brands to pause, listen, and observe to understand emotions, behaviours, cultural contexts, and contradictions. Instead of trying to be remembered through louder branding, insight-led campaigns allow audiences to see their own experiences reflected back at them. When a campaign articulates a problem that feels personal, relevance is created. Trust follows.

Insight is interpretation, not information

It’s important to distinguish between data and insight. Data tells us what is happening. Insight explains why it is happening. While data is measurable and structured, insights are interpretive and dynamic, shaped by real-time sentiment and human behaviour.

Modern consumers are full of contradictions. They demand authenticity while remaining deeply aspirational. They want brands to take a stand but expect nuance, not instruction. They seek transparency, yet are drawn to curated narratives. These tensions are not obstacles, they are opportunities. When understood correctly, they can shape communication that feels timely, credible, and human.

Some of the most effective campaigns today are born not in isolated brainstorm rooms, but through listening to audiences, creators, editors, online communities, and cultural signals. Insights often exist in blurred patterns, but once identified, they can redefine how a brand connects.

A recent campaign we executed for Domino’s illustrates this shift clearly. The brief wasn’t to make a pizza look bigger or louder. Instead, it was rooted in a simple behavioural truth: in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, sharing food is an emotional act tied to family, celebration, and value perception. The “Big Big 6-in-1 Pizza” became a canvas for this insight. The campaign leaned into regional voices and real sharing moments, allowing people to show how they experienced the product rather than being told why they should buy it. Influencers and celebrities amplified genuine usage, not scripted endorsements. The impact from engagement to footfall to sales came not from a clever idea, but from understanding how people relate to food in their everyday lives.

Shifting the starting point

Today’s consumer landscape demands a shift in perspective from “What should the brand say?” to “What does the audience need to hear right now?” This marks a move away from inward-led marketing toward communication shaped by behaviour, emotion, and cultural relevance.

Brands leading today are keen observers. They notice when perfection stops resonating. They sense when luxury shifts from aspiration to excess. They recognise when influencer content begins to feel repetitive and trust erodes.

Virality, too, is often misunderstood. It is not a strategy to chase, but an outcome. Campaigns rooted in insight do not aim to go viral; they aim to resonate. When content reflects something familiar, a shared truth, emotion, or tension, it travels organically because people see themselves in it.

Ideas attract attention. Insights build connection.

The evolving role of PR

For PR professionals, this shift has redefined success. Coverage volume alone no longer tells the full story. The more meaningful questions today are: Did the communication influence behaviour? Did it align with cultural conversations? Did it address a real consumer pain point?

Insight-first thinking allows these questions to be answered at the planning stage, rather than corrected midway through execution.

In a world where formats and platforms will continue to evolve, what remains constant is the power of authentic communication. The strongest campaigns today do not begin with a brainstorm, but with observation, interpretation, and empathy. That is not just better marketing, it is more responsible, resilient, and meaningful brand-building.

Brands

Ahmad Muneeb elevated to VP – HR centre of excellence at Zepto

Published

7 days ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Zepto has elevated Ahmad Muneeb to vice president – HR centre of excellence, placing him at the helm of the company’s total rewards, executive compensation and organisational effectiveness as the quick-commerce firm powers through a high-growth phase.

The move follows his stint as senior director of the HR COE, where he played a central role in preparing the company for IPO readiness while scaling its people analytics capabilities. During this period, Muneeb helped align complex performance management structures with more streamlined and scalable employee experience frameworks.

In his new role, he will steer the design of total rewards strategies, executive compensation planning and organisational design, while also overseeing performance management, employee experience initiatives and people analytics programmes.

Before joining Zepto, Muneeb spent nearly three years at Meesho, where he held multiple rewards and HR business partner roles. Earlier in his career, he worked as a senior rewards consultant at Mercer, advising high-tech clients on compensation benchmarking, pay structures and talent-focused reward frameworks.

He began his hr journey at Cognizant, where he supported compensation programmes for nearly two lakh employees across India and worked on m&a compensation alignment and skill-based pay initiatives. Prior to moving into HR, Muneeb started his career as a software engineer at Netcracker, bringing a technical grounding to his people strategy work.

With a mix of consulting rigour, start-up agility and enterprise-scale experience, Muneeb’s elevation signals Zepto’s continued focus on building robust people systems as it races towards its next phase of growth.