chennai Television

1. Sun Tv may be finality moving out of Arivalayam and going to Mandaveli. Ofcourse we have heard this before too.

2. Simran thirai is going great guns. The first drama is over and from 31st march, agathian’s anuvum naanum will be telecast for a month

3. A group of girls from Women’s Christian College take efforts to prove dare devilry is not the domain of men alone. These girls perform some amazing acrobatic stunts, it is reported. To watch these spirited collegians in action, tune in Challenge on SS Music on March 30 at 8 pm.

4.Akada Vigadam the fiery debate show on Raj TV, that provided a platform for youngsters to voice their opinions on various topics has completed 350 episodes

5.Asianet launched Suvarna News, a 24-hour Kannada news channel. Sitara , a entertainment channel in Telugu from Asianet,will commence from April. Tamil and Marathi versions will be in air within six months. The Official launch of Suvarna is on 31st March.

6.The Tamil Nadu Cable TV owners’ association (TANCUS) and Federation of Cable TV associations of South India (FCASI) on Friday announced that cable TV charges for consumers could not be brought down even though the state government had exempted the cable TV industry from paying entertainment tax in the 2008-09 budget.

7.Sun TV Network, is gearing up to enter film production. It is all set to float ‘Sun Pictures’ through which they plan eto produce ten films each in Tamil Telugu and Kannada annually. Sun TV is also preparing to launch its ‘home entertainment division’, to launch DVDs of the collection of regional films in its library.The first film to be produced by Sun TV Network is likely to hit theatres this Diwali.

8.Ennodu pattu padungal, a five-month long music show reaches the finals this week. Rajini Ashok, Anuradha Ramanan, Gayathri Jayaraman and Gayathri are the finalists who will be put through three rounds to prove their mettle. Playback singer Uma Ramanan, the chief guest, joins panellists S.P.Balasubramaniam and Manobala to evaluate their performances. Watch Jaya TV every Saturday at 8.00 pm.

9.Theen kinnam , a collection and video of old songs in Jaya TV has reached its 650Th Episode.

10. it is Black and white round in Jodi number one today. Watch Vijay TV at 8.00 pm today.

Thye curtain riser for Vijay film awards called Rasigan Express will be at 2.00 pm on Sunday 30/3/2008. Neeya Naana Gopinath will be the anchor. The first of its kind Award show in South India, as the common man had a chance to vote for his favorite film STAR was started last year. The grand awards ceremony of last year was attended by a galaxy of stars like Kamal Hassan, Vijay, Vikram, Shreya, Trisha, Vivek among many others.

The cities on route are Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Erode, Tanjore, Villupuram and Trichy. Today the van is coming back to chennai after touching Villupuram and Tindivanam , Chengalpattu enroute. The modus operandi is comman man Posting the nominations via Rasigan Express, the 5 most popular names in each of the 4 cateogries would be up for viewer voting through the IVR, SMS and online platform.

Apart from the four favourite awards; there are 24 BEST Awards awards which will be chosen by the jury and 2 special awards. The 2 special awards are Award for Best Entertainer (chosen by the film industry) and Icon of the Year (chosen by media agencies and clients).

The first 4 episode will be hosted by Neeya Naana fame Gopinath. The jury panel comprises of popular actor Bhagyaraj, Film writer, director and producer Yuhi Sethu, film critic Madan, actor & film analyst Lizzy Priyadarshan.

Ever thought there will be competition in marriage alliance. There are three programs in the mornings of Sunday, courtesy- sun TV, Kalaignar Tv and now Jaya TV.

The pioneer of this is Kalyanamaalai in Sun TV every Sunday at 8.00 AM and has received widespread appreciation and applause.To help serve a larger number of candidates they have launched two new initiatives-“Kalyanamaalai” Bi-Month magazine and KMMatrimony.net”.“Kalyanamaalai” as a concept is the brainchild of Mrs. Meera Nagarajan. As the creative head of KM Matrimony Ltd. It’s now in its Eighth Year. Mohan who anchors the program is a household name and is popularly called kalyanamalai mohan.

Kalaignar TV started Swayamvaram with Anitha Kuppuswami as the Anchor. And now Jaya TV in association with muhurtham.net, an exclusive matrimonial site, presents a new programme, “Muhurtha Neram” every Sunday at 7.30 PM. Writer Balakumaran, Advocate Vijay and Muneeswara Sastrigal share interesting facts pertaining to marriage. Meera Krishnan will be the Anchor.

