Discovery Channel Tamil ushers in the New Year with special programming marathon

Media News

Chennai, April 9, 2012

This year on April 13, there are lots of reasons to celebrate as viewers usher in the New Year. Adding to the festivities of the Tamil New Year, Discovery Channel Tamil brings a special line-up of programmes showcasing the rich history, art and traditions of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil New Year Special will air on Friday, April 13 from 2 pm – 6 pm on Discovery Channel Tamil.

Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India, is a mélange of culture and tradition with its exotic and beautifully carved temples. From ancient temples to the ingenious tribes and exotic jewellery, Tamil New Year Special celebrates its glorious past, magnificence and rich heritage.

Commenting on the special festive line-up, Rahul Johri, Senior Vice President and General Manager – South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, "Discovery Channel Tamil wishes all its viewers a very happy Tamil New Year. The special line-up is an offering to engage and entertain the audience with the best of programming showcasing Tamil Nadu."

The Tamil New Year Special kicks off with Oh My Gold! host Lisa Ray showcasing the art of temple jewellery-making, delving into Tamil Nadu's extravagant jewellery tradition and rich cultural fabric. Lost Temples of India journeys to Tamil Nadu to give viewers a taste of the majestic and splendid temples in Southern India. The Irulas of Tamil Nadu explores the lives of one of the rare tribes in India – the Irulas. Each programme included in the Tamil New Year Special has been selectively programmed to highlight a different facet of Tamil Nadu – history, art, travel, food and culture.

Programme descriptions:

2 pm – Oh My Gold

Acclaimed model and actor Lisa Ray embarks on a divine exploration of temple jewellery in Chennai. Celebrate the city's love for gold with a visit to the world's biggest gold stores and funky mobile jewellery. Grandiose gets an all new definition with the unveiling of a 1.5 tonne 24 carat gold masterpiece. Lisa discovers the Indian obsession with this precious metal and by the end of the journey is converted into a gold aficionado herself.

2:30 pm – Travel India

Join cricket commentator and now travel host Harsha Bhogle on his exploration of the Indian sub-continent as he lands in Chennai, home to the mania and magic that is South Indian cinema. Once he has explored the city and taken a closer look at the street art of Chennai, represented by hand made Bollywood and Kollywood film posters seen all over the city, he moves on to the quaint, formerly French colony of Pondicherry. Once there, he experiences the fusion of French influences in South Indian food and culture, a completely new dimension to India's diversity.

3:00 pm – Painted Nation

Garishly decorated and lovingly adorned with portraits of gods and goddesses, film stars and politicians, the hand-painted billboards exemplified street art. On a visit back to India, host Cyrus Sundar Singh noticed that these hand-painted billboards he loved as a child seemed to be rapidly disappearing; being replaced by digitally produced posters and signs. He decides to go on an unprecedented quest to document this unique art form and uncover the truth behind its rapid decline. Travelling from Delhi to Mumbai to Chennai, he introduces viewers to the geniuses of this craft; their remarkable works of art and unravels a story of a nation on the cusp of remarkable change.

4:00 pm – Lost Temples of India

This one hour special will give viewers a taste of the majestic and splendid temples in South India, built as a result of the vision of the charismatic emperor Rajaram over one thousand years ago. These granite houses of devotion play home to some of the most amazing sculptures, whose detail and design have baffled researchers for centuries. It is said that the kings of Southern India used enormous herds of elephants to transport the massive blocks of granite used to build these temples from quarry to building site. The architectural feats of the era, including water tanks, irrigation systems and the temples, provide a fascinating historical journey into some of the world's lesser known monuments.

4:45 pm – Irulas of Tamil Nadu

Dwellers of the deep forests, followers of the ancient gods, wielders of bows and arrows - the Irulas, literally meaning “the people of darkness” are the descendants of the ancient hunter gatherers who have dwelled in the forests of the Indian subcontinent for millennia. And like the name Irula itself, which is derived from the Tamil word for darkness, these people have lived in the shadows of what we know as civilization. In a rare coverage of these indigenous people, Discovery Channel Tamil presents an experimental exploration of their sustainable lifestyle, social fabric, vibrant culture and unique tradition.

For further information, please contact:

Karun Malik

LinOpinion

Mobile: 9971298698

E-mail: karun.malik@loweandpartners.com