How fascinating, and what a star your mum was (is!). Like Hasan, I'm going to stick up for the DD theme music - the sound quality on the youtube clip is awful (you wouldn't know that was a shehnai) and doesn't do it justice. The music was indeed composed and arranged by Ravi Shankar in 1976, specially for DD, based on his own melody for Sare Jahan Se Accha. It definitely has a melancholy about it, and probably wouldn't get a look on today's TV, but I think it's beautiful and evocative!
Your mum's news reading, the TV series To The Manor Born & I love Lucy were about the only programs I was interested in on Doordarshan. P. S. You can hardly call your writing paltry, please!
I remember interviewing Gitanjali Aiyar once -- HT c early 80s-- and she said that a cat was licking her toes during a broadcast. She had no idea was it was but soldiered on -- I'm sure with all her accustomed gravity and clarity -- till the end of the bulletin! And I'd much rather have DD's anodyne, yawn-inducing news programmes because at least you got the news unlike today's lynch mob/celebrity-fawning, howling tv.
I have always liked your writing. And loved your mother diction. To discover that you both are connected ,makes me feel that we keep on liking the same sort of people. This piece really made me nostalgic
My deepest condolences. She was my favourite news reader and the 9 pm news was one of the most exciting part of our growing up years - the guessing game as to which pretty lady would read the news. I was more in awe of her elegance and diction, what she read out was irrelevant. An era has ended.
Your mother has been part of our younger days. As important and precious as somebody in our immediate neighborhood. Your article is worth reading again and again for our generation. It has given happy feelings.
They were all elegant in looks and attire. Was good to watch her read the news to the nation. Neutral and did their job well. Others Pratima Puri, Salma Siddiqui, Rini Simon. Shammi Narang. these are few,I can remember, I was in my teens in the 70s now I am an older adult. It is refreshing to See Deepak Vohra minus Jee Saheb.
It was a beautiful read, filled with nostalgia and old memories that you captured so well. Mrs Geetanjali Iyer and Leena Sens eloquent crisp dignified presence enthralled us all. There were no facial expression ever. They just read. And it made all the difference.
There are certain lines in your article that actually spoke volumes. We were so rich with so less as individual and as humans. And 9pm News was the only regular routined free time must watch programme for us, the others were all rationed. Yet we were so happy, and respected our parents views.
As a kid growing up in the 70s, the one channel Doordarshan was very much a part of my existence. I was required to watch the 9pm news graced by your mum and so many other ladies. All of them, whether on the Hindi news or the English, spelled class when they appeared. I remember Neethi Ravindran, Dolly Thakore, your Mum, and a couple of others whose names I can't remember. I do remember a young Smita Patil reading news on the Marathi channel. There was a sensuous quality about her that camee out clearly despite the b&w screen covered with snowflakes.
TV was grainy and I spent hours on the terrace, turning the rooftop antenna one way or another, till my Mum was satisfied with the picture quality.
Chitrahaar / Chhayageet were neighborhood functions with extra chairs and tea being kept ready for those who dropped in, something that was perfectly acceptable then.
Please accept my condolences on your Mum's passing. She certainly was a celebrity no less than a movie star who epitomized grace and class.🙏
How fascinating, and what a star your mum was (is!). Like Hasan, I'm going to stick up for the DD theme music - the sound quality on the youtube clip is awful (you wouldn't know that was a shehnai) and doesn't do it justice. The music was indeed composed and arranged by Ravi Shankar in 1976, specially for DD, based on his own melody for Sare Jahan Se Accha. It definitely has a melancholy about it, and probably wouldn't get a look on today's TV, but I think it's beautiful and evocative!
Your mum's news reading, the TV series To The Manor Born & I love Lucy were about the only programs I was interested in on Doordarshan. P. S. You can hardly call your writing paltry, please!
You have amply demonstrated how national debate on some Indian TV news channels have turned into a vocal diarrhea show.
I remember interviewing Gitanjali Aiyar once -- HT c early 80s-- and she said that a cat was licking her toes during a broadcast. She had no idea was it was but soldiered on -- I'm sure with all her accustomed gravity and clarity -- till the end of the bulletin! And I'd much rather have DD's anodyne, yawn-inducing news programmes because at least you got the news unlike today's lynch mob/celebrity-fawning, howling tv.
I think she even got a mouse in her coat at the studio,
once!
I have always liked your writing. And loved your mother diction. To discover that you both are connected ,makes me feel that we keep on liking the same sort of people. This piece really made me nostalgic
Thank you for your warm message.
You bring on a deluge of memories! Thanks and compliments on a well-written piece.
My sincere wish is that all news channels should follow these old broadcasts as the Bible of news reading.
None of them can be faulted.
My personal thoughts are that she was groomed by the Loreto nuns.(I am Loreto alumnae) The other Loreto girl is Palki from WION.
You can spot the difference. Loreto turns out winners🌺
My deepest condolences. She was my favourite news reader and the 9 pm news was one of the most exciting part of our growing up years - the guessing game as to which pretty lady would read the news. I was more in awe of her elegance and diction, what she read out was irrelevant. An era has ended.
Your mother has been part of our younger days. As important and precious as somebody in our immediate neighborhood. Your article is worth reading again and again for our generation. It has given happy feelings.
They were all elegant in looks and attire. Was good to watch her read the news to the nation. Neutral and did their job well. Others Pratima Puri, Salma Siddiqui, Rini Simon. Shammi Narang. these are few,I can remember, I was in my teens in the 70s now I am an older adult. It is refreshing to See Deepak Vohra minus Jee Saheb.
Your mother was much liked in our household for the news. Your piece was well articulated.saddened by her demise. Our sincere condolences.
Pallavi,very befitting tribute to Gitanjali. I had the privilege to work with her. She was a very warm person and down to earth.
Your mothers news reading was so wonderful. The diction and the clarity is a stark contrast to today's news readers. Really the good old days
We so well remember those days when news, though censored, was news and not shouting at a host of 'guests'.
It was a beautiful read, filled with nostalgia and old memories that you captured so well. Mrs Geetanjali Iyer and Leena Sens eloquent crisp dignified presence enthralled us all. There were no facial expression ever. They just read. And it made all the difference.
There are certain lines in your article that actually spoke volumes. We were so rich with so less as individual and as humans. And 9pm News was the only regular routined free time must watch programme for us, the others were all rationed. Yet we were so happy, and respected our parents views.
May she rest in peace. 🙏🙏
As a kid growing up in the 70s, the one channel Doordarshan was very much a part of my existence. I was required to watch the 9pm news graced by your mum and so many other ladies. All of them, whether on the Hindi news or the English, spelled class when they appeared. I remember Neethi Ravindran, Dolly Thakore, your Mum, and a couple of others whose names I can't remember. I do remember a young Smita Patil reading news on the Marathi channel. There was a sensuous quality about her that camee out clearly despite the b&w screen covered with snowflakes.
TV was grainy and I spent hours on the terrace, turning the rooftop antenna one way or another, till my Mum was satisfied with the picture quality.
Chitrahaar / Chhayageet were neighborhood functions with extra chairs and tea being kept ready for those who dropped in, something that was perfectly acceptable then.
Please accept my condolences on your Mum's passing. She certainly was a celebrity no less than a movie star who epitomized grace and class.🙏