BBC launches Tamil film music series

BBC Tamil Service, Tamilosai, is launching a series of programmes exploring the history of music and songs in Tamil movies. Launching on Sunday, 22 August, the panoramic 15-part series looks at the evolution of Tamil film music through its nearly 60 years' history, from its South Indian classical music roots to the present.

Producer of the series, BBC Chennai correspondent, Sampath Kumar, is a fan and expert of Tamil film music. He says that music lies at the heart of the commercial success of the multi-million dollar Tamil film industry: "Many a Tamil movie has proved to be a box office hit solely on the strength of the music. But just why have the songs in the films captured the people's imagination? What are the origins of Tamil film music?  And who are the doyens of the Tamil film music, past and present? This is what we are exploring in the series."

The Tamil film music series is the first of its kind in BBC Tamilosai's output.  Peppered with the bits of famous music, the series features interviews with veteran music directors, singers and music pundits.

Thirumalai Manivannan, Head of BBC Tamilosai, says the series is going to be a treat for the the Tamil film fans across the world: "Many Tamil film songs created by famous lyricists like Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram and Kannadasan have acquired a literary status while immortal works of poets like Subramania Bharati and Bharatidasan have been successfully tuned to appeal to mass tastes. With this series we are taking a comprehensive overview of the magical music that has enchanted Tamil film fans for years. "

BBC Tamilosai programmes are available on 31, 41 and 49 metres on short wave at 21.15 IST and 21.45 Sri Lankan time. The series will also be available to Tamil-speakers, wherever they are, on the BBC Tamilosai's recently re-launched website bbctamil.com.