Transvestite host's debut show too 'sensitive' for S'pore Man, he's
shaking up talkshow scene * By Sheela Narayanan* *March 25, 2008*TOUTED
as the Tamil-language Oprah Winfrey, Rose Venkatesan is making waves on
Indian cable TV. [image: Click to see larger
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The twist? Rose was born as Ramesh Venkatesen, a former web designer with a
masters degree in biomedical engineering from an American university.
On his 30-minute show Ipadikku Rose (Yours, Rose), the cross-dresser tackles
topics considered to be taboo in Indian society like sexual harassment and
sex workers.
And the show - broadcasted to more than 64million people in Tamil Nadu - had
been getting international media attention even before it was aired on Star
TV's Tamil-language cable channel, Vijay TV, on 28 Feb.
While the show is available to Vijay TV's audiences in India, Hong Kong and
the US, Singaporeans won't get to see it yet.
Star TV spokesman told The New Paper that due to the 'controversial and
sensitive nature' of the show, they are not ready to show it in Singapore.
In a telephone interview from Chennai, Rose told The New Paper that the
initial response to the show has been good.
'A lot of people appreciate the show and women have come up to me and told
me they love the show and I am very good,' he said with his hybrid
Indian-American accent.
The first episode was on sexual harassment of women.
One of his upcoming episodes will feature Indian sex worker Nalini Jameela,
who wrote her autobiography of how she became involved with prostitution.
Rose said: 'She was openly challenging the system of marriage. There is a
false notion in Indian society that men will always be with the women they
married. That is a myth.'
Attempts to contact Vijay TV's head of programming, Mr Pradeep Milroy Peter,
were unsuccessful.
But in an interview with The New York Times, Mr Pradeep admitted that he was
nervous about how the audience would receive the show and its transvestite
host.
*'VERY EXPERIMENTAL'*
He said: 'We are crossing our fingers. The market has a craving for talk
shows, but this one comes with a difference. It's very experimental.'
Rose had impressed Mr Pradeep and the rest of Vijay TV executives with his
qualifications and confidence.
Rose said: 'With this show, I want to challenge and change society's
hypocritical perception of transgender people.'
Mr Pradeep said: 'The show will be groundbreaking, but we have to think
about our audience. South Indians are very reserved, very conservative.'
So sex before marriage will be discussed, but not gay relationships.
Are Singaporean Indian audiences ready for Rose?
One of them said no.
Mrs A Gopalan, 45, mother of two and a housewife, said: 'Not everybody is
open to a talkshow like this. I think it is also not suitable for young
people.'
Mr Govindaraju M, 57, a writer for a local production house, felt otherwise.
'We live in a multi-racial, cosmopolitan society. I don't see any problem
with such a show on cable.
'And it's not as if it is on prime time, it is late at night. If people are
offended, they don't have to watch it,' he said.
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