Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081054360500.htm

New Delhi

Lalu launches “Mahua TV”

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Saturday launched a new Bhojpuri general category television channel, “Mahuaa TV,” at a function held at a hotel here.

The launch was attended by several Bhojpuri cinema superstars like Manoj Tewari, Manoj Vajpayee and film-maker Prakash Jha.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prasad observed that “Bhojpuri is the mother of Hindi language.” Describing Bhojpuri as a precious pearl, he said the launch of the new channel amounted to a re-discovery of Bhojpuri.

The chairman and managing director of the channel, P.K. Tewari, said, “ There is an unmatched demand for Bhojpuri content across the Bhopuri population and this channel would seek to preserve the heritage and culture of Bhojpuri-speaking people.” “There are over 20 crore people who speak Bhojpuri in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other parts of the country,” he added.