A very neat program. Apt selection of participants and correct questioning. The highlight was the most intelligent analysis and comment by Dr Shalini, leading Psychiatrist of Chennai. She correctly ripped apart the mental positioning of the men supposedly maritally affected by IT revolution and also said it cautiously that Generalization is wrong but sudden exposure to so much freedom can imbalance many.

A very bold wear by Rose and I could see confidence and ease in her eyes and body language through out the show, more than previous shows. The Three IT kids[?] had their immaturity’s but were still very clear in their thoughts and expressions. Three different views extracted very nicely by Rose. They were very articulate, frank and to the point. The audience participation was limited but purposive.

Well I always wonder why this Radio syndrome exist in Indian television. Television should always utilize more pictures and shots and make it more lively. The Doordarshan format of sit in interviews and chats are ok once in a while but not always. Most successful chat shows have always utilised the camera more often and have added some timely clippings and have got outside people in to discussions by web or recording. I feel Rose could add some more color to the program by using more pictures. Also she could have roped in some senior IT people to get a better perspective. Nevertheless she definitely succeeded in bringing to limelight what she wanted to convey- There is a drastic culture change in the IT world of today.

In 2005, India times in an article has this to say: ‘If the recent visual footage acquired from strategically placed cameras in a leading Mumbai-based business process outsourcing (BPO) unit showing a couple having sex in an office cubicle is anything to go by, workplace sex is no longer an aberration for most couples working in India’s sunrise sector. With work schedules stretching into long hours, and bonding happening between emotionally lonely employees, sex is just a manifestation for physical needs as two individuals try and seek a connection.’

The following is a relevant question and an apt answer by Dr D. Narayana Reddy, Consultant - Sexual Medicine published in Hindu in 2006.

What about extra-marital or pre-marital sex; do you see this more in the young IT/BPO crowd, as in these offices young men and women work together in large numbers?

Actually there is a paradox; these people have absolutely no time for sex. Work timing is the culprit; I see couples where the husband leaves in the morning, comes back in the evening, and the wife leaves at noon and returns late in the night and wants to sleep after that. They have a problem.

Also during travel, a lot of extra-marital sex happens, as the opportunity is available in hotels. Also, many of these people spend more time with their colleagues than spouses.

Sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction is increasing among Indian men and such problems are more among BPO professionals, sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari said in an International convention in 2007. He further said that ‘Another factor causing sexual problems among BPO employees was stress due to work pressure and lack of time to relax’

The topic is sensitive and has never been discussed so openly in Tamil television. Rose carried the program with such deftness that it seemed she was discussing about some movie. At no point she was perturbed or over cautious because of the topic.

A 10/10 only because a 11/10 is not possible. The rose is blooming.

The following are contents from the Budget speech of Mr Anbalagan, Finance Minister of Tamilnadu and they pertain to Television and Cable TV. Today Evening, TANCUS and TCOA, two cable tv associations will felicitate the chief minister Mr. M. karunanidhi for showering bonanza on them. This is also perhaps an exercise in disguise to isolate SCV.

146. The Arasu Cable TV Corporation has been formed to function as a Multi System Operator which will receive programme signals from various television channels and transmit these programmes to the various local cable TV operators. A global tender has been invited for purchasing necessary equipments for this purpose. This Corporation will soon start functioning after procuring the necessary equipments.

147. As promised by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in the Conference of Cable TV operators held at the Centenary Hall of Madras University on 12.9.2007, an advisory body consisting of their representatives have been formed. Accepting the request made by cable TV operators in this conference, cable TV will be exempt from payment of entertainment tax with effect from 1.4.2008. In addition, the entertainment tax arrears to the tune of Rs.16 crores outstanding as on 31.3.2008 will also be waived. Further, with a view to promoting the welfare of Cable TV operators, a separate welfare board will be created for them.

148. During recent times, television has become very popular among the masses. With a view to providing medical assistance to those working in this field, a welfare fund for television artists will be set up. The Government will provide Rs.one crore to this fund for grant of assistance to them.

They said it for us

Kalidasa wrote, (sarga 13): ‘Rama, while returning from Sri Lanka in Pushpaka Vimaana told Sita: “Behold, Sita, My Setu of mountains dividing this frothy ocean is like the milky way dividing the sky into two parts”.’

