Only a few for labourers

THE satellite television landscape is so crowded, that different channels have to re-invent their offerings for ``special'' days like Pongal, Deepavali or New Year.

So where does May Day fit in, to get the viewers sitting in front of the idiot box?

Though it is a holiday, it does not seem to have the same ``profile'' as other such days.

A look at what the channels are doing today.

The Sun TV special is coming up with ``Manam Virumbuthe Unnai'' and ``Velaikkaran''. Vijai TV has a Rajnikant starrer, ``Priya''.

It is only Raj TV and Jaya TV who seem to be packaging their offering as a May Day special, and trying out a little variety while they are at it.

Raj, in its morning special programme, starts off with ``Thirai Sirpigal'' a programme about persons who have worked hard in the film industry.

An interview with the film play back singer Srinivas (who scored a hit, `Snegithane' from the film ``Alai Payuthey'').

`Live in Lites' by music director Chandrabose, `Engalukkum Kalam Varum', covering the working days of a cross section of society such as tender coconut vendor, flower seller on the pavement and cobbler.

The channel also shows two films, both Rajnikant starrers ``Unkannil Neer Vazinthal'' and ``Rajathi Raja''. Jaya TV's special guest for the day is film producer Pyramid Natrajan.

A programme about T. M. Soundararajan, folk songs and May Day songs written for the ocassion and sung by popular singers are other highlights.

Workers who are not in a union or association are given the opportunity and interviewed. Interviews with these ``silent majority'' are not everyday happenings in the film industry, and they will air in two different programmes.

Interviews with Madhavan, (``Alai Payuthey'') and Vikram (``Sethu'') and two movies ``Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna''(Muthuraman and Cho) and ``Raja'' (Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalitha) are other highlights.

By S. R. Ashok Kumar

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Section  : Entertainment
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