News channels unveil special programming for Independence Day

On the occassion of the 62nd Independence Day, news channels have planned to give its viewers a patriotic treat.

NDTV Network has lined up a series of “thought-provoking shows” for its viewers. NDTV 24X7, the English news channel from the network, will air The Legends at 5:30 pm to pay tribute to the classical musicians. At 8 pm, the channel will have The Big Fight that will showcase a debate on the Indo-Pak Relationship: 62 years after. The show, hosted by Vikram Chandra from India and Munizae Jahangir from Karachi, will have a panel comprising representatives from major political parties and audiences from both the countries. At 10.30 pm, it will air Jai Jawaan with Abhishek Bachchan in his journey to Kargil. Hindi news channel, NDTV India, will air a documentary, Kargil Ki Kahani, Air Force Ki Zubani, at 1.30 pm. The documentary features the Indian Air Force and its role in Kargil, 10 years ago. The special highlights the tale of lone survivors and families of Air Force martyrs, from Sirsawa, Bhatinda and Gwalior. The channel will air Jai Jawaan at 9.30 pm and Azaadi Ki Udaan at 11.30 pm.

IBN18 channels – CNN IBN and IBN7 too have lined up specials for I-Day. The network is launching its bi-annual nationwide poll, State of the Nation, which returns in its eighth edition. IBN7’s show line-up also includes Vande Mataram, Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Humara, Independence Musical and India Rocks. The channel will air the findings of the poll (State of Nation) with the one-hour debate at 8 pm. Vande Mataram will trace the journey of national anthem since the pre-independence era till now. The show will be aired at 9 am and 5:30 pm.

Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Humara, at 10:30 am, 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm will feature sports history to witness events that have held the nation’s attention. The show recounts the greatest sports victories we have achieved in the field of cricket, hockey, tennis, boxing, shooting and in other sports. Independence Day Musical will be a musical tribute by child artists from popular television shows. India Rocks, at 12 noon, is an emotional and musical tribute to India, aired every Independence Day & Republic Day. This season, the show will feature poems and songs sent by children about one thing they would like to change about India or anything in their life.

IBN7 managing editor Ashutosh said, “This Independence Day, we would like to commemorate the sacrifice of our martyrs along with our present day victories which have made India shine. Therefore, we have planned our shows with a right mix of patriotism and entertainment and we are confident that viewers will appreciate the programming, making this Independence Day a memorable one." The other programmes on CNN IBN include India Rocks- Children of Change, Rewind to 47, Secret Kitchen Flavours of 47, The 1947 Quiz and a special episode on The Citizen Journalist Show. At 12 noon, the channel will air Rewind to 47, a show on people who were around in 1947. The show will have celebrities like Dev Anand, Zohra Segal, Alyque Padamsee, Ruskin Bond, Soli Sorabjee, Milkha Singh, Narendar Singh Sarila (ADC to Lord Mountbatten), the former King of Travancore and Saraswati Rajamani (oldest surviving female soldier in Netaji’s Indian National Army). Said CNN IBN editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai, "Our programming on the Independence Day is especially designed for viewers which will present news and views with a touch of entertainment. We are certain that our viewers will find the special shows refreshing, thinking and forward looking."

Times Now, too has a slew of special programming lined up. This includes Midnight’s Children, Total Recall-India @ 62, The Foodie at National Defence Academy Pune, Heroes of Freedom and Frankly Speaking. Not lagging behind, NewsX also has planned special programmes that will reflect on the last 62 years of independence. These include two primetime shows- Midnight Nations and Freedom Actually. Midnight Nations on 14 August at 9 pm brings together experts and personalities from India and Pakistan to discuss the co-existence of the two nations since their independence. The studio-based panel discussion will have experts such as Vikram Sood (Ex Raw), G Parthasarthy, Saeed Naqvi, (Rt) Gen Shankar Roy Choudhury from India and Jugnu Moshim (senior journalist), (Rt) Gen Talat Masood, Hamir Mir (senior journalist) and filmmaker Seema Bawvra from Pakistan. Freedom Actually on 15 August at 9 pm will bring together guests like Salman Khurshid, Aijaz Ilmi and Vir Sanghvi to discuss the true sense of freedom. The channel will also host a series of capsules in three different segments- Historic Milestones, Freedom and on Celebrity Bites.

-Indiantelevision