Interview with Uthaya and Anantha – Kalakal Kaalai

June 20th, 2007 by poobalan | View blog reactions Leave a reply »
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Making waves with Tamil listeners

By : Suganthi Suparmaniam

 

KUALA LUMPUR: For many, the day cannot begin without them. For the estimated 700,000 people who tune in to the Morning Breakfast Show (Kalakkal Kaalai) on THR Raaga every weekday from 6am to 10am, deejays G. Uthayakumar and R. Anand are household names.

The show, which began in August last year, discusses several contemporary issues each day — topics which are thought up every Thursday during a brainstorming session.

Despite the popularity of the show, the duo still have their detractors who complain that their on-air presentation spoils the Tamil language.

Uthaya, as he is fondly known, is passionate about the language and culture. But, he believes the way he and Anand speak on air is the right way to reach out to today’s generation.

"People listen to us because they understand what we are saying. If we speak in ancient Tamil, how many would understand? Getting the message across, I think, is most important."
His views were echoed by Anand, who added that reaching the targeted audience was crucial as people listen to a station they can understand.

"Not only that, by speaking in a Tamil everyone understands, more youngsters have started to speak in Tamil and listen to Tamil songs and music," said Uthaya.

When they are on air, the duo seem a fantastic fit. Off air, however, their lives are as different as night and day.

At the end of their work day, both head back home to take short naps. But, there the similarities end.

After their naps, Uthaya takes care of his multi-level marketing business, while Anand heads out to functions and clubs to sing with his band, Synergy.

The duo occasionally have to attend road shows and stage performances together.

And what are their views on their success? It is something they both shrug off.

Uthaya credits his success to the Sri Murugan Centre (SMC).

"I did not know what to do after Form Five. The thought of furthering my studies did not exist in my mind then. But they (SMC) helped me. They gave me guidance and motivated me to think big."

Big, perhaps, is an understatement. Uthaya began dreaming every day of becoming famous. And that he did, in 2001, when he landed himself a job as a VJ on Astro’s Padam, Paadal, Puthir game show.

It was that one-year stint that helped him secure the job in THR Raaga.

For Anand, the job adds fun to his already fun-filled lifestyle. Music is his world, whether on air, with his band or at the studio he co-owns with his brother Ram.

"I love singing and performing. When I don’t have any rehearsals or shows, I spend my evenings at the Synergy Studio," he said.

Anand hopes to go into music production and train aspiring Indian singers.

"It is a way of giving back to the society," he said adding that constructive criticism from the public had helped him to perform better on air.

Airtime Management and Programming (AMP) radio networks publicity manager Badrul Hashim said when the show started last year, there were about 500,000 listeners.

He said based on the Nielsen Media Listenership Survey the number of listeners has increased to 700,000.

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27 comments

  1. danaletchmy says:

    My name is dana.i really enjoy with kalakal kaalai.please tease my friend malarvili subramaniam.now,she was 14 years old.her phone number is 05———-.she is studying in smk hutan melintang ,perak.she like to sing.her father also sing well.so,i hope you will tease her like invite her to sing in any concert.

  2. ranesha says:

    MP: edited.

    my name is ranesha…i really love kalakal kaalai…please tease my sister jennifer..she is 24 now…we are from ipoh..her phone number 014*******…please tease her like she scrash your car by the road at jalan klebang utara 18…her car number ******…THANK YOU

  3. sarankumar says:

    my is nanthini i realy injoy the kalakal kalaiand this is my husbant name kumar pls say with temm anything of singginng bcox she is good singing

  4. vinodini says:

    how to go ithu eapdi eruku

  5. eswaran says:

    my name is navarajan…i really love kalakal kaalai…please tease my brother eswaran …hez age 23 ..we are 4rm penang …sungai pinang ..016********** ..he is penang boxer …hez working as army ..he lyk to chat wit gurls in facebook …so pls tease him ..lyk y u kacau gurl in facebook …thank u for THR RAAGA …tc ..

  6. usha says:

    hi…my name is usha…i really love kalakal kaalai…please tease my father , Tanabalan…hez age 46…we are from penang…Seberang Jaya…
    he is a police man…just kidding him…tq and tc…

    • Vellaiappan says:

      Dear Maran,
      Daily my self like more on kaakal kalai, please test with my friend Kalyani a/p suppiah doing Babby sheeting in Kualalumpur form-cort apparment 4th floor Her phone no-03-22737580 and mobile no-016-9100627 Her huband Name Murugan
      Thanks Lot
      M Vellaiappan
      Seremban

  7. shalini says:

    hai…vanakam 2 all thr member..my name shalini from t.intan.i’m really like kaakal kaalai..please tease my future husband…ask him 2 make joke..n talk as kamalhasan…his name surya..24..from ipoh..thank you…t.c

  8. MP:you can make request at THR website.

    my name is jaya.im realy realy like n love very much abt kalakal kaalai.please tease my husband. his name jega…working at pasir gudang jb,as a engginer.he a good badminton player n the same time rombe kovam varom.pls tease him around 06.30 or 0820am. his mobile num

  9. THANA says:

    Please tease my husband but in “ithu eapdi eruku” program. Sorry I can’t find the web. for this program. My husband’s name is Jay-(Jayendran-age 49) working as car salesman, in Petaling Jaya. Kindly call him at-013-xxxxxxxx in the evening.
    Thanks.

