KERALA POLLS - STUDIO EXPERIENCE

My second day in Trivandrum gave me great opportunities to meet elite people from Malayalam media. Mr. Baiju Chandran senior journalist took me to DD Malayalam office.  While driving to Office we discussed major political issues in Kerala. I must say I have learnt allot while discussing.

Mr. Chandra worked as a student leader in his college days during emergency, he shared his experiences in reporting from Trivandrum. He said “Kerala politics are quite typical compared to other state politics because here we can see many parties with different mottos working together in government“.

    He explained major political movements in Kerala from emergency. How communists came to power with direct voting (it was the first time in the world for communist to be in power with voting), Described How communist parties separated to CPM and CPI, How communists lost their power within two years, how AK antony lead the government in Kerala when he was chief minister. Why Kerala people choose to change the government for every five years and etc…., he taught me many things.

DD Malayalam office is located in KUDUPANAKUNNU a hill top area in Trivandrum, is a beautiful place to have photographs but security dint allow me to take camera inside. I was introduced to many reporters and stringers in DD head office.

   I spoke to Dr K AMPADY Dept Director and Public information officer, An MMBS doctor turned journalist, and he enquired about my opinions on Indian politics and especially on AP politics.

Dr AMPADY is strong in central politics and is keen in observing politics from global perspective. He appreciated achutanandans Commitment to take Kerala towards Industrial development and his welfare schemes like KSHEERADHARA (brought down 75000 lit of milk imported to 25000 lit from North India) and Housing scheme (Gov builds homes for poor) and bank loans for formers.

     He was critical on both LDf and UDF for not discussing any public welfare issues in their rallies during the campaign. Amapady condemned the way both the parties shooting comments only on scams and scandals.

After the discussion we went to news room, I met stringers from Reuters and PTI and have seen how news comes into input desk and how it is divided on priority basis. They are using ENPS to upload news feeds, and then I spent the remaining time in editing room Prepared DOPESHEET for the 11o’colck bulletin.

Visited two news studios inside the office and spoke to SHAJI DEVI, news reader for Malayalam. She explained how to use teleprompter while reading. Studio was well decorated. Then I recorded a voice over in Sound proof room just for experience. I dint notice the time while was in DD office the passed in a minute.                                                                                                          

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Rajkamal Rao

KERALA POLLS -2011

“Kerala-a state famous for its nature, its culture and its sea shore”, these are the early responses from any tourist after visiting to Kerala. Unlike other tourists am in a political tour across the state to cover assembly elections.

A day after central government declared 100% literacy rate in Kerala, I moved to Trivandrum to start my first internship with DD national team and I received warm welcome from the Editor of DD Malayalam in tiruvanantapuram. On the very first day of my work I was given an opportunity to cover Soniagandhi’s tour in South Kerala with DD national team from Delhi. (Delhi team led by Ritu verma an experienced political journalist and two senior camera persons)

We started our day early in the morning to reach HARIPAD assembly constituency. Journey through hill stations, forest and sea shore was visually pleasing. Ritu mam and I discussed very crucial issues in Kerala election.

(Kerala is a very complex state geographically and even politically, there is never a repetitive government after its term from last forty years. The Major political quarters in Kerla LDF (a communist party lead alliance) and UDF (a congress lead alliance) differ themselves in all the ways)

As there is only a week left before elections, all the top political personalities from centre were addressing public meetings all over Kerala from last week.

     Congress president Mrs. Gandhi arrived at Haripad to address a public meeting to get support for cong lead, she explained UPA government’s role in developing Kerala from past ten years and she reminded UPA’s policies to strengthen common man. Sonia strictly opposed LDF’s administrative failures in bringing the corruption down and she quoted LDF as an OLD fashioned Political Crew.

Oman chandy and vailar Ravi accompanied Mrs. Gandhi in this campaign but couldn’t speak in public rallies. 

         Congress men worked day and night to bring maximum crowd to the meeting but were a bit unsuccessful. The meeting went peacefully but there was no enthusiasm in public while Sonia was delivering her speech.

It was first time for me to sit in media stand but it gave me opportunity to observe many things in live telecast, as the meeting finished we moved to allapi to cover boat rider’s views and expectations in coming elections. Alapi is all about greenery and water with beautifully decorated HOUSE BOATS.I suggest every one to visit allapi once.

                                                                                                                   Rajkamal rao