MUMBAI: The annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) brings a lot of excitement among the huge Malayali population in the Middle East and Malayalam channels capitalise on the festival in a big way.
Leading Malayalam channel Asianet , which had been airing branded programmes on DSF in its post 11 pm band targeted at the Middle East audience segment every year during the festival, has approached this season with a renewed vigour. The channel has increased the duration of the band this year by half an hour - from 11 pm - 12 am to 11 pm - 12:30 am.
A look at the eleven shows the channel has lined up this year:
Britelite Vazhiorakazhchakal is a road show ahcored by popular anchor Gopi Menon who visits the Global village and various other places and interacts with the crowd. He asks comical riddles to the people he meets. At the end of the episode there is also a question for the audience.
Festival with Alukkas familiarises the viewers to the various attractions and events at the Global Village and travel to all other locations where various DSF events are hosted. The anchor Neena Kurup, a familiar face in the big and small screen in Malayalam, interviews an official of the Joy Alukkas group and answers viewers queries related to Gold, Diamonds and offers at Alukkas Jewellery outlets.
K.M Trading Best Moments attempts to capture various memorable "moments" at the DSF. Concentrating on events and extraordinary activities at the festival and capturing best moments is the idea of this show.
Sky Chiri-O-Chiri This is a comedy program primarily aimed to touch the lighter side of the viewers' mood. Here the jubilant anchor dresses and mimics various well known people and actively interact with the people and viewers.
Gold and Jewellery DSF Bonanza is divided into three segments: One is a game show, the second segment aims to find 'why Dubai is known as the land of Gold?' and finally there is the Gold and Jewellery Group DSF raffle draw.
A musical show Rainbow Junction has got the Antakshari format and the difference is it's a road show and the crowd gets a chance to participate in Antakshari unlike pre-selected participants.
Geepas Utsavam is a quiz show without the stage! It's a road show where the anchor asks various GK questions to the people and saves one question for the viewers at the end of the show. Kairali Hungama Fungama captures the various brilliant landscapes and much talked about night life in Dubai. Lulu Family Festival targets the Lulu shoppers. Here the anchor thrills and exhausts the audience with wacky tongue twisters in Malayalam. Univeral Arabian Dreams/KIA festival is a gameshow and SFC Challenge is an eating competition.
