Radhika Shurajit talks about the only TV game  show from India on classical dance.

You began the serial with actress Bhanupriya hosting it in 2001. . .

That is right. Bhanupriya is a good dancer too. And she hosted the show for 26 episodes. Then we had actress and dancer Shobana hosting it for 26 episodes. And then came actress Sukanya, who is also trained in dance. And she hosted 39 episodes. For  the semi finals, we have changed the format which has each episode presented by a film artiste or TV personality.We have also brought in leading muscians as presenters. And we have a leading dance guruas the judge.

And you say the show has worked?

Surely. The show has given an opportunity to so many young dancers. And, it reaches thousands of people when Jaya TV telecasts it. Not just in India. But now in Europe and the Middle East.. When we started the show we had only dancers and their families watching it. But now even people who are not connected to dance are watching it. Surely that is proof that the show has worked.

Would you say a show like this on TV has helped people appreciate dance?

Look at the reach of TV. A dancer may have danced a 100 times at a sabha but the audience at halls is limited. On TV, you are seen performing by thousands of people. Look at the exposure. And since so many of us are now used to getting entertainment in our drawing rooms, even a dance show get an audience. Whether you like it or not, TV's reach is big. But our show is not cheap entertainment. It educates and entertains.

So what has been the response of the dance world to the show?

They love it. Yes, there are the purists who may have objections. But the gurus find the show offers opportunities to their sishyas. This is a new stage. And the skills of the sishyas are tested. We have some fun element on the show and dancers have told us that  they enjoyed this. It is tough competition and it is very difficult for the judges to select the best.
Lot of young gurus have appreciated the challenge to create new things for their disciples. More than winning it is the fun of participation.

And what do viewers think of it?

They love it too. We make the show interesting for them. So when we meet people like shopkeepers and housewives in Salem or in Madurai, who have never been to a Bharatham performance, they demonstrate some mudras and mention names of dance gurus. That makes us so happy.. We know the show has worked. We want the people in B and C towns in India to also watch classical dance. This time around, we are introducing clips from films showing classical-based dances. This is one more way of getting ordinary people to tune in to classical arts.

You must be happy Jaya TV has encouraged such a show?
Hats off to them. They have stuck on. When we started, we did not have sponsors for some time but Jaya TV said we should carry on, that it had faith in this show. Slowly, we did get sponsors. And Jaya TV telecasts the show on Sunday morning, prime time. The channel believes in the show and it  also does shows on arts, religion and philosophy.

There is only one TV game show devoted to classical dance in south India.

Thaka Dimi Tha. Telecast every Sunday, 8am onwards on Jaya TV channel, the show focuses on Bharatanatyam. The basic aim of the show is to take Bharatham to the common people and also to promote and encourage dance learning, youngsters' talent and creativity and to showcase their talent.

This programme is very popular and the show has had more than 100 episodes. Nearly 500 talented youngsters from all over Tamil Nadu and various states in India and some dancers from abroad have participated in this show.

The current show presents winners from the previous episodes who will now participate in the semi-final rounds of Thaka Dhimi Tha. The emphasis will be on "choreography" in Bharatanatyam.

The participants will be tested for talent, knowledge and creativity through 3 interesting rounds.

Each episode also features a segment called " Celluloid Choice" This will treat viewers to a clip from a classical dance sequence from vintage, popular Tamil films.

Each episode is be anchored by a well known film / TV personality. Actresses Abirami, Ranjitha, Ishwarya, Gayatri Raghuram, Chachu, Sulakshana, Y.G.Mahendra, Janaki Sabesh, Rawi Raghavender, Anni Maiavika; Bombay Gnanam, Uma Padmanabhan, Anuradha Krishnamoorthy, Priya Mahalakshmi, violinist Dr.Narmadha, Veenai Jayanthi Kumaresh, Singers Chinmayee, Mahathi and Baby Kalyani have specially presented Thaka Dimi Tha - Semi finals.

The best dancers are selected on the basis of talent, intelligence and choreographic skills, by leading dance gurus like Dr Padma Subramaniam, Chitra Visveswaran, Ranganayaki Jayaram, Lakshmi Viswanathan, V P Dhananjayan, Udipi Lakshminarayanan, Krishnaveni Lakshmanan, Krishnakumari Narendran, Nandini Ramani, Dr.Saraswathi, Muscat Vasantha Vaikunth, Delhi Saroja Vaidyanathan, Bombay Dr. Gita Kasthuri. Bangalore Ranjani, sisters Lakshmi-Saraswathi, Y. G. Madhuvanthy, Lakshmanan, Gopika Varma and Shobhana Bhalachandra.

Churchill Pandian: JAYA TV - THAKA DHIMI THA isScripted & Co-ordinated by Sri Churchill Pandian, a well known journalist & writer whose regular contributions have enthralled the readers of many magazines like Kunkumam, Dinamani Kadir, Kalai Magal, Mangaiyar Malar, Snegithy, Amudha Surabhi, Kudumba Naval, etc. He has carved a niche for himself through his versatility of the subjects and style of writing with more than 1000 articles in last 10 years. His passionate documentation on Sri Aurobindo Mother, Ramana Maharishi, Mother Teresa & Kanchi Mahaswamigal have been published in book forms as "ANBU ARUL ANANTHAM" & "KANCHI MAHA SWAMIGALIDAM KIDAITHA ANUBAVANGAL" by the famous Vanathy Publications. He has contributed to the visual media, starting as a Production Manager in the popular TV Mega serial "Bharathiya Natya Sastra", produced by Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subramaniam. He has also Conceptualised and Scripted many programmers for the Doordarshan, All India Radio and private satellite channels. With intense love and passion for arts, he formed the `Utsav Academy of Fine Arts' in 2000 & has since staged the 'Celluloid Classics' by Meenakshi Seshadri, Sri Karaikudi Mani's 'Laya Priya' with the Battery Dance Company - New York and other programmes. As producer of "Utsav Music" he has launched `Anbaana Annaiku' a music album on the Pondichery Mother for which, the songs were sung by Padma Vibushan Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna and lyrics are by renowned writer Anuradha Ramanan. Contact: Churchill Pandian, E-mail : pandian@uthsavmusic.com / Mobile : 91- 044-56122550