CHENNAI: Tapping the right market in the virtual world is difficult. Actor Visu, a celebrity on stage and screen, has now gone the digital way with VisUma TV, but is yet to develop content that will suit audience of all ages. “My health does not allow me to act in serials, plays or films. I had to cut down on shooting. But, my mind wanders. This is something to keep me occupied,” says the veteran.
VisUma TV was launched in October and till date has more than 1,500 subscribers for the four shows on it. “I was called for a quote for a video on another Web TVs; that’s when I wanted to do something along the same lines. And so far, I am enjoying it,” he smiles.
The channel is on YouTube; it has a chat show, a drama, a music contest and a comedy show. While the others are still to be shot and aired, the chat show, which is more of Visu sharing his views, is already on. “I have done a few pieces where I talk about our late Chief Minister and some controversies in the film industry,” he adds.
He admits that it’s taking a while to generate content, but he is confident that Tamil audiences are ready for a change. “There will be a section of audience which isn’t ready for this, but my channel is for those who want to move on to the next level,” he points out.
Visu does not mind us calling the web TV his ‘mouth piece’ of sorts. “It’s not wrong to call it so. Almost 60-65% of it is about my takes on issues,” he admits. Visu, who has successfully conducted shows on TV, shares that there were times when he was said to be politically inclined towards a particular party, based on the channel in which his shows aired. But, he says he is free to air his comments on a web TV. “There are certain unsaid rules regarding what can be shown or said for a TV show or a movie, but there are no such rules on the internet.”
Based on the viewership, the team of VisUma TV will begin producing more shows. “This platform is also open to newcomers in all departments like acting, direction, editing, etc. They are free to approach us,” he says.
He will be seen next in the sequel to Manal Kayiru (1982) says that it’s not hard for him to juggle his commitments. “I don’t choose to act in films, but Manal Kayiru 2 needed me as my character is being taken forward. Apart from that, my focus is just the web TV,” he shares.