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`Kannadi' has completed 600 episodes on Asianet

CREATING AN IMPACT `Kannadi' gives viewers a crisp narration of news and facts

Thirteen years ago, a fortnightly programme on Asianet held a mirror to Kerala and reflected its state of affairs, warts and all. It created waves then and continues to make an impact with its no-nonsense reportage and crisp narration of news and facts.

Now, after completing 600 episodes, its anchorperson and producer T.N. Gopakumar has become a brand image in the television industry in Kerala. With his gravely voice and Moses-like appearance, Gopakumar spawned a number of copycat programmes that attempted to duplicate the success of `Kannadi.'

"What is interesting is that the TRP rating is as strong as ever. Despite the proliferation of television channels, the TRP rating for `Kannadi' is higher now," says Gopakumar.

Many firsts

The 30-minute programme has many first to its credit. A viewers' fund is one of those. "I never solicited funds. When we began airing the stories of people crushed by poverty, disease, neglect and social prejudices, viewers began to send donations. It was a spontaneous gesture and we were forced to start a fund. Now, we have groups of viewers in the United Kingdom, the United States and in the Gulf region who regularly send in their contributions," he says.

Ask him a standard question as to which story touched him the most and he fumbles for an answer as `Kannadi' has chronicled many a shocking incident of abuse and atrocity.

"There are more than 2,000 stories and it is difficult to zero in on one. But to rewind, the way some women are still subject to all kinds of physical and mental abuse in certain places in Malabar continue to haunt me. Similarly, the story of a nine-year-old girl who had to fend a living for her three younger siblings evoked a strong response from our viewers. More than Rs. 10 lakh was raised by way of donations. She is now 15 and we have opened accounts in the names of all the four children."

Keeping track

Unlike many news features that focus on the present and lose track of the past, `Kannadi' has manages to keep track of many of the people whose lives were touched by the programme.

"We are particular about follow-ups. For instance, we had featured Chitra, who was the first known AIDS case in Kerala. She is now no more but over the years, we were able to help her financially."

According to him, it is "honesty, credibility, consistency and commitment" that is the USP of the programme. Looks like `Kannadi' is all set to complete 1,000 episodes.

SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN

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