Raj TV is lining up more serials and game shows to lure females and children during summer 2008. They have spent money to advertise full page in many newspapers etc. Hope they reap benefit.
1. Maanada Myulada- The round of 60’s was held this Sunday and the usual rocked with gokul, sureshwar and bala pairs getting 27/30 . Sureshwar won the best male and priyadarshini best female. Aarthi and Ganesh were as usual funny but their less dance got them only 22/30. Saiprasad and karthik pair scored a decent 26 and 25 respectivly. Ranjith and aishwarya scored the least 20/30. The idea of garlanding themselves by the judges, white for good and red for ok is yet another crazy idea. I do not know from where they get such amazing ideas. funny. Kushboo along with ever available george danced well . Rambha also rocked in special performance.
2. Vijay Jodi number one. All the females were astonishing, fabulous and treat to watch. The female solo round was the best of the week. Aishwarya and Suhashini shared honors for the best performer award getting 30/30 deservingly. Haritha and priya also fared well but as second best they scored 27 and 28 respectivly. Badava gopi team was eliminated. Mrs gopi performed well, but the youngsters fared better. We will miss them.
3. Attam Pattam- This show is rocking. The top five were announced and one contestant pulled out rest were absorbed to the next round with an announcement that 3 will be eliminated next time. The celebrity judges were making a comedian of himself and thought he was funny.
This is ridiculous. Was Priyanka visit to Vellore to meet Nalini sponsored by Times of India? How else will you explain that it took nearly a month to unravel a true story about a movement of a high security person to a sensitive cell, to meet a convict, accused of abetting assassination of an ex PM of our country.
The Junior Viketan, Nakeerans and Kumudams have a lot to explain of their colossal failure to bring out this news. The Dozen plus TV channels of the state must be dozing….
Even the vernacular presses of the state both English and Tamil should be ashamed. What kind of Journalism is this? First most of them are not able to find out Priyanka’s visit to Vellore, second one Newspaper gets the news [obviously leaked by the Government for ulterior motives], and it continues its investigation, waits for the grand release of its chennai edition and then publishes it. The motive of TOI is not to give us the news but to use the news to get more readers. That is why I suspect whether Priyanka was a willing partner to this.
Definitely Karunanidhi knew she was coming and why she was coming, because her security is his concern too. Some or many of the Jail staff would have seen her there or known about this. To keep the matter hushed for so long is not good news for our democracy and what kind of press do we have.
Times of India has clearly exposed the impotency of the media in chennai so far. But it did not do any great service to journalism it just exposed the deficiency in it. It must have paid loads of ‘M’ to the Jail and to the sources to keep it tight till it revealed. Even after a RTI is filed in a court the news has not been picked by others is a big shame. By choosing to ‘time’ news as sensitive as this, is a mockery of journalistic ethics and there could not be fair play in getting it postponed for so long.
And regarding the visit itself, I do not understand Priyanka. Is she suffering from some psychological disorder or trauma because of her father’s death, that her doctor advised her to sooth her nerves by meeting the only alive convict? Or did she try to find out some thing new, which CBI and police could not find for so many years? Or is she trying to be a lady munnabhai? If she thought it was so personal and wanted to keep it a secret she could have by saying no comments when queried whether she made the trip. She is entitled to do so. But she revealed that yes she did and she did because she wanted to find out why a good man was killed. This clearly reveals this is a publicity stunt well planned and executed and released in an appropriate time Well probably she wanted to splash news that Rajiv was a good man, nothing else she revealed new.
The Opposition AIADMK had accused DMK’s hand in helping Nalini; it had even shown video clips raising questions on why Karunanidhi gave a directorial chance to a man closely related to her. They also asked whether ‘He’ hand a hand in the plot itself etc. What happened to her nerves then? Just for a question, if the present government was involved some how, will it not stage-manage the visit by briefing Nalini properly? And if she was a hardcore sympathizer of such an enormous crime does she need a briefing to manage herself in front of an immature giggly daughter of a murdered man seeking sympathy?
What she asked and what answers she got is not news to me as the whole episode sound like a practical joke played by Priyanka, sponsored by TOI and DMK jointly as an April fool gift to the nation. The news got postponed by 14 days and the fooling may take a few days longer.
