The new DStv Indian channel, SaffronTV, will demystify South African Indians, says one of the anchor presenters, Strini Pillai.<\/p>\n
He believes the channel’s local-content shows will help to clarify the Indian identity.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“Even though during the week we are going to have international content, the idea is to grow our local content,” said Pillai.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“We’re not just about the glitz and glamour. We will also talk about the reality of being an Indian in South Africa.”<\/p>\n
Naidoo said it had been an “absolute pleasure” working on the new channel .<\/p>\n
“It’s a wonderful fusion of culture, gossip, real issues and trendy titbits we could all use,” she said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bunseelall, a freelance presenter on DStv’s horse-racing channel, Tellytrack, will be the entertainment show host.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n