Date:19/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/19/stories/2008071960021000.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TTD channel set to expand operations

Special Correspondent

Telugu film industry throws its lot behind the channel

20 devotional serials are at different stages of production
Actress Meena playing lead role in Tarigonda Vengamamba

Novel attempt: TTD Board Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy addressing a press meet in Tirupati on Friday while veterans of Telugu film industry K. Viswanath, Bapu-Ramana, actress Meena are participating in the meet.

TIRUPATI: TTD’s Sri Venkateswara Bhakthi Channel (SVBC), which went on air early this month is quickly moving into business.

The channel, which is at present beaming rituals that are going on in the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara and other recorded programmes, would soon be putting on air as many as 20 devotional serials, which are at different stages of production.

At a stock-taking session at the TTD’s SVETA Complex here on Friday, the top-brass of the Devasthanams, SVBC authorities and Telugu film veterans - K. Viswanath, Bapu-Ramana, Kodandarami Reddy, P.C. Reddy, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam and actress Meena - have had a lively interface.

TTD’s Board Chairman, B. Karunakar Reddy and the Executtive Officer, K.V. Ramanachary were closeted with the noted Telugu film producer-directors, script writers, actors and actresses to review the progress of as many as 39 devotional serials said to be at different stages of production for the SVBC.

Significantly the SVBC has struck a right chord with the Telugu film industry with the result that the stalwarts of the field have gladly thrown their lot behind the channel.

For instance the legendary director-writer pair, Bapu-Ramana, have taken up the task of producing the mega-serial, Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavam while K. Viswanath, besides playing the lead role, is producing a serial on Sivannarayana Theerthulu.

Another veteran of Telugu tinsel world, Raghavendra Rao, has taken upon himself the task of reeling out a programme entitled Srishti while noted director, Kodandarami Reddy, would be coming out with a serial, Puranagadhalu.

P.C. Reddy would produce a feature on Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja while Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, writer-cum- actor is given the task of producing the serial on Vasistha-Viswamithra.

Actress Meena has agreed to play the lead role in the mega serial on Tarigonda Vengamamba.

Classical fare

On the classical and devotional music scenario, while Carnatic music wizard Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna is busy producing a programme Annamacharyula Sankeerthanavali, while noted play-back singer S.P. Balasubramanyam would be bringing outSunada Vinodini.