Beginning August 31^st , Atham, Amrita TV serves up an assortment of appetizers to pique the viewer’s palate before the start of the main Onam feast on September 8^th . The combo platter includes a hors d’oeuvre of blockbuster movies, aperitifs of engrossing telefilms and other savories.

Laasyam, a novel mini-reality show for Mohiniyattam, Kerala’s famed sensuous dance of the enchantress, will begin its competition from August 31^st to September 11^th  daily at 7.30am. This Onam special show, which will be an abridged version of the established format, will be appraised by an expert panel consisting of  Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, one of the foremost exponents of Mohiniyattam and Methil Devika, virtuoso exponent of Indian classical dances

The tastefully made, wholesome entertainer Vadakkumnathan that teams up Mohanlal with Padmapriya inaugurates this year’s festivities on August 31^st at 9.00am. Joshy’s slick grosser Lion with Dileep and Kavya Madhavan as the lead pair ,appears on September 1^st in the same slot. Ore Kadal, Shyamaprasad’s sensitively crafted Mammootty-Meera Jasmine starrer which explores the complexities and consequences of extra marital relationships will be telecast on September 2^nd at 9.00am with Kerala Café  , Renjith’s experimental anthology of 10 telefilms by 10 top directors, earmarked for September 5^th..The National Award winner Kutty Srank with Mammootty in the title role goes on air at 9.00am on September 6^th . Dileep’s chartbusting romantic comedy Bodyguard opposite Nayantara on September 7^th marks the end of the special Atham film series.

Katha, a diverse batch of deeply stirring tales specially prepared for television will spice up the bland afternoons from August 31^st– September 7^th at 3.30pm. The gripping line up, some sweetly touching, others pungently  riveting includes State Award winners such as Neermathalathinte Pookal, Annum Mazhayayirunnu, Athira XC and  Kammal,Madakkayathra, Anubhavangal etc.

Campus Onakkalam, a dazzling visual spectacle slotted at 5.00pm every weekday visits college campuses across the heartland of Malayalam as it reverberates to the carnival revelry of Onam and students decorate the grounds in a riot of hues and games.

Akathalathile Aaghosham joins prominent politicians and their spouses in the privacy of their homes as they scoop up wistful reminiscences from their memory bowls at 4.30 weekdays from August 31^st –September 7^th and serves it up for the viewer’s benefit. Dr. Muneer looks back with longing at the festive days spent with his father; Shibu Baby John has boyhood recollections of tumbling from the swing and scrapping his knees; Jose K Mani and his beautiful wife have never let hectic schedules stand in the way of their Onam bash; the youngest minister in Kerala history, P.K.Jayalekshmi and her family join their Kurichiya community to enjoy a festival made more colorful by the appointment of the first ever tribal minister from their ranks.

By Smitha Sivaji

Amrita TV