Some start with a bang and sober down, some start without noise and make it big, most have curves, but only one has shown a steady climb and that is Sun Tv. 15 glorious years and it is still shining. It celebrated it’s 15th anniversary yesterday[ April13th]
Back in 1992, so the story goes: Kalanithi Maran sought Zee TV’s permission to use its transponder time when the channel was off air. He believed Zee would not object because it would be recovering some of its rentals, but for some reason, Zee did not agree. So, Maran worked out a deal with ATN and went on to launch Sun TV.
And today it is the leader in all four states of the south. Sun TV Network’s October-December 2007’ net profit rose 71.16 per cent to Rs 102.30 crore compared with Rs 59.77 crore for the same quarter previous year. Total income increased 85.56 per cent to Rs 231.99 crore for the quarter ended December against Rs 125.02 crore year ago.
Till 2007, Sun TV had a fairy tale growth. They started channel after channel and established a worldwide network and presence. They had a strangle hold control on cable network in Tamilnadu and wide presence in south. They were starting DTH and one Maran was in connected Ministry. SO all competition was snubbed, bullied and some times bulldozed. But by quirk of fate and an ill-timed opinion poll in a daily owned by ‘sun family’ changed the scenario- albeit only to some extent. They broke away from the karunanidhi’s who started their own channel. More channels have come and some more are in anvil. Many have left Sun TV but still it is number one in Tamil. And that is a great achievement by any standards.
Being the first of its kind in Tamilnadu, Sun TV - as a regional channel created ripples in its move. The ripples developed into waves, continue to run endlessly - with the Sun TV ruling the roost amongst many other competing satellite television channels.
The SunTV Network which believes in providing a right proportion of quality and quantity - has been the one reason behind its tremendous success. Originally begun as a Tamil Satellite Channel - the network has engulfed other South Indian States too, with an expansion of regional channels in other languages including Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
Sun Network is India’s second largest television network and has powerpacked Twenty TV channels, Thirty FM Radio Stations, Two Daily Newspapers and Four Magazines in several Indian languages. Original content is the essential driver for the consistent high performance of the media.Hence the SunTV Network controls over 50,000hours of original content a year and is constantly adding to this vast value of content.
Some of their channels are - SunTV, KTV, Sun Music, Sun News, Chutti TV, SuryaTV, KiranTV, GeminiTV, TejaTV, AdithyaTV, Teja News, Gemini News, Gemini Music, Gemini Cable Vision, UdayaTV, UsheTV, Udaya2, Udaya Movies, Udaya Varthegalu & Udaya News.
The following are some of yesteryears sun tv stalwarts who are no more seen in it.
1.Maalan
2. Mj.Rego
3.James Vasanthan
4. Pepsi Uma
5. Visu
6.Ramesh Prabha
7.Vijaya sarathy
The following are the faithfulls seen for a long time and still there.
1. Radhika
2. Solomon papaiya
3. Raja
4.Thenkatchi Ko. Swaminathan 
5. Shahul hameed
6. Suresh kumar
The following are some of the pronminent frequently seen now
1.Radhika
2.Lawrence
3.simran
4.Devyani
5.suganya
6. Malavika 
7. Vijay Adhiraj
8.T. Rajeendhar
9. Meena
The greatest battle of Newspapers has just started in Chennai. The West Indian Master, The Times of India has given a challenge to the Only genuine Madrasi English paper The Hindu, and in style.
There have been many such battles before but none so eagerly waited and none so intense. A couple of years ago when Deccan chronicle with a ‘ look similar to TOI’ edition entered Chennai, it did not cause so much concern for the Hindu here. The Only purpose Deccan entry did was to postpone TOI entry by a couple of years. Deccan claims it has circulation just 23000 less than Hindu, But The Hindu kept its price and content till perhaps last month.
The Times of India has not come to Chennai to preserve the old and also not for bringing any drastic changes. Ironically, It used the present Chief Minister, who is a very old man and who believes to stay put and believes anything can change but not he in his seat, to light the lamp on a very auspicious day which was called Tamil News years day till this year and from then called Chittirai no.1 [sound like some movie name] . For him nothing changes on Chittirai no. 1. His channel will give a bout of programs and TRP winner films to get him more money. But the Public will loose a holiday from this year. And to Instruct Temples to sober their celebrations and to avoid panchang reading is a vulgar reaction from a perverted politician.
