SaffronTV
The new DStv Indian channel, SaffronTV, will demystify South African Indians, says one of the anchor presenters, Strini Pillai.
He believes the channel’s local-content shows will help to clarify the Indian identity.
Pillai, Scandal actress and mother-to-be Sorisha Naidoo, Letisha Singh and Shalandra Bunseelall will form SaffronTV’s core presenting team when it launches next Saturday. The Sunday Times Extra show premiers on Sunday at 1pm.
Produced by Ochre Moving Pictures, the channel will offer viewers an exciting mix of local and international shows of special interest to the Indian community.
“Even though during the week we are going to have international content, the idea is to grow our local content,” said Pillai.
“We have fleshed out aspects that will appeal to the Indian community. I think through our programmes we will establish who the South African Indian is by linking Durban to Cape Town to Johannesburg.”
Pillai, a well-known face on TV, will host a cooking show, The Singing Chef, and Saffron Extra, the TV version of the Sunday Times Extra.
“The cooking show is very light-hearted, where I get to know my guests while preparing dishes. We also throw in a bit of karaoke.
“We’re not just about the glitz and glamour. We will also talk about the reality of being an Indian in South Africa.”
Naidoo said it had been an “absolute pleasure” working on the new channel .
“It’s a wonderful fusion of culture, gossip, real issues and trendy titbits we could all use,” she said.
Singh will host a weekday show promoting a healthy lifestyle by addressing aspects such as diet, nutrition, physical fitness and mental health, using conventional and alternative methods.
Bunseelall, a freelance presenter on DStv’s horse-racing channel, Tellytrack, will be the entertainment show host.
He will share the small screen with Bollywood buff Docky Dockrat. They will be keeping viewers abreast of showbiz happenings and gossip locally and abroad.
Said Bunseelal:”This show will be an entire hour dedicated to Indian entertainment. We will be giving loads of news, previews and gossip. There will be detailed celebrity interviews as well, a mixed bag of local and international performers.”
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