THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When it comes to popularity, nothing might beat social media these days, but radio programmes continue to have its own staunch fans. An Akashvani programme, which was first launched 50 years ago, continues to remain a favourite among the regular listeners at the Radio Point in the capital city’s Napier Museum. The evergreen programme that still holds sway over listeners is ‘Vayalum veedum.’
‘Vayalum veedum’ (Farm and home) radio show started broadcasting in Malayalam in 1966 from Akashavaani Thrissur, and this year the programme is celebrating its 50th anniversary. AIR stations in the state including Thiruvananthapuram is organising year-long celebrations to mark the occasion. This programme is about agriculture and rural development, which was begun under the ‘Grow more food’ campaign launched by the Central Government.
“Vayalum Veedum (6.50 pm to 7.20 pm daily) is still a hit. It started at a time when radio was the most powerful media and the programmes had great impact on farmers,” says Muraleedharan Thazhakkara, a long-time programme executive of Vayalum Veedum. Not just farmers, the general public also continue to be enthusiastic listeners of the programme, he says.
As part of the celebration, AIR is conducting a quiz competition for farmers. Teams, comprising two farmers each, have been selected from areas coming under the offices of each Agriculture Assistant Directors in the district. District winners will compete in state-level grand finale at Thiruvananthapuram in December.
The first session of the competition was conducted at Sanghamaithri Farmers’ Training Hall at Pallichal near here on Tuesday. And all the participants were given radio sets to mark the event. Another attraction of the celebration is a face-to-face programme that will be conducted in different parts of the state. Farmers and other representatives will discuss the topic ‘New government - New expectations’.
The organisers are planning to broadcast the voice records from this interactions on-air by the end of July. The main plan of the team is to compile the expectations and suggestions from farmers and present it as a book to the new government.