The Times of India starts in Chennai from April 14th, The birthday of Ram, the very name whose existence the lighter of TOI lamp questioned, The Lord whom he called a drunkard. There are so many such ironies.
AND THE CHENNAI FIRST EDITION ITSELF IS AN IRONY. EVERY ONE WHO HAS SEEN TOI’s MUMBAI AND BANGALORE EDITION, EXPECTED A MORE GLOSSY EDITORLESS GLAMOUROUS AND MASALA FOR BREAKFAST. EVERYONE WAS EXPECTING A PUNJABI SNACK OR A KEBAB OR A BHELPURI BUT WHAT TOI DELIVERED TODAY WAS A PANEER DOSA. AND THAT WAS CLEVER. WHILE HINDU TRIED TO PREMPT TOI BY RELEASING NEW SUPLEMENTS LIKE NEXT GEN AND ERGO, TOI SIMPLY COPIED HINDU IN STYLE AND CONTENT AND SPRANG A SURPRISE. THE NEWSPAPER Scenario has changed in Chennai since March. The New Indian express looks very classy, trendy and more like the TOI of Ban galore. The Hindu has altered a bit and is looking half Hindu and half TOI Delhi. And TOI is trying to take the place of Full Hindu. And if this is not an irony what is?
If Nusli wadia is starting a petrochemical land in Baroda, Modi will give a sanction because it will bring additional employment and money to his state but will not go with his full cabinet to inaugurate it just because Nusli is a competitor to his gujarathi manus Ambani, this inspite he being from a National Party. And here in Chennai we see a Chief minister along with his Cabinet secretary, Police chief, important ministers etc queuing up to wish and praise the new rival. Most of right and left bureaucrats and police chieftains in this great Tamil state are from the north and after the Supreme Court verdict in the MNS case they have the guts now to openly proclaim they are from Delhi and were missing TOI so far. But the new edition will only give them one more Hindu in TOI’s name.
Now why is the CM so eager to grant success to TOI. The number of Government advertisements is a clear indicator how much he is an eager partner, or well wisher.
In his address while lighting the first light in TOI’s office, he said, “The paper should remove deep darkness and kindle the light of knowledge among the people,†So according to him the Hindu was delivering darkness everyday till this dawn has arrived. Well probably the name is the culprit. For anything Hindu, except their votes are ugly for this old mind. He will not mind christianizing of rituals by keeping Temples open at midnight on 1st Jan, but will not allow Panchang recital on April 14th, because it is against dravidism. Infact it is because of The Hindu he could easily overcome many a crisis in the past. The pro leftist Hindu has always been on his side because of the left being a constant partner with him. But how could he tolerate a Brahmin family who are related to his new rivals Marans. And that is why this TOI entry is with covert blessings. For him his power and his seat is the ultimate and only important thing. Of course he is neither against development nor against any improvement in social life of masses. But they are bound to be only byproducts of the primary goal. His only strive will be to keep the power. The rest can follow. Inspite of being a regional party can he claim atleast one industry, which has, became India no. 1 from his state. Atleast one business family becoming big from his state? Atleast one tamilian becoming big in Indian Cinema, Atleast one tamilian becoming big in center?, atleast one tamilian becoming biggest anywhere because of him? The only great achievement is to make Tamil a classical Language which delivers no visible tangible benefit to any tamilian as of now except him because he has seen scores of felicitation functions for this by his cronies and chamcha allies. I remember a famous Industrialist of Tamilnadu in an India today conclave telling that’ Inspite of the politicians they have made a mark, and nothing because of them’ A Vishwanathan Anand, a Ramesh Krishnan, an Indra Nooyi, a shiv nadar or similar do not owe the state anything for they making a mark in the world. And that is a sad state of affair.
