Some of the reasoning behind the Republic Day specials this year is patriotic; most of it, sound commercial sense.
National broadcaster Doordarshan will, per tradition, air the Republic Day parade from reveille to retreat, but has managed to squeeze in the Dharmendra starrer Kshatriya at prime time on DD Metro. For DD1, however, another Dharmendra starrer, but a patriotic film, Lalkaar has been slotted at 4 pm.
For satellite channels, Republic Day programming has to be coordinated with Sunday programming requirements, a fact that has made for a line up of blockbusters that are scheduled for telecast this weekend. SET MAX has Lagaan at 1 pm. SET however has lined up the Miss India curtain raiser at 9 pm, resisting the impulse to give in to the patriotic urge, though it will air Mission Kashmir at 9 pm the earlier night.
Star Plus has Refugee slotted at prime time. Star Gold has scheduled India's first war film Haqeeqat at 11.30 pm, but the prime time slot of 8 pm goes to masala movie Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan, starring Govinda and Amitabh Bachchan.
To add spice to the patriotic flavour to the programme mix Zee TV launched the serial Mulk a serial on the effects of after partition on the lives of three friends and their relationship during those days.
Zee TV. Zee Cinema meanwhile is plugging 26 January this year as a Super Sunday. Aimed at the hardcore non-patriot, Zee Cinema's morning lineup includes the Salman Khan starrer Judwaa at 10 am, followed by the Sunil Shetty-Akhshay Kumar blockbuster Dhadkan at 1 pm. As a concession to the theme of the day, there's The Legend of Bhagat Singh scheduled at 5 pm, followed by the Nandita Das flick Lal Salaam at 9 pm.
Sahara, with its avowedly patriotic image, is celebrating an entire week in honour of Republic Day, the highlight being the Bharat Parva -a three-hour show.
The Alpha channels from the Zee stable are geared to face Republic Day too. Beginning 23 January, Alpha Bangla pays a tribute to Netaji Subhashchandra Bose, in an episode that includes recollections from his early childhood, his mysterious death, clippings from the archives and exclusive annecdotes from those who had a close association with him during his stints at several places.
Alpha Bangla will also air fillers that will have leading singers of Bengal singing in harmony, the all time great song Aamar Janmabhoomi as well as the golden jubilee celebrations of Vinnay Nagar Bengalee school in New Delhi, attended by the likes of singer Manna Dey, actor Sharmila Tagore, Tapas Paul and Indrani Haldar.
Alpha Gujarati has managed a coup of sorts by securing an interview with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on 26 January, that also happens to be the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Kutch. To be aired at 10 am, 5.05 pm and again at 7.30 pm, the interview will have Modi speaking on the rehabilation work in Kutch, the response on the tax holiday two years after the earthquake, and care extended to orphan children, handicapped people and widows. A special package on Kutch for will also be incorporated in the Alpha Samachar throughout the day.
Alpha Marathi on the other hand will showcase the best of its continuing platform for the best of Marathi poetry and music, Nakshatranche Dene, featuring littérateur Vasant Bapat.
For those still loyal to DD, there's the live and exclusive telecast of the Republic Day parade, beginning with a shehnai recital by Ustad Bismillah Khan at 9.02 am, before the start of the parade. The Republic Day Parade from the ramparts of Rajpath, New Delhi will be telecast from 9.25 am to 11.30 am on the National Network as well as on DD India. The function will also cover the laying of wreaths on Amar Jawan Jyoti by the prime minister, and the presidential salute.
The message of President A P J Abdul Kalam to the nation will be aired on the eve of Republic Day at 7.30 pm on the National Network and DD India. The original message in English will be followed by its Hindi version. The regional versions of the President's message will be telecast at 9 pm on the same day.
All regional Kendras will telecast their respective regional feature films, though all will retain a patriotic fervour. A 25 minute TV Report on the Republic Day functions held in various parts of the country will be telecast between 9.30 pm and 10 pm on Sunday.
