The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Shakti Extratainment launched

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Thursday, Jul 05, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Shakti Extratainment launched

Staff Reporter

Internet Protocol Television channel to offer shows via special set top box

— Photo: R. Ragu

PROMOTING culture: Film Director K. Balachander (right), M. Murali, Founder, Sri Krishna Sweets (centre) and Chitravina N. Ravikiran at the inauguration of the Bani Festival in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Shakti Extratainment, the first global Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel based out of Chennai, was launched here on Wednesday.

The channel, launched in California recently, is expected to be made available in India soon.

Speaking at the launch, Chitraveena wizard and chairman of Shakti Extratainment Global Television N. Ravikiran said the channel offered shows through a special IPTV set top box (STB), designed by the U.S.-based Verismo Networks.

IPTV essentially enables viewers to access television content through technology used for computer networks. And the STB designed for this venture will help viewers download programmes onto their television from the Internet (broadband). The channel will offer shows on a ‘watch-at-will’ basis. They could be accessed on television with the STB.

Perfect mix

Programmes will focus on classical as well as contemporary Indian culture. From soaps, serials and movies to shows on music lessons from legends such as P.S. Narayanaswamy, Trichur Ramachandran and S.R. Janakiraman, viewers will have a wide range of shows to choose from.

The Shakti Extratainment team has been working on developing content for their channel for a year.

The two-day ‘Bani Festival,’ inaugurated in this connection on Wednesday, would have budding and eminent musicians presenting their styles. “We are recording all these performances. We propose to feature them in different slots on our channel,” Mr. Ravikiran said.

Artistic creativity

Veteran film director K. Balachander said he attributed his enthusiasm, exuberance and artistic creativity to his two “addictions” — work and music.

“Most of my celebrated and landmark films have had musical themes,” he said, citing ‘Ninaithalae Inikkum’, ‘Sindubhairavi’, ‘Punnagai Mannan’, ‘Unnaal mudiyum thambi’ and ‘Puduppudu Arthangal’ as examples.

Music was more relevant now than in previous centuries, as the world at large was reeling under unprecedented violence and threats.

He lauded Shakti Extratainment for expanding the horizons of Indian culture.

N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, TheHindu, said fragmentation and segmentation were becoming more important in broadcast media as the ecology of media was changing.

Quoting John Naughton, media guru in the United Kingdom, he said broadcast television was the dominant organism in the media ecosystem, which was in the process of radical change. Mr. Naughton attributes this change to the “inexorable decline” of broadcast TV.

Mr. Ram said this venture would help people abroad, who have problems finding high quality gurus. “We are very happy about this serious venture that promises to offer a good balance of content,” he said.

Child prodigy

Speaking of his association with Mr. Ravikiran, he recalled the excitement at the Music Academy, almost 40 years ago, about reports of a child prodigy. “Many prodigies burn out fast. But thanks to nurture, good family values and a certain degree of modesty, he has matured and carved out a place for himself.”

Reminiscing the meeting he and Mr. Ravikiran had with celebrated author R.K. Narayan a few years ago, Mr. Ram said the author had asked the Chitraveena exponent to strike a balance between his inventor and performing artiste roles. “Ravikiran has combined multi facets. He has become a profound musician, who is accessible to students across the world, without compromising on core values.”

Sri Krishna Sweets managing director M. Murali said Shakti Extratainment was a unique concept that would go a long way in developing a good rasika circle for the arts. “It is not enough if our arts grow. Only a good audience b ase will help elevate our culture.”

Arangetram held

Following the inauguration, a vocal arangetram (first public performance) of Ashwin Sridhar, disciple of Mr. Ravikiran, was held.

Renowned flautist N. Ramani congratulated Ashwin, a Standard IX student of Bala Vidya Mandir, on his performance.

“This is not his first concert, but a first-class concert,” he said. The launch of the channel got off to a good start, he said.

For further details about the channel, visit: http://shaktiextratainment.com/.

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