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the bridge thus, ‘Adam’s Bridge also called Rama’s Bridge, chain of shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of India.’
“The chain of small islets connecting India and Sri Lanka are real geographical features that have been mapped for centuries. Chains of islands form a variety of natural geological processes, and their occurrence is not evidence of any human activity,” N K Raghupathy, CEO, Sethusamudram Corp Ltd said quoting the email from NASA.

NASA official Mark Hess had then stated: “Remote sensing images or photographs from orbit cannot provide direct information about the origin or age of a chain of islands, and certainly cannot determine whether humans were involved in producing any of the patterns seen.”

According to V. Ram Mohan of the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Studies of the University of Madras, island chains, including seamounts, are frequent in the ocean and could be the result of various geological processes. The chains in the Philippines and Japan have, for example, been formed because of subduction related volcanism.

In the Hawaiian Islands, it is owing to the movement of lithospheric mantle over hot spots. It can also be owing to the opening of the sea during seafloor spreading along mid-oceanic ridges, as it is in Iceland, or along transform faults, as in St. Helena.

Island chains in the Caribbean and on the southern tip of the South American continent consist of sediments of marine origin formed by coastal processes, which cover the basaltic stratum and serve as substrate for coral reefs, which are exposed above sea level. Though the features of these are similar to the Adam’s Bridge system, the latter has not revealed any evidence for basaltic basement, which results from volcanic mechanism.

Dr Badrinarayanan and his colleagues have recommended as next steps in order to determine whether or not the Setu is manmade: “In order to understand the true nature of this central zone it is recommended to do large scale pitting to 20 m depth till the second loose marine sand zone is reached in RS/AB feature and to carry out detailed underwater videography and close spaced sampling of all the 4 walls and the base of the pits for determining the composition and age of rocks and sediments.”

Dr Badrinarayanan and his colleagues go on to say that, “UNLESS ALL OF THE ABOVE INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES ARE CARRIED OUT, THE EXISTENCE OF THE REMNANTS OF RAMA’S BRIDGE OVER THE RS/AB FEATURE CANNOT BE CONCLUSIVELY DISPROVED.”

Also see
1. Ramaswamy says Adam, not man made!

2. Kalyan raman says Ram sethu as real as London Bridge

2. Myth or Science?- The Hindu

3. Ram sethu for Dummies

4. Counter dummies

Ram sethu is not man made said Dr A Ramasamy Vice Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, on Monday. “The Adam’s Bridge, near Dhanushkodi, was not man-made” he said addressing a group of historians and history students at the Sir William Meyer Endowment Seminar organized by the Department of Indian History, University of Madras.

Who is saying it is man made? Is the question?

If it is made during the ram’s era as believed by Hindu faith, then obviously it is not man made for as per the faith it was built by the monkey gods with help of super natural squirrels. And even if the non-engineer Ram helped with a brick or two, he being an avatar cannot justify man’s hand in it. Now if it is natural as per the canal protagonists, then also it is god made as per all faith. So why is this answer given when no such question exists.

The Government of the day openly admits that due to resistance of 60 odd MP’s the nuclear deal is still in abeyance or/and reforms on hold. But the resistance of majority is of no concern to it, as the minority will be appeased.

There is no scientific forecast that sethu canal will be beneficial for the country. There are still feeble noises that it could on the other hand be a threat, albeit without scientific proof. So when there is no science in the program itself why expect science in the faith

A chain of Shoals and it connects two lands of which one is an island and the other a peninsula. The distance is also quite high. It is believed to be sacred by more than one religion. If so many credentials are not enough to keep it why? The canal will benefit the Tamils of South Tamilnadu and bring prosperity to the state and hence the country and it is the dream of Anna and the Tamils for ages, argue the canal supporters.

If there is a visible and clear benefit then even the gods should not oppose for it is his system, which allows re modification of his creations in the planet to discover and to grow.

A government has to be emphatic and cannot ignore the faith of many. It is its duty to discuss, debate and convince without hurting the sentiments of the many on why this should be demolished instead of taking a adamant stand that come ram may this will be demolished. If benefit for a section of society is warranted, then also it should ensure that it is not an impediment for yet another section of the society. This is a basic of governance. If it hurts some they should be informed in proper words and deeds that in the larger interests this is necessary. Without succeeding in this it is not wise to move forward, for that could be permanent damage to the psyche of so many believers.

The Tamilnadu government argued in a court that slaughter of animals in temples be allowed because it is a tradition. It also argued that jallikuttu, the bull control festival be permitted because it is tradition and faith in the region. Well, by accepting these, the courts cannot veto the sethu faith so easily. And moreover it is not wise for the courts to judge on matters of deep faith..

