Monday 19th November, 2007
by Rochelle Gunaratne
Pix by Nishan S.Priyantha
T
here is much more to
Punchi Panchi, the popular children’s programme
than meets the eye.
Our thanks go to Sirasa TV
(namely Susara Dinal De Silva –
Channel Head Sirasa TV, and
Mahesh Pradeep LiyanageExecutive Producer of the
‘Punchi Panchi’ show) for their
quick response to our request
which was made quite literally
at the ‘eleventh hour’.
Many households across the
country are devoid of the chitter chatter of their loved young
ones as they are glued to the TV
screen on Saturdays and
Sundays from 7 to 8 am. The
viewers are unaware of what
goes on behind the screen.
Sirasa allowed us to be present at a ‘shoot’ to see how it is
done and how much work goes
into it. The show works like
magic and glides through without anyone being aware of the
amount of work done by the
staff.
The show has
received much
acclaim and three
awards during this
year including the
Kala Seva
Abhimana, an
award for the most
popular children’s
programme selected on the basis of
a survey conducted in an around
Gampaha.
We saw a hive of
activity outside the
studio; children wearing costumes, others
being ‘ made-up’ and
a few more conversing with their teachers. They were a
group of tsunami
orphans from the
Hambanthota Lama
Sampath Institute.
The studio proper had the
backdrop ready for the show …
a large plasma TV, a sofa set,
flower arrangements with
Sarala Kariyawasam practising
her lines and another section
had a desk with two chairs,
which were occupied by Sandali
Welikanna and Paristha
Nayanduli in animated conversation (or so I presumed but
they
were
actually
deeply engrossed
in memorising their
lines). Seconds prior to
being televised the tension
was almost tangible, three
…two .. one .. Punchi Panchi
and Sarala wreathed in a smile
said, ‘Ayubowan’.
Initially, there was a talk
on the importance of the
month of November and
thereafter it was a dance act
by the tsunami affected children from Hambanthota.
Madhu, a teacher at the institute said she was delighted
and grateful to Sirasa TV and
Punchi Panchi for the opportunity given to the 36 children.
“Those programmes
should be promoted among
the youngsters and there
should be more child-friendly
TV programmes as the kids
are mainly influenced by
what they watch on television,” she said.
The birthday of four-yearold Ovin was celebrated by
cutting a cake on the show,
another new feature adapted
by Punchi Panchi.
It also provides an opportunity for gifted children to
be interviewed and it was
Sadini Enosha’s turn that
particular morn. She had
excelled in dancing and
Sandhali interviewed her.
After the news was read
birthdays were announced,
many songs, dance and other
talents dis-
Punchi Panchi:
A show of kids
by kids for kids
were added in 2007.
On Saturday’s show they
give prominence to art competitions and each month consists
of a different topic and the team
travels extensively in order to
obtain the necessary information.
The multiple task of obtaining information is also given to
kid reporters throughout the
island who provide news from
their respective neighbourhoods, schools etc.
Those
The Studio
Sandali and Paristha
await their turn
The countdown begins
the management of Sirasa TV
to produce the show and the
dedication by this team is evident in the long hours they
spend to make the show a success.
The initial shows were conducted by Pramudhi
Karunaratne, Dilakshi
Priyasath and sheshadini
Priyasath, who continue to
work with Sirasa on another
Kids Programme (Kids TV).
Sarala had been introduced
to Mahesh through Pramudhi
and given the opportunity to
highlight her talents on a previous show, but it was not until
this year that she was able
to act as a host on Punchi
Panchi. Sadhali and
Paristha, too,
reporters obtain knowledge
through various workshops conducted by Sirasa TV. The newest
venture is in accordance with
Children’s Broadcasting Day,
which is celebrated on the 10th
of December and Mahesh has a
brilliant suggestion for all the
kids, which is to design a logo
for the particular topic, which
will later be submitted as the
official logo for one year.
The most important feature
of the show is that children are
allowed to enjoy their childhood
and their cognitive needs are
given prominence. A novel
informative show for kids!
The writer had an exciting
Sunday on the set of Punchi
Panchi and that feeling prevailed beating the Monday
morning blues.
We extend our heartfelt
thanks to the Punchi Panchi
team, which accommodated us and was
extremely hospitable to us.
A dance act by the
kids from
Hambantota
played by children islandwide were televised. An hour just whizzed by
remarkably. The child stars
were very professional and did
their roles with aplomb and
ease, further manifesting the
need to have more activities for
children to gain confidence.
During the commercial breaks
the changes were made at the
‘speed of lightning’ and the
girls had to keep watch on the
two camera’s which were
focused on them. It was amazing, indeed.
Mahesh Pradeep Liyanage
oversees the whole operation
with the help of his colleagues
Lalith Rajapakse – assistant
producer and Dorric
Samarasundara, art director
who performs a pivotal role in
this production every weekend.
They are present at every
shoot unlike the other staff
who are rostered.
Punchi Panchi has been in
existence for the past 8 years.
Mahesh Pradeep Liyanage,
whose passion for cinematography has led him to assist
artistes of the calibre of Lester
James Peiris in various films.
Mahesh was requested by
Punchi Panchi team: Lalith Waruna Rajapakse, Inosh Kanishka, Lasantha Dissanayake, Roshan Menikpura, Pathum Perera, Jagath
Dampalahalage, Ushantha Weerakoon, Somiruwan Rupasinghe, Chamila Iriyagama, M. Ramesh Rizwi, Bandula Nishan, U. P.
Ranasinghe, Dorric Samarasundara, Mahesh Pradeep Liyanage and three children Sarala, Sandali and Paristha
Sarala greets the viewers