Chandana TV comes of age

Chandana Asia Pacific, the Indian community TV channel, celebrated its fourth anniversary in style, as producers and the Chairman of the channel reminisced over its early days.

The February 28 function at the Burwood Function Centre saw nearly 100 people, including Indian and Australian dignitaries and loyal programme viewers. The customary invocation – a dance performance by young girls, set the tone of the evening, which was a mix of speeches and cultural programmes.

The channel, which is broadcast in English on TVS, has been telecasting Indian community events around Sydney and Melbourne, interviews of Indian and Australian celebrities, cultural events, health issues, entertainment, documentaries and sporting events, besides other programmes.

Dr Sid Orekondy, chairperson of Chandana TV, said, “We would like to foster friendly relations between the Indian community and other communities in Australia. The channel does not cater to only the different Indian communities here but goes beyond to reach out to multicultural Australia.”

Observing that the channel had come a long way since its inception and first telecast on 22 February, 2006, he said they had moved from analogue to digital technology to enable a wider audience reach. It had completed 500 hours of broadcasting since it was launched.

He noted that Chandana TV had been formed by people, keen on community service and like community channels, had its financial and time constraints.

“All the people associated with the channel are professionals and experts in their own fields, taking time out to work here,” he added.

Orekondy added that they were planning on expanding the channel’s operations to Adelaide and Brisbane in the coming years.

Producer Onkarswamy Goppenalli, Associate Producer Suresh Bangalore, and anchor, media and marketing director Kedarnath P.M, are the brains behind the channel, which was initially planned to cater only to the Kannadiga community in Sydney and Melbourne. However, it was decided to showcase all Indian events and is telecast in English to transcend cultural borders.

The channel, slotted for half an hour telecast every Sunday, has covered a number of events regularly like the Australia Hindi Indian Association’s dance competition, United Indian Association’s Australia-India Friendship fair, Diwali Mela and Clean Up Australia Day. It also attempts to raise awareness on important medical issues like diabetes, breast cancer and glaucoma.

Consul General of India, Amit Dasgupta, who attended the event, stressed the need for people from different communities to go beyond perceived stereotypes and develop a deeper understanding and tolerance for cultures.

Hon John Hatzistergos, Attorney General, Minister for Citizenship and Regulatory Reform, who was representing NSW Premier Kristina Keneally at the event, congratulated the channel on its fourth year. He expressed his respect for the Indian community and its age-old culture and traditions.

Also present were Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural

“We also counsel them by identifying employment, place to live, etc as new immigrants,” added Chandrala. Speakers also used the forum to highlight problems relating to mental and physical health and the need for people to shed inhibitions and seek help when they notice signs of distress. Shantha Vishwanathan from the Migrant Resource Centre spoke on the services of the centre in integrating new immigrants to Australia.

Affairs and Settlement Services, Hon Philip Ruddock, MP, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Community Relations Commission and Laurie Patton, CEO of TVS. Chandana TV is telecast every Sunday from 1.30 to 2.00 pm with a repeat telecast on Mondays at 8 pm and Tuesdays at 3.30 pm.

Preeti Kannan