For Kalaignar TV, Saturday is Vidumurai Dinam, not Vinayakar Chathurthi

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on September 11, 2010:

COONOOR: Kalaignar TV refuses to admit that it is coming out with special programmes on Saturday for ‘Vinayakar Chathurthi’ but claims that it is for ‘Vidumurai Dinam’ (holiday)!

For past two days, it has been repeatedly announcing the list of special programmes as Vidumurai Dina Sirappu Nigazhigal (holiday special programmes). Except for nadaswaram concert at 6 am, all programmes have cinematic connection — new cine songs (8 am), review of film Puzhal (9 am), Nagaram film’s music CD release with CM Karunanidhi (9.30 am) and interview with actors Arya and Nayantara (5 pm). Four movies, Kanthakottai (10 am), Yegan (2 pm), Naan Kadavul (6 pm) and “Superman Returns” (9.30 pm) will be telecast. For Friday’s Ramzan, , there had been mentions of greetings from the CM, besides special interview with B H Sahul Hameed, TV/AIR personality.

“Why no such packages for every holiday? If there are compulsions due to competition, they must admit that the occasion is Vinayakar Chathurthi. Otherwise, its hypocrisy is blatantly visible,” Lalitha Ramani, president, Hubbathalai Residents’ Circle, told Express on Friday.