Blogs

MY FIRST-TIME: HOW I OVERCAME FEAR OF FACING THE CAMERA

By P.T. Bopanna

Being a private person, I had avoided facing the camera all these years. Several months ago, Puliyanda Anu Chengappa approached me for an interview in the Sodara Siri programme on Doordarshan Chandana.

Being basically shy and insecure, initially I was reluctant to accept the offer. But there was no way I could have said ‘No’ because Anu (in picture) had written a well-researched chapter on Kodava women’s customary rights for my book ‘Kodava Religion At Crossroads’.

In retrospect, I feel my fears of facing the camera were unfounded, because I was at ease when the interview got under way, mainly because Anu compered the programme efficiently.

Though the interview was done in April, it was telecast recently because the Sodara Siri programme also has slots for Tulu and Konkani, besides the Kodava language.

After the telecast, I started receiving phone calls from friends and strangers, for my “insightful’ talk on matters relating to Kodagu, especially the reