Kannadi
Analytical, articulate, astute, elegant, poised, well-informed, and more importantly, a paragon of true journalistic ethics are the words I would use to describe the late T. N Gopakumar- former editor in chief of Asianet News.
He hosted a show called Kannadi (Mirror in Malayalam) for over 2 decades, and the program had the reputation of looking at social issues concerning the people of Kerala.
The commentary was sharp and Gopakumar never had any qualms about criticizing the authorities, but he always managed to do it in a poignant manner. The investigative nature of the program helped the audience identify issues prevailing in the society, and it sometimes drove authorities to take action. This naturally gave him and the program a cult status.
Every Sunday, at 10 PM, Gopakumar’s deep voice would emanate from the TV, and I would be eagerly waiting to hear his trademark welcome line in Malayalam! Sometimes, he would give a glimpse of the contents of that particular day’s show before welcoming everyone. Either way, when the narration began, the eloquence and coherence in his speech would just grip me and I would give the program all my attention.
TNG or Gopan, as he was fondly known amongst his friends, fought a silent war with the government right from when the program began in 1993. In 2014, he also had to wage war with cancer, which resulted in an absence from his work for a few months. Cancer took a toll on his health and the man who returned was evidently frail, but there was no change in the energy he poured into the show.
Towards the end of the show, he would read fan mail, and I would wonder when I would be sending one. People trusted TNG so much that they would send in monetary donations, and he would ensure that it reached the right people.
Curtains have fallen on the show and on his life, but his legacy remains a yardstick for class!
