MUMBAI: The stars weren’t just in the sky.
They were on stage.
In a grand show of Bengal’s cultural, academic and humanitarian muscle, TV9 Bangla rolled out the red carpet for its second edition of Nakshatra Samman on 3 April 2025. Held at a luxury hotel in Kolkata, the evening saw a stellar line-up of awards, applause, and a few heavy-hitting truths.
Led by TV9 Network MD Barun Das, the event honoured the spirit of Mahasweta Devi’s legacy with this year’s theme “Manusher Pashe” (With the People). Six high-impact individuals from fields as diverse as sports, theatre, cancer research, archaeology, social service and inclusive arts were recognised for elevating Bengal’s name at home and abroad.
The coveted “Prothom Theke Prothome” award was reserved for none other than Sourav Ganguly. In his signature composed charm, the former Indian cricket captain accepted the honour for redefining leadership in Indian cricket. His presence sparked a humorous yet poignant reflection from Das, "Had Sourav continued with football, perhaps India would’ve been dreaming of a World Cup by now."
Veteran thespian Rudraprasad Sengupta bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring influence on Bengali theatre. Others who took home the honours included:
. Asima Mukherjee for path-breaking cancer research.
. Bahata Anshumali for decoding the ancient Sindhu script.
. Subhashish Ganguly, who directs plays with visually impaired actors.
. Arup Roy for his work in educating marginalised children.
TV9 Bangla also spotlighted five unsung local heroes whose acts of everyday courage and compassion often go unnoticed:
. Padma Shri awardee Dukhu Majhi has planted trees in Purulia's rocky terrains.
. Reba Murmu, who builds schools for Santhal children in Bankura.
. Prabir Pal, a specially-abled educator who uplifts young minds.
. Saju Talukdar, who offers shelters to the homeless.
TV9 Bangla managing editor Amritanshu Bhattacharya summed up the spirit of the evening, "There are many who work silently, away from the spotlight, yet their presence and actions inspire us. By bringing them to this platform, we hope to honour their service and spark inspiration in others."
But it wasn’t just about awards. Das delivered a power-packed keynote that wove AI, geopolitics, Vivekananda, Trump, Tagore, and even MAGA into one sweeping narrative. Calling 2025 an “inflection point”, he painted a world split between those who flourish and those who perish in the age of disruption. His message? Bengal must rise—and lead.
"Historically, whenever India has risen, Bengal has led. From Vivekananda to Tagore, Bose to Ray, our legacy is global. Today, we’re at a turning point again. The youth must dream bigger, work harder, and dare louder," he said.
With that mic-drop moment, Nakshatra Samman 2025 proved it was more than just another awards night. It was Bengal, reclaiming its place on the world map—one changemaker at a time.
