A folksy touch to radio

RADIO IS going the folk route, for this ambitious programme. All India Radio, a venerable institution is now competing for the average citizen's ear with a variety of distractions.

AIR Chennai is producing 72 commercial spots of 30 second duration each and 156 half-hour sponsored programmes, with a strong flavour of the countryside - using street ballads, Kaisilambu, Kathalpattu, interviews, discussion, and symposia. All these are packaging the rural development programmes to the public in a style that they are home with.

Independence Day will see the launch of three half hour sponsored programmes of 30 minutes each, and these will be aired three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, between 7.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. AIR is already broadcasting six commercial spots on RD schemes since June.

The Station Director, Mr.B.R.Kumar, is buoyed by the prospects. It will be a family serial setting, consisting of the father, mother, and two children, who discuss RD programmes.

Skits and success stories of individuals will also drive home the possibility of making a fresh beginning for the rural populace through the Governmental schemes, he says.

The programme executive Mr. R. Rajagopal and transmission executive Mr. M.G. Mohanakrishnan are at work on this project, which is part of the Rs.42 crores sanctioned for the historic effort by AIR, says Mr. Kumar, who heads the effort.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Entertainment
Previous : Dancing down memory lane