World Cup commentary in Tamil pays off, at last

The experiment was initially criticised on social media, especially for the quality of language that was on offer

With the curtains coming down on the ICC World Cup on Sunday, the decision of Star TV network to have local cricketers do the commentary seems to have paid off.

“In smaller towns, people seem to have understood the game better. Fans have been keen on watching cricket with Tamil commentary as opposed to English,” says K. Sriram, general manager of Star Vijay. The idea, he says, was to take the game to a larger audience through the entertainment channels as well. “There is nothing bigger than the World Cup,” he says.

The experiment was initially criticised on social media, especially for the quality of Tamil commentary that was on offer. The focus was on providing an analysis of the game and not on language. “We asked our commentators to use Tamil words wherever necessary but not at the cost of analysing the game. Don’t we all use English words in daily life?” says Mr. Sriram.

The channel seems to have salvaged the situation quickly. “We kept the commentators informed of the feedback. The initial reaction was also because we all expected a certain kind of commentary, just like the old times. But, we decided to move on,” he says.

Megaserial milestone

In the world of Tamil mega serials, longevity is seen as a huge advantage, apart from being a part of the definition itself.

Deivamagal on Sun TV turned two recently. The mega serial, that has reportedly maintained the top slot in TRP ratings, has managed to hold audiences with its story about the happenings in the Jai Hind Vilas family.

The director, S. Kumaran, organised a sumptuous lunch at the shooting location recently to celebrate the milestone.

“The audience spends half an hour a day watching what our team creates and so we ensure we entertain them well,” said Mr. Kumaram, who has directed serials, including Thirumathi Selvam and Thendral.

“In Thirumathi Selvam, we were able to hold the TRP rating for about five-and-a-half years,” said writer Ve. Ki. Amirtharaj, whose storyline, peppered with suspense, makes the audience wish for more.

Actor Arvind, who plays the role of Raju Chidambaram, a son in the Jai Hind Vilas family, said it is nice working with the team.

“I like the way my character has been created. Raju is a fun-loving guy but now he wants to change. It’s something the audience can learn from,” he said.

(Reporting by

Udhav Naig and

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan)