Vijay TV's plans

STAR Network’s Tamil general entertainment channel, Vijay TV, is preparing to entertain its viewers with a pot-pourri of music and dance, comedy, fiction and reality. The channel is readying to unravel a mix of shows to keep the viewers occupied. K Sriram, general manager, Vijay TV, says, “Riding high on the success and the enthusiastic response to our just concluded show, Airtel Super Singer 2008, it's an opportune time for us to consolidate our gains by dishing out equally (and more) engaging entertaining fare for our viewers.

“Our next biggest property will be Amul Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Dheva (Who is the next Prabhu Dheva) – a dance reality show which we intend to take on ground, and air the grand finale of the show live on June 26.” The regional channel will also launch a few fiction shows to spruce up its primetime lineup (7 pm-10:30 pm). Anbe Vaa, a love story with fresh faces, will be rolled out on June 22. It will be aired on Monday-Thursday at 8 pm. A fresh season of popular show Kanaa Kaanum Kalangal is scheduled for an early August launch. The series this time focuses on adolescent children in a village school. The last season of the show portrayed the school life of city kids. In addition to these two fiction shows, the channel is experimenting with an exciting format show called Anu Alavum Bayamillai. It's a reality show to be wrapped up in 45 days, starring celebrity actors who will be seen performing daring acts exhibiting their courage, stamina and will power. Vijay TV, after hosting three popular editions of Jodi No.1, has this time renamed the show as Boys vs. Girls and introduced fresh elements of competition to ward off the fatigue experienced by the audience.

Elaborating on the programming mix, Sriram shares, “The idea is to piggyback on the success of our recently concluded reality shows by launching new, strong shows in different genres. We begin unravelling our fresh programming lineup by presenting two comedy shows. “The first, Amman Try Anda Kaalam Inda Kaalam (Those Years, This Year), a hilarious and interesting debate between the older and the younger generations over the quality of entertainment, movies and songs of yesteryear in comparison with the current entertainment fare. The second show was V-Guard Adhu Idhu Edhu, a comedy game show.” Sriram adds that another show to be watched out for is Paatu Paadavaa (Bol Baby Bol). It is based on the international format, Don't Forget Your Lyrics, and will be a version of the Hindi show, Bol Baby Bol. Paatu Paadavaa is a unique musical game show in which, without missing the lyrics of at least 10 songs, the contestant stands a chance to win the prize money of Rs 5 lakh. Paatu Paadavaa will go on air on July 3. It will be aired on Friday and Saturday at 10 pm. Sriram sounds enthusiastic at the prospect of getting a positive response from viewers for the third edition of the Vijay Awards – which will see big Tamil film stars wooing the audience. The awards will be announced on June 13.