Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
Scoring high on popularity
|
At a time when most people prefer watching private channels, Sport Quiz on DD-Podhigai beckons attention. The programme's anchor, Dr. Sumanth C. Raman seems to have made all the difference.
|
AMONG THE dial-in shows being telecast on various channels, Sports Quiz on DD - Podhigai ranks right on top for the tremendous response it generates from viewers. About 120 callers participate in the 60-minute programme and more than 3000 e-mail responses flood the mailbox. Among anchors known more for their glamour, incessant chatter or funny antics, Dr. Sumanth C. Raman offers a stark contrast. The nuggets of information he offers and his clinical handling lend dignity to this programme telecast every Monday at 9. 30 p.m.
A medico by profession, Dr. Sumanth is an experienced anchor and well known sports commentator. Besides overseeing his family's silk business, he also has a 9 to 5 job at Tata Consultancy Services. Passionate about sports, Sumanth has undergone formal training in tennis and was a keen student of chess. "I was also interested in cricket, but my modest cricketing abilities were mostly an asset for the opposition," he laughs.
As a student of Madras Medical College, Dr. Sumanth attended the audition at Doordarshan way back in 1987 and found his way to the commentary box during a hockey tournament in Ambasamudram. Since then, Dr. Sumanth has been the anchor for many important government functions and several sporting events including the National Games. He is a recipient of the best anchor award given by UGC.
Hosting TV shows is one among the several feathers in his cap. He had earlier hosted Telequiz on DD and "All out for no loss" on Vijay TV.
Sports Quiz was conceived with an eye on the Football World Cup held last year in June. For six weeks, prominent football players also featured in the show as guests. After the event, it became a general sports quiz and now it is the Cricket World Cup Special.
The programme has interesting segments like Picture Point, Clue for You, Fill and Tell and Sequence Surprise with an ideal mix of easy and tough questions.
Dr. Sumanth spends weekends setting questions and sends them across to Ravichandran, the CG operator. About 70 slides containing the questions and illustrations are then prepared. He views the entire format of the day's programme about 20 minutes before going on air. "The show has loyal viewers from across the country. We also have viewers responding through e-mail from the Gulf countries and on an odd occasion even from Pakistan," says Dr. Sumanth.
The programme seems to have caught on in Chennai, as the doctor-turned-anchor found out for himself. A few days ago, a leading Tamil film star complimented him after viewing the show. On another occasion, a group of auto-drivers told him they enjoyed the programme. "Since it is a live programme, it can be either turnout to be an enjoyable experience or a really tough one," he says. Things did turn tricky on a couple of occasions, when there were problems with telephone lines. Then, there were scores of complaints from viewers from Bangalore and Hyderabad who were unable to participate. "The support of the Doordarshan officials has always been crucial for the programme's success. The officials met the Chief General Manager of the Telephone Department to sort out problems regarding the telephone lines," he says.
At times when frustration crept in, he would count on his mother who was always behind him. Otherwise, it's business as usual for Dr. Sumanth — designing software for hospitals, looking after the family business and of course, devising ways to improve the show. "I would like to include other sports as well after the World Cup concludes," says the doctor.
A.ASHOK
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
