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A buffet at eight
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STAR Vijay's breakfast show, "Mudhal Vanakkam", offers an enticing fare in a matter of minutes without testing the attention span of the already chores-filled morning of the viewer.
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STAR VIJAY'S "Mudhal Vanakkam" team appears a zest-filled one. "We are a group of 11, which includes Suresh Iyer, programming head, and Pradeep Milroy Peter, executive producer. We try to make our breakfast show entertaining, enjoyable and useful,'' says Sharmila Dharmarasa, its producer.
A smorgasbord of enticing fare is what STAR Vijay offers every morning. `Who has the time to watch a breakfast show on weekdays, however good?' is what you might think. But even in the mind-boggling hurry of the morning, snatching a few minutes here and there to watch or even listen to the snippets, suggestions and tips on a variety of matters could do one a world of good.
``From the beginning we were sure of one thing — no lengthy talk shows, or interviews — in fact nothing that would go beyond a few minutes and test the attention span of the already chores-filled morning of the viewer,'' Sharmila explains.
So a pithy thought for the day in "Villupattu'' form by Subbu Arumugham, comes after the anchors recall the significance of the day — a leader's birthday, a martyr's day or any other importance it may have with reference to events worldwide — a very informative couple of minutes.
Revathy Sankkaran's "Paatti Vaithiyam'' gives you tips on how minor ailments can be treated at home with things at hand. Revathy's singing skills and her conversational tone embellish the segment and make it an eagerly looked-forward to one.
Beauty tips, fashion news, hair care, kitchen tips, child care, interviews with eminent personalities in various fields, political issues garbed in satire, street plays, cinema, restaurant roundups, travelogue — you name it, "Mudhal Vanakkam'' has it.
And it is not as though everything is cramped on an everyday basis. Well selected and interestingly spaced out, each morning offers a few items to hold viewers' interest.
Shihan Hussaini's self defence techniques for women are sure scene-stealers. It is not just the demo itself, but the way he goes about it. Like, if he is going to teach you ways to encounter an eve teasing gang — he enacts the entire event beginning with the teasing itself and ends it up with the solution. The man's energy is simply amazing... even contagious.
A word about James Vasanthan, and Mamthi Chari, the anchors who carry on the show with confidence — their posture and gestures are beginning to look rigidly casual. There is no paradox here — the point is their approach looks too rehearsed. It would be better if it were a little more spontaneous. Yet they steer the course of the show without faltering or fumbling at any point. Both are familiar with the camera and naturally the camera is friendly towards them.
The "Mudhal Vanakkam'' milieu has an aesthetic touch. "Yes... we did not want a formal living room set,'' says Sharmila. And for aural pleasure it is L. Vaidyanathan's background score — the nativity of the music lingers in your ears for long.
Inundated with visuals, the quick cuts and crisp editing add to the flavour of this breakfast show.
However, the interviews could be pruned further. STAR Vijay can even spread an interview over a period of two to three days thereby making the segment shorter. `We are constantly on the look out for new ideas. We have rejuvenated the slot further since February 18,'' says Sharmila.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Metro Plus
Chennai
Hyderabad
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