He believes in Keeping the working class in the state as working class ever dependant and just about meeting their needs and then brings outsiders to give them jobs by which he will get a pat and much more from them. He overstretches himself to please an outsider but bullies his own upward mobile. He can even sacrifice a hogenakkal for seeing Sonia smile. He believes in realizing all dreams of the Anna of sixties, this when all world leaders however old they are, try to make their youngsters dream and realize them. He himself is in a cocoon, not letting the old fade nor letting the young breathe freely, be it his son. And he lighting a lamp for the newspaper, which plans to change what is a century old in Chennai, is the biggest Irony of today.
Just like he often says that he has nothing against Rama or the Hindus but was speaking plain truth and expressing what he believed, similarly I have nothing against a great veteran, who knows psychology of masses more than even the Americans, but only wish he be of some use to his people.
Now coming to the first Issue of TOI, a heavy editorial page with glamour less and serious stuff, a great interview with Dhoni [I wonder why express or Hindu never thought about this], a cover interview with Anand, the CM’s photo in the first page, etc has many things businesslike correct. But the best ‘gas’ in TOI is its opinion poll. It cannot forget that one such poll divorced the marans from the favors of the rulers and hence ‘fixes the poll’ by telling that 46% ‘ youngsters’ feel Tamil New Year’s Day should be shifted to mid Jan. No man with brains will believe this but what sound sweet to the ears of a man with a yellow shawl should bring them dividends. And it shows many are for satellite towns and many wish to shift there. What wishful thinking. The first sign that the editors of TOI have assumed a low IQ and stupidity of the masses here. Not that it is entirely wrong or correct, but whether they can use this belief for a success is the question. After all if one can fool them for so long why not Toi from now on?
The Times of India Chennai is priced Rs. 2/- for Week days and Rs 3/- for Sundays, Cheaper than The Hindu but costlier than Indian Express and Deccan chronicle.
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The Wholesale Price Index, the indicator for inflation, has hit 7.41 per cent for the week ending March 29, crossing the 7 per cent mark as feared, according to fresh numbers released today .
Will Free television and 2 Rupees rice erase this nightmarish situation?. Watch Karnataka in May. Though not a congress sympathiser, I wish it wins Karnataka, because then Tamilnadu will not be the only state which can be bought by bribes such as free TV and acres.
Watch TV, Drink Liquor, Eat cheap rice, and give us power. Wah what a country. And now with 27% more out of their reach, the forwards of today may soon look for these freebies. Some social revolution.
They cannot call it Tamil new year day any more as it has been shifted to pongal by order. So Sun TV and its gang of channels will air special programs on the eve of its 15Th birthday. Kalignar TV will air special movies as Chittirai special, All other Channels also have a set of special programs for April 13Th.
In Jaya TV, Watch an interview with Vincent Asokan, son of yesteryear actor Asokan at 8.30 a.m. in ‘Son of Villain.’ In ‘Inimae Naangathaan,’ at 9.05 a.m., children in the age group of five to 13 showcase their skills in mimicry, martial arts, dance, gymnastics, etc. ‘Dhanush Vazhi Thani Vazhi’ at 12.30 p.m., Face to face with Santhanam, Kanja Karuppu and director Chimbudevan in ‘Arain En 305-l Naangal,’ at 1.30 p.m. and ‘Bharathudan Oru Naal,’ at 6 p.m. are some of the other programmes.
On Vijay TV watch the special edition of Koffee with Anu Season 2, to be aired on April 12, 21.30 , which features A.R.Rahman and Mrs. Y.G.Parthasarathy.Rahman gets nostalgic recalling his school days. Selvakumar, Rahman’s personal assistant also visits the sets. Actor Amir Khan wishes him good luck for his KM - music conservatory. Actor S.J.Suryah, Kalyani Menon (mother of Rajiv Menon) also speak about the legend.
Anu alavum bhayam ellai is another special program for Sunday morning.
Times of India is starting Chennai Edition from April 14Th. And Chennai is already feeling the heat. Today’s newsstand were painted orange with a loud caption saying ‘Ahead of Times’- well that was the cover page of The new Indian Express today. A bold and un candid pre response to the arrival of the Times. Three days before the first issue, Express has announced loud and clear that the battle lines are drawn. A very stylish print with new fonts and more pictures plus new extra’s everyday is the modus of them.