Instead of taking positions detrimental to the interests of the nation as a whole, the government should carefully put up a good argument comfortable to most of the society and then proceed with its dream.

This government is not afraid of its men but their votes, so it seems.

Photo’s from NASA and PlaneMad, 2005. Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License.

See The Ram’s Divide

Lollu Sabha, a super hit show on Vijay TV that has gained fans in huge numbers especially the kids, will have the best of Lollu Sabha episodes airing from March 24, 2008, Monday – Thursday, 7:30pm as Amman TRY Lollu Sabha – Summer Special.

Best of Lollu Sabha spoofed movies like Padaiyappa, Engal Veetu Pillai, 7 G Rainbow Colony, Run, Gavuram, Alaipauthey, Thalapathi, Naan Avan Illai, Rathakanner will be aired in Amman TRY Lollu Sabha – Summer Special.

My son did not want to miss it inspite of exams the next day. He did forgo all other game shows for the day. That is good news for the Sun. Ramayana if it can bring kids to it then it is a sure winner. The Tamil dubbing and the frequent songs may not be a winner formula for the Tamil audience but the divinity attached to the purpose will get female audience, the die-hard religious people and later the computer graphics more kids. And when ram is in sun TV guess who in kalignar TV? Kalaignar himself reciting his pet subject. Don’t tell me he is competing with Ram.

Cast Gurmeet Choudhary, Debina Bonnerjee, Ankit Arora, Vije Bhatia and Lalit Negi as Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan.
Production Sagar Arts
Music Ravindra Jain
Songs Kavita Krishnamurthy and Suresh Wadkar
Art director Omang Kumar.
Costume Designer Nisha Sagar
Number of workers 800
Estimated approx initial cost- 6 crores
Size of the set in Vadodara - 35 acres
Time spent shooting every day - 14 hours
Cast and crew on the sets daily - 300 people
Crowns, swords, bows and arrows – 600

Kalaignar [TV] exhibits three queens and lets beauties as couples twist their hips and legs to enthrall you from eight pm for two hours every Sunday. The Sun [TV] relies on the simran’s thirai presence for their show super stars, to woo you at nine onwards on Sundays. Prior to which they also show dances judged by Mumtaj and Lawrence. Vijay TV has Vijay adhiraj occupying all of thirunthudu seasame at eight and then a classic debate show Neeya naana at nine every Sunday. So these three should be hogging most of TRP in chennai and around. Jaya remains stubbornly different and may be it could win finally. Jackpot with Kushboo is still around with some steady following, though diminished a bit after such competition. Then follows the little masters. A talent show for kids well organized and anchored by famous Balaji and judged by popular Prithiviraj, Raghav and Mageshwari. With the vacations starting by month end it has rightly started the competition now. In most houses when there is a remote war, it is mostly the kids who win and thus may be simran and kushboo may have to let their replays be seen. As to what happened to the winners of ‘Little Masters’ first edition – Jaya TV has formed a music band comprising 11 of the child participants of the first edition. The band has already performed in front of a 1,000-strong audience in Chennai, besides performing in a special show in Singapore recently. The band would soon give performances in several other places.

The second ‘right’ program in Jaya TV is their game show for women. Women are made to compete by climbing walls and also in femininely make up tests. The only way females can become equal is they becoming manlier and males becoming slightly feminine. Even if the males do not go their length in this the females should earnestly attempt to become equal. So it is really amazing to see conservative Tamilians do the tough jobs so far the western domain. We see stunt shows by women, women rock climbing, trekking, kart racing, car racing etc. Thus this program is a true tribute to women of today and is a great step towards female emancipation. Again this should reap good TRP in summer; thanks to females being’ more ‘ TV watchers then rest. They also have a Mrs Home maker contest reserved for housewives. Well Jaya ‘s calculation that females are better halves and kids are the bosses of remote may see them have the last laugh.

An entirely different show on Dance is going to be aired through the Jaya TV Channel. When all the other channels are telecasting dance shows with film artistes, the Jaya TV takes care of the public who could dance well. People living in Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore and Salem have been invited to participate in this new show. Initially, the channel has selected 32 pairs for the show. An introduction dance show has been arranged to telecast on March 26.

For each and every week show a famous dance master and a film actor are going to appear to judge the dance show. Special Judge of the show are Jithan Ramesh and dance master Rekha. Compere will be done by dance master Ramji. The winner in the show will get a prize award of Rs.2 lakhs.