Kalaignar TV indulges viewers with mega serials and more movies

The Tamil general entertainment channel has introduced three big TV properties and has started airing blockbuster movies on Fridays as well

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam backed general entertainment channel (GEC), Kalaignar TV, is set to roll out big TV properties to boost its weekdays and weekend programming.

The Tamil GEC has also advanced its movie slot, in which Tamil blockbusters will be aired every Friday at 7:30 pm instead of weekends.

Confirming these developments to afaqs!, a senior official at Kalaignar TV says, "We are ready with four big programmes, namely Manada Mayilada; Bhavani; Uravukku Kai Kod Uppome; and Nenjam Marappadhillai.

With an eye on the film centric population of Tamil Nadu, we have also advanced our movie slot by airing movies every Friday at 7:30 pm."

Manada Mayilada – the reality dance show – is Kalaignar TV's flagship show as it is in its fourth year. The immensely popular show made its debut in 2007 at the time of the launch of the GEC. The fresh edition of the two hour long reality dance show features TV and film celebrities competing against each other. It airs on Sundays at 7:30 pm.

The channel has tied up with well known production house AVM, credited with a large number of blockbuster movies, to produce a mega serial called Uravukku Kai Kod Uppome, to be rolled out on June 29. A daily soap airing at 7:30 pm, it features seasoned actors of South Indian television. The story narrates the sacrifices made by the elder son in a family for his younger siblings after the untimely demise of his father and the subsequent betrayal by the younger siblings.

Sharing details about other projects, the official explains, "We have planned a musical extravaganza, Nenjam Marappadhillai, beginning June 28. The show will recreate the magic of legendary singers through soulful rendition of old numbers by a group of young artists selected from all over the state after a rigorous screening process. The show will be aired on Sundays from 10:15 am-11 am."

The 15 minutes slot preceding the show will air a poetical recital by Tamil Nadu's chief minister, Kalaignar M Karunanidhi.

Kalaignar TV recently introduced another weekly family oriented crime thriller, Bhavani, which is aired on Monday to Thursday at 9:30 pm.

The Tamil GEC is putting its biggest bet on the movie slot, Velli Parisu (A Gift on Friday). It has decided to begin the movie slot on the channel from Friday onwards instead of airing movies only on weekends.

This has been done to gain more eyeballs amongst the working class viewers, who look forward to unwinding on weekends. The channel believes that in a state where films have deep influence on personal, social and political life of the population, it makes sense to increase the major share of entertainment for viewers by airing blockbuster movies from the channel's well stocked library of old and new titles.