MAM
Fiction helps Colors to shrink gap with Star Plus
MUMBAI: After a long time, Star Plus and Colors, the top two channels of the Hindi general entertainment genre, are in close fight.
As per Tam data for the week ended 26 March, the gap between the two is just 19 GRPs (gross rating points). And this time it‘s not movies or special events but fiction shows that have taken Colors nearer to the genre leader.
During the week under review, Colors gained 15 GRPs to close the week at 272 GRPs, while Star Plus lost 13 GRPs to take its tally to 291 GRPs.
Colors’ 10 pm show Uttaran (5.9 TVR) and 8.30 pm show Laagi Tujhse Lagan (5.6 TVR) became the top rated shows for the week, occupying first and second space in the charts; they displaced Zee TV’s Pavitra Rishta (5.2 TVR) and Star Plus’ Saathiya Saath Nibhana (5 TVR).
Meanwhile, Zee TV and Sony Entertainment Television lost maximum GRPs during the week (21 and 24 respectively), but continued to retain their third and fourth positions with 186 and 159 GRPs respectively.
Sab saw no change and remained with 136 GRPs on fifth place, while Imagine TV did add eight GRPs to close the week with 81 points.
Star One closed the week with 30 GRPs, down six points from last week, while Sahara One lost two points to end with 25 GRPs.
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Microsoft name Aparajita Puri as managing director – strategic pursuits team (SPT)
Former McKinsey partner to drive large-scale enterprise transformation deals
MUMBAI: Aparajita Puri has joined Microsoft as managing director for its strategic pursuits team in India and South Asia, stepping into a newly created leadership role aimed at scaling large enterprise transformation initiatives.
The role is part of Microsoft’s India leadership structure and is focused on strengthening engagement with key clients, particularly as demand rises for large, tech-led business transformations. Puri will lead strategic deals across sectors, working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data, and cloud adoption.
Her appointment marks a shift from consulting to big tech after more than a decade at McKinsey & Company, where she most recently served as partner. Over an 11-year stint, she held multiple roles across geographies, advising global clients on strategy and transformation.
Reflecting on the move, Microsoft managing director Aparajita Puri said, “After an incredibly rewarding journey at McKinsey, I’m excited to begin a new chapter at Microsoft.” She added that the shift comes at a time when technology and business transformation are converging at an unprecedented pace.
Puri also highlighted the opportunity to work on large-scale transformation mandates. “It’s an exciting time to be at the intersection of tech and business transformation, especially as AI, data and accelerated cloud adoption reshape industries,” said Microsoft managing director Aparajita Puri.
In her new role, she will collaborate closely with senior leaders including Lloyd Adams, Mark Leigh and Puneet Chandok, aligning with Microsoft’s broader push to deepen its enterprise footprint in the region.
With a background that spans consulting, finance and policy, including stints at global firms and academic exposure at leading institutions, Puri brings a mix of strategic depth and execution experience to the role.
Her appointment underlines Microsoft’s growing focus on India and South Asia as key markets for high-value digital transformation. As enterprises double down on AI and cloud, the company appears to be gearing up with leadership that can both spot big opportunities and see them through.
