User:Sravyachitra/Raveendran Chennilode

Raveendran Chennilode Producer of the Radio Serial "Malayala Cinema Flash back" first time in th history of Indian broadcast the total history of a regional language cinema focusing on the dark and silent period, and the stories of dedicated people for the development of cinema as we enjoy today.

Raveendran Chennilode,basically a media person,Broadcaster and producer of many thousand Radio Programmes for the last 35 years for All India Radio. He is also an expert in Orchids, Film historian and Lyricist. Born on 10th February 1952 in Trivandrum, the Capital of Kerala the southern most state of India.

Father:- Late G.Nanu Achary, Freedom fighter who joined INA, Indian National Army of Subhash Chandra Bose and a Trade Union Leader of the Congress Party.

Mother:- Thankamma, belonging to erstwhile Vayalil Veedu, Nanthencode, Trivandrum, where early communist leaders used to meet and also famous for the Janatha Press, from where the early Naxalite publications were printed by her niece and later stopped by the Police.

Childhood: Fascinated by the art works of Uncle Neelakandan Achary, who used to make Musical Instruments like Veena and Mridangom who was honoured by the Royal Family of Travancore Palace and attracted to Classical Music through paternal uncle G. Vasudevan Bhagavather. One aunt Thankamma was a Khadi worker who used to turn charka daily. Like his father Ravi decided to wear khadi clothes only from the childhood itself.

Education:-Studied in Kannanmoola Primary School, Kumarapuram Middle School and High Scool classes in English medium from Medical College High School,Trivandrum. Studied in Mar Ivanios College Trivandrum for Pre Degree and Degree Classes. Took BSc.Degree in Physics and later got training in Electronics. Later took his Masters Degree in Sociology.

Activities:- Used to write poems during college days and became first in the University for poetry competitions. Used to paint. Published College Campus Paper and formed literary clubs along with the famous artists and writers of the present day like Jagathy Sreekumar,the famous cine actor; K. Jayakumar, the famous lyricist and Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala; Ravi Vallathol actor; Vayala Vasudevan Pillai, the famous theatrician and so many other persons who were students during that time. Ravi was a member of each and every Film societies in Kerala and a regular participant in every film discussions and seminars having a very wide connection with film personalities which later helped him to become a film historian apart from Radio Profession. Later Ravi was attracted to the world of Orchids which resulted in becoming a Judge for the two famous International Orchid Shows in Malaysia and China.

Profession:- A Radio broadcaster in various capacities as a Staff Artist, Transmission Executive and Programme Executive in All India Radio. Starting as Casual artist in All India Radio in 1975, became a permanent staff in 1979. Written and Produced Several thousand Radio programmes and many Productions were awarded on National level bringing Awards for the Trivandrum All India Radio Station for the first time in history in 1979 during his probation period before becoming a permanent Staff. Famous awarded programmes include "Thaalam", "Eka Varnamidam Sarvam","Sangeetha Kairali" etc. Other Radio programmes which were appreciated by the listeners and other media include "Pallakku", several Radio Plays, Musical Productions like "Gana Manjari"

Notable Contributions:

(1) "Ormacheppu" a vintage film songs based weekly programme in which listers, film celebrities, lyricists, singers and others participte; is a well listened programme started in 2003 through All India Radio Trivandrum Station. The first producer of the programme is Chennilode and the programme is being continued till date by other famous braodcasters like Rajeswari Mohan. There are many Ormacheppu Radio Clubs also.

(2)" Malayala Cinema Flash back" A mega Radio serial documentary programme broadcast in two periods started in 2003, conceived and realised by Raveendran Chennilode. It is the first of its kind in any media narrating the actual story of the Cinema in general and history of Malayalam cinema in particular.

Orchid World:- Raveendran Chennilode has worked hard for the popularisation of orchid cultivation in India along with his Orchid Guru Dr. J. Joseph and Orchid Cultivator Sri.G. Radhakrishnan. He uitlised his media Radio, for the same purpose by broadcasting many programmes on Orchids as interviews with experts, cultivation classes etc, writing in many leading Journals and News papers, organising Orchid Exhibitions with his friends like V.K. Karthikeyan, G. Radhakrishnan, Sathesh, Dr.satheeshkumar, Al- manar Nizzar, Somasekharan, Jacob Clavara, Rajan and so many others, publishing souvanirs,Horticultural Publications etc. Conducted so many orchid tours inside the country and abroad.

International honours

Participated in International Orchid Shows in Sanya,China (Jan 2010) and Johor, Malaysia (Aug 2009). He was Orchid Judge for the International Orchid Competitions there. Visited orchid farms in Taiwan, Srilanka, Thailand and Hongkong. He is aiming to produce India's own commercial hybrid orchids and is on the breeding programme for crosses between free flowering foreign plants and free growing Indian plants. He has developed low cost seed and tissue culture techniques for the same. His wife Mangala Raveendran is a horticulturist producing orchid plants and flowers. Daughter Aarsha Raveendran is doing her Degree in Karnatic music. try this link please https://sites.google.com/site/chennilodewebpage/