  10. Arvin Raj says:

    hai i am Arvin Raj .I have best friend, his name is Kumaraguru .He live in Ipoh . coming 19 Jun is Kumaraguru birthday please give him surprise to wish his birthday.Now he is celebrating 19th birthday please tease him shocked and surprise …his contact number xxxxxxx……call him when 9.00am-9.00pm………..sorry i cannot find ”ithu eapdi eruku” website…please tease him and dont forget………….Thanks…..

  11. Nithiya says:

    Hai i am Nithiya. I have boy friend,he name is Poovarasan.He live in Batang Berjuntai (Sungai Tinggi Estet).He is 22 years.Please tease him in “ithu apadi eruku” program.Now he have burber shop in Batang Berjuntai.He is very good burber and he use many designs to cut hair.This is our mobile num xxxxxxx .Cal him at around 2.00pm until 5.00pm.Please tease like how he cut hair to others.Lastly please dont say my name pls…….pls…..pls.Please tease him……….10q…I like kalakkal kaalai program very much.

  12. Nithiya says:

    Hai i am Shiyamala.I have brother.He name is Balasubramaniam.He is 36 years.He is a wayer man in minyak palm oil estet.He live in Sungai Tinggi estet.Please tease him like how he do the wayering. He very like to play badmiton.This is a our mobile num xxxxxxxxx.Plese cal him at around 2.00 until 6.00 on friday.Please dont tall my name…….10q……….

  13. NAARVIN says:

    KALAKKAI KAALAI IS VERY NICE AND INTERESTING.EVERY EARLY MORNING IT FRESH UP OUR DAY.ESPECIALLY UTHAYA AND ANANDHA.

  14. telga says:

    hi…my name is thilaga…i really love kalakal kaalai…please tease my father , subramaniam… n he short name is malik hez age 53…we are from kluang johor……
    he is a office boy at lawyer office…just kidding him…tq and tc

  15. aswiniie says:

    Hi…my name is aswiniie…i really like to listen kalakal kalai…please tease my aunty,her name is jayaletchumy….and her short name is jaya…her have dobi shop..we are from sitiawan…just tease her

    her nomber:012xxxxxxx

  16. krisnadevan says:

    hi.my name is selladurai…i realy like to listen kalakal kalai…please tease my sister,her name is Thamarai Selvi a/p Virappan…..and her short name is Thamarai…. she wants to apply job in bank for salary RM1600…..please tease her…..

    HER PHONE NOMBER:017xxxxxxx

  17. Mogan Jo says:

    my name is mogan…i really love kalakal kaalai…please tease my friend mariappan.he is 23 years old,we are from serdang kedah,he phone num 0103749491,he is working at kulim,he just bought a car, num 8122, her new car out to go anywhere, wear your car, if possible,,, thanks bro, i promise i want to bully him but i do not know how to think of bullying, 10q so much

  18. shalanee says:

    hai…vanakam …..my name shalanee from greentwon,ipoh.i’m really like kaakal kaalai..please tease my future husband…… he working at workshop nagasari perai……. his name vinothan..25..from taman kenari,kulim..thank you…t.c

  19. jivitha says:

    i xde comment ape2.ajar i masuk ethu eppadi erukku

  20. rajesh says:

    Hai my name is rajesh, please teas my brother. He doing some cow Bisnes .an many dirstp from eastet and ktm.teas hem some ather person give land to him. Please anantha Anna teas her tommaro mrg at 8.30 am.10th q

  21. thurga says:

    Hi I’m thurga fm kulim kedah. I love kalakkal kalai .my anna name suresh I wan tease my ana he working in pinang he crane driver.plz tease he anything he like comedy tiz year marrige rumbe kovam varum aana rumbe nallavar.he fon number is 0174396952

  22. racheal says:

    Hi i love kalakal kalai … please tease my fren devi a/p palanisamy she working in kilang at setia indah …johor baru…. last 5days ago she go order dress for her …. to use the dress on coming new year. im her fren my name is racheal this is her num 014XXXXXXXX please tease her tq so much