MUMBAI: Amrita TV introduces Kerala’s most revered festival Onam, with a difference, as it observes its tenth year in 2015. Having emerged as winner of the highest number of State Awards by any Indian Broadcaster in just 10 years (62 Awards), Amrita TV has a differentiated entertainment fare and is celebrating an Onam extravaganza from Aug 19-30 covering Atham and Onam festival days.
Every year, Malayalam GECs telecast three to four movies per day during the main Onam season. For Onam 2015, Amrita TV is making a departure from this convention, and instead packing the Onam season with a variety of endearing, enriching & entertaining content, with a few ‘Firsts’.
Amrita TV ushers in Onam with a first-ever conversation with noted actor and numero uno comedian,Jagathy Sreekumar, who was involved in a near-fatal road accident three years ago wherein, he lost his faculty of speech and was confined to a wheel chair since that fateful day. In his first television get-together with friends & family, the Program “Changathikoottam”, will be telecast in two one-hour episodes on Aug 28 & 29 from 9.30 am-10.30 am(Thiruonam & Avittom festival days)
Another first by Amrita TV this Onam is the re-emergence of famous Malayalam actress Annie on the small screen after 19 years. The bubbly Annie had made a spectacular impact in a span of just 3 years in Malayalam cinema, before she retired for a married family life. She will be anchoring the show “Annie’s Kitchen” wherein she will be in cookery conversation with leading celebs of Malayalam cinema. Starting Aug 24,”Annie’s Kitchen” will be aired every day at 7 pm .
The third pioneering show “Vithum Kaikoottam” will feature super stars like Mammootty, Srinivasan, besides Vijayraghavan & Krishnaprasad and showcase their passion for farming, organic agriculture and their bonding with mother earth. Here we take a trip to the farms of these actors and reveal the unpublicized personal aspects of their lives. “Vithum Kaikoottam” will be telecast from Aug 26-30 at 8.30 am.
The Onam season is the time when well-known actors share the best memories of the festival. The Amrita TV lineup consists of all the sought-after celebs of Malayalam cinema: top-notch star Mohanlal shares his experiences on Aug 27 & 28 at 9.30 pm; Suresh Gopi on 28th (12 noon); Kavya Madhavan (28th, 4.30 pm),Jayaram (30th,7.30pm).
A program shot at Kargil peaks,”Patalakkar”(27th,12 noon) is a conversation with jawans and director Major Ravi . Newly married actors celebrate their first Onam with Amrita TV on the show”Kodiyonam”(27th-30th at 11.30 am) featuring Vinay Fort,Amla Paul,Jewel Mary & Jinus Kamal with their spouses.
Popular actor Dileep is the anchor of the fun program ‘’Dileepum Kuttikalum( Aug 27&28, 10.30 pm) where Dileep is interacting with kids talking about various subjects which excite children. Another show which is bound to evoke peals of laughter is “Chingathil Kalyanam” with comedian Suraj Venjaramood(Aug 28, 5 pm) . The hilarious mood is kept alive throughout Onam by way of a serial comedy show,” Money Matters “ with Shajon and Team(Aug 18-28th,8 pm). A political satire based on Onam is ‘,Maveli Nadakam(Aug 29,10.30 pm)
For many Keralites across the world, this festival creates a sense of nostalgia and heritage. The show ”Kavya Pustakamallo Jeevitham”( Aug 19-28,7.30 pm) is a musical tribute featuring veteran playback maestro, P.Jayachandran, singing some of his best songs of his chequered career. Likewise, to revive the forgotten melodies of Onam, Amrita TV is airing a reality show of Onam songs, “Onam Melam (Aug 19-28,8.30 pm) with composer M.Jayachandran and singer Ranjini Jose as judges. Leading politicians with their families will be humming their favourite songs and recalling their Onam memories in the show,” Smriti Mudrakal((Aug 19-26,5.30 pm) . Meanwhile a series of episodes will dwell on the culture and rituals associated with Onam( Aug 19-28,7.30 am)
Leading playback singers and musicians of various hues will have a musical session with composer, M.Jayachandran in “Sangeetha Smritikal( Aug 27-29,10.30 am)
Amrita TV will be airing only one superhit movie daily at 1.15 pm during the Onam season.
