Isai Sangamam in Puthiya Thalaimurai

Puthiya Thalaimurai, a part of the SRM group, ventured into the media with their magazine. Their launch ads were focused towards the youth. I have not read an issue of their magazine. But destiny had decided to push me inside the studios of Puthiya Thalaimurai TV (PT TV). Read further to know how!!!!

A long time friend Kolappan called me 10 days ago and wanted to meet me. Kolappan told me he has a friend who wants to discuss with me about music season etc. I was in a client's place and couldn't reach Kolappan's home in time. So we decided to meet at Injikudi Sri Subramaniam's concert at Raga Sudha Hall. Yes Kolappan introduced Mr. Kalyanaraman to me. Kalyan, as he is called, has just joined PT TV. Kalyan has a rich experience in journalism, inspired by Ram of The Hindu joined the same college, Ram graduated from, in US, and has returned to India. After working for Times of India Kalyan has taken up this assignment. Kalyan says television is new to him. Though it doesn't show in him. Injikudi played a brilliant thOdi ragam that day for about 30 minutes which was good enough for the entire December for me. So I walked out of the hall and in the foyer was talking to Kalyan. Coming back to our conversation. What started as an off the cuff conversation with Kalyan panned out as a TV program for 30 minutes daily from December 16th to 31st in PT TV. This is the 1st attempt by any television channel. Reviewing movies is a beaten to death concept with contrived comments, eulogies blah blah. But what we have attempted in PT TV is unique in more than one ways. We try to introduce the various aspects of music by a small description on ragas, talams, varnams, swarajathis etc.

We have consciously included Thamizh film music in our capsules. This is to introduce carnatic music to the film music listeners in a way they understand and can retain. I'm called a 'pracharak' by my friends for injecting carnatic music. I always create an opportunity to shove down the throat on people who are not familiar with Carnatic Music. As a mass media vehicle PT TV gave me enough to do my job!!

Our discussion is on PT TV daily 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Also available same time at http://puthiyathalaimurai.tv/news, recorded capsules also now available at 

http://blip.tv/isai-sangamam