Hindu is stressing on preserving the old in it’s sign boards and Deccan is putting up more pop’s in stands.
“The current leader (The Hindu) has quite a conservative approach. We hope to bring in vibrancy and a more youthful approach in the English print market in Chennai.â€
“The paper will have not less than 40 pages,â€
“Our aim is not to wean away “Hindu readers, but instead, to look at an opportunity to expand the market by becoming the second newspaper in homes. The younger people, who set up new homes, should look at TOI as their first option.â€
“Wherever TOI has gone, it has gone with a federal approach and not with a national approach. We believe in localisation of content and the Chennai edition too will be strong on localisation. It’s a huge opportunity for us to take up local issues.â€
[The above are quotes by Mr. Rahul Kansal, brand director, TOI]
The Hindu, as per ABC figures for July-December 2007, has an average net paid sales circulation of 2,80,473 in Chennai, while Deccan Chronicle is only 23,555 copies behind at 2,56,918 copies.
It is to be noted that around two years ago, Deccan Chronicle was launched in Chennai at an invitational cover price of Re 1, which was raised to Rs 1.50 later. However, in upcountry markets, the cover price Monday to Saturday continues to be Re 1. The Hindu sells for Rs 3.25 on weekdays and Rs 4.50 on Sundays. The third English newspaper in the market is The New Indian Express, which prints about 66,000 copies (ABC, July-December 2007) in Chennai.
The TOI’s Chennai edition is being targeted at SEC A and B in the 23-30 years’ age group.
The newspaper had an outdoor teaser campaign, which had buildings, vans and men on the streets, all wrapped in newsprint, with the words Next Change? emblazoned on them. The campaign is being handled by JWT Chennai.
Understanding Tamil is easy than Chennai said a foreigner in the Express today. How true. Tamilians like to be entertained more than anyone else in the country. The average time spent for entertainment in Tamilnadu is unparalleled. For him a newspaper is just a time pass, one more source of entertainment. And that is why a Tabloid culture Times is expected to be a serious rival by all concerned.
According to the results of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), women from Chennai along with Delhi stood second in the list of divorcees across the country in the age group of 15-49 The number of divorce cases registered in the Chennai family court has increased to 3,874 in 2007 from 3,374 cases in 2006.
There was the time when divorce was considered a stigma in the society and only the upper class in the society had the guts and gumption to break away from the marriages. There was also a time when dowry harassment and in-laws wars were cited as reasons for separation. But the scene today is completely different. More than the upper class the Middle and lower middle families taking to family courts. Multiple incomes, over ambitious and career oriented youth, nuclear families and fast paced lifestyle among many other personality traits and ego wars seem to threaten the institution of marriage in India.
Today’s women are educated and hold jobs that ensure their economic independence. They are confident enough to walk out of a bad marriage unlike the previous generation.
One has to really appreciate Rose for not going in to details of the marital discord but to probe in to Meera and her ex hubby on their feelings before and after.
There is no need of a psychologist to understand why this pair split. Meera was earning and in most of their union she was the only breadwinner. A 2006 study in Social Forces, a research journal, found that women—even those with a “feminist” outlook—are happier when their husband is the primary breadwinner. Meera also mentioned in the discussion she would look for a shoulder to lean, which means she was deprived of an emotional and financial support she longed for in Marriage.
Whether she was a victim of physical abuse as claimed by her or as her hubby claimed was she in habit of self-destruction, is immaterial now. She looks poised, confident and in complete control of her,and even Narcissist to an extent now, after the split. Seems the split is doing good to her. She was not intimidated nor concerned nor conscious of the presence of a psychologist in their discussion, unlike her ex hubby Vishal. Vishal looked as if or was pretending well that he is yet to overcome and as if he was the affected party. All that might suit a maintenance case,
Our society normally blames the man for any marital discord in public but when in courts it is the character assassination of the female, which is used predominantly.
“Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated. Often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing by cutting anyone who comes between them.”
Dr. Shalini as usual was very impressive with her apt analysis of both the cases and best replies for questions posed to her. Calling both Meera and Vishal was not expected and by this Rose sprang a surprise. However poor Audio took the toll of the latter part of the show.
7/10 for the week.