Affectionately known as Anni, Sowmiya Anbumani is the proud daughter-in-law of Dr S Ramadoss, founder of the PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi) and the better half of former Union Minister for Health, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. But her real claim to fame is that she is the driving force behind Makkal TV, the channel set up keeping in mind the rural milieu of Tamil Nadu.
To add another feather to her cap, Sowmiya is also a dedicated environmental activist and a key initiator of the movement behind Pasumai Thaayagam (Green Motherland), a mass-based voluntary, non-partisan, non-governmental organisation to help conserve nature. Married into the family in 1991 and mother of three daughters, Sowmiya is a woman of substance who strikes an amicably appropriate balance between family life and professional responsibilities. “My education and talent would not have come to light had it not been for Ayya, my father-in-law. He was the one who gave me the opportunity to take over as editor of the in-house magazine for Pasumai Thaayagam. Even when he floated Makkal TV, he would say that we should not compromise on our mission to cater to the rural folk and focus on utility-based shows, which also promises a fair share of entertainment for the viewers. Though almost three years have passed since the channel was floated, we have never compromised on our prime time slots aimed at farmers. We might lose out on ads, but it fulfills Ayya’s vision,” says Sowmiya.
Much of the small screen scenario is dominated by filmy content, but Makkal TV is perhaps the only Tamil channel, which has dared to defy this trend. “It is very easy to fill a comedy slot with comedy scenes from films, but when it comes to conceptualising a comedy series based on originality, then it becomes a challenge. We air classics from Russian and Iranian cinema. Even though our shows are targeted at the rural masses, they have influenced some urban folk. I happened to come across an educated urban youth who taking inspiration from our show Valagam, has ventured into farming,” she says.
It is not an easy task, when it comes to conceptualising content for a channel with a difference. “When my husband was the Union Minister for Health, we had all shifted to Delhi, as I believe that family support is essential at any point of time. Moreover, Anbumani faced a lot of challenges during his tenure. At that point of time, as a wife I used to ensure that the home front is all taken care of. Managing the channel was again a big task. But now I am here full-time and can take care of the procedures personally,” she says. “Both my mother and mother-in-law shower oodles of appreciation whenever I do things, be it as simple as cooking for the family or handling a get-together. This is my motivation. Anbumani, however, gives a critical viewpoint, which again helps improvise on things. Life before marriage was a learning experience. My love for Tamil, the language and its culture would not have grown had it not been for my Tamil teacher in school and my mother. I passed out from Stella Maris and did my masters in sociology from Madras University,” recalls Sowmiya. “Village life has always appealed to me. My mother’s native was a small village near Tirutanni where my maternal grandpa was a Congress MLA. My father was a lawyer from Dindivanam. My parents always used to ensure that we don’t let go off our roots at any cost,” she adds.
Sowmiya is also a trained Bharatanatyam classical dancer. “I don’t perform at elaborate stage shows, but when it comes to performing at family functions of near and dear ones, I am all for it.” Taking about her daughters, she says, “My eldest daughter wants to pursue a career in catering while the second one wants to get into the field of fashion. My youngest is the only one who is inclined towards medicine,” she adds. This versatile lady is winning a lot of hearts with her confidence and engaging personality. And we hope that she continues to inspire young and old minds alike.