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Riding the wave

LIZA GEORGE

Pratheesh Nandakumar, who hosts programmes on Kiran TV, is the winner of this year’s Kerala State Award for the Best Anchor.

All the stars are good in their respective genre.

Photo: S. Gopakumar

Gregarious host: Pratheesh Nandakumar aims at making it big in the world of cinema.

He is the gregarious host on Kiran TV. With a smile on his face, he deals with people from all walks off life.

Says Pratheesh Nandakumar winner of this year’s Kerala State Award for the Best Anchor, “It’s tough at times, especially if you have started your day on a wrong note. But then, it’s like you are another person when you are in front of the camera. You tend to forget what’s bugging you and start enjoying yourself.”

And the fact that he is having a good time shows as he anchors the various live programmes on the channel such as ‘Darling Darling,’ ‘Megha Sandeshanam’ and ‘Chuma Chuma’ with flair.

“Hosting live shows are tricky as you may slip. However, taking into account our age and the fact that we are new to the field gives us leeway amongst the older audience if we do goof up. The fact that it is live does help in a way as we connect with the audience better. The audience feels free to talk as they can see us and hear us respond. They feel as if they are talking to a friend or a relative,” says Prateesh.

According to Prateesh, most of the callers are students. If ‘Darling Darling’ has him doling out advice to love-struck teens, ‘Chuma Chuma’ has him passing dedications from callers.

“It’s difficult when you have to deal with pesky callers-those who just won’t stop talking. You have to be careful not to offend them in any way when you say time is running out. You have to tread carefully so that you don’t lose your fans.”

But judging by his fan mail, Prateesh seems to be riding the popularity wave. “Yes, I do receive quite a bit of fan mail and a few love mails too. It’s funny to note that when it comes to love, the language used is the same across the districts. There are no hints of Malabar-based, Thrissur-based, or Thiruvananthapuram-based dialects. They all say, “I love you, “I can’t live without you.”

A graduate from Kottayam, this 26-year-old who is busy doing his MBA via IGNOU is a self-confessed movie buff.

“I love movies, no matter the language. I enjoy comedies and have always harboured dreams of being in front of the camera when I was a young.”

So, it was a dream come true, when he got an offer from Asianet to host ‘Valkanadi.’ “Anchoring Valkanadi was fun as you meet people from various backgrounds. It also helped me get the job in Kiran,” says Prateesh who has been hosting the shows on Kiran for the last two years.

However, Pratheesh’s aim is to make it big in the world of cinema and he sees hosting programmes on television as stepping stones in the right direction. Ask him who is favourite stars are and pat comes a diplomatic, “I like everyone. All the stars are good in their respective genre.” Asked if he has received any offers from movie directors and the host says, “Not yet.” And so, with his trademark, “Nale Vendum Kandum Muttam Ennu Subhapratheeshude Pratheesh,” he signs off.