As I look back with pride and nostalgia, I fondly remember the unforgettable journey of producing the Malayalam music reality show “Swaramanjari” for Surya TV during the early 2000s.
Telecast every Saturday, the programme continued successfully until 2005, before the launch of Asianet’s Idea Star Singer. Every month, our team would travel to Chitranjali Studio, Thiruvananthapuram, where we shot 4 to 6 episodes over a single weekend. Those were truly memorable days filled with music, friendship, dedication and teamwork.
The show was initially anchored by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. Later, Tara Kalyan, Santosh Keshav, and actor Ashokan took over as hosts, each adding their own charm to the programme.
I am especially proud that many contestants who later became familiar faces on Asianet’s Idea Star Singer had first showcased their talent through Swaramanjari.
Our judging panel featured renowned music personalities including V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. K. Arjunan, Vidyadharan Master, Somasundaran, T. S. Radhakrishnan, Kallara Gopan, along with several other distinguished musicians. Their expert guidance, constructive feedback, and encouragement not only elevated the quality of the competition but also inspired a generation of young singers to pursue music with confidence and dedication. We were also honoured to have legendary guests such as V. Dakshinamoorthy, Johnson Master, Raveendran Master, and the popular singer Brahmanandan, whose presence enriched the programme immensely. Popular keyboard artist Anoop (later the orchestra leader of Asianet’s Idea Star Singer), playback singers Sannidhanandan, Tinu Tellence, and many others were among the contestants.
On this occasion, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our director Hari Kudappanakunnu set designer Nemam Pushparaj, popular Cinematographer Pushpan, Cochin branch manager T.R Raghunandanan and our dedicated production team, especially Padmakumar and Gopan, for their unwavering support and commitment. Without their hard work, this journey would not have been possible.
These memories continue to inspire me even today.
Tune in for more stories and behind-the-scenes memories from my four decades in the media and entertainment industry.