Nina Pillai to head country's first exclusive TV channel for women, Sakhi

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A bevy of leading women from business, politics and cinema have joined their hands to form the country’s first exclusively women channel, Sakhi TV, that would go on air by the end of this year.

Nina Pillai, wife of deceased business tycoon Rajan Pillai, will be the chairperson and filmmaker Rajasenan the CEO of the new channel planned under the banner of Sakhi Television Communi- cations Ltd. Actress Sarada is the chief patron and Ambika the vice-chairperson.

Congress leader Simi Rosebell John will also be a vice-chaiperson.

“The programmes will be designed in such a way as to work for the empowerment of women. Innovative programmes that can intervene effectively in issues like child protection will be a major focus,” a source said.

The channel hopes to strike a balance between entertainment and activism. “There will be films and serials, but the thrust will be on activism. The objective is to make the voice of women heard,” the source said, adding, “The programming has to be unique. We don’t have any models to emulate.”

The logo, to be released by tribal welfare minister Jayalakshmi on February 8, will have the catchword, “'Visual representation of female empowerment.”