Srinagar: As part of the government’s efforts to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre is planning to revamp DD Kashir, Doordarshan’s 24×7 satellite channel. The government has approved over Rs 40 crore for the revamp of DD Kashir, which will also air Kashmiri Kaun Banega Crorepati and a singing reality show. Blockbuster movies, reality shows and quiz shows are being planned for the audience. The publicity of the channel will begin on Monday, coinciding with Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the state. He is on four-day visit to J&K. As per The Economic Times, the channel will show air Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal and Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan this month. In the movie ‘Dangal’, a Kashmir girl Zaira Wasim played a lead role and ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ is the story of a Pakistani girl who gets lost in India while travelling back home with her mother. Both movies have been widely appreciated for their message on nationalism and love for India. “The attempt is to take entertainment, as well as a message that they are being cared for, to the people of the valley,” a senior home ministry official said. The channel will also host Kashmiri KBC wbich will begin from December. Rs 18 crore has been dedicated the programme. A reality talent hunt show has been planned which can cost up to Rs 9 crore. In coming days there will be an effort to come up with serials, documentaries, or reality shows on the channel.
Launched to promote Kashmiri culture and counter Pakistani propaganda, DD Kashir has not produced any cultural programme in the last many years which is being corrected now, said senior officials. Currently, the channel broadcasts news, interviews, an educational show for students and repeat of shows from other channels.
But officials said from now on there will be an effort to come up with serials, documentaries, or reality shows on the channel. Only recently, the public broadcaster had invited applications for an agency to undertake the packaging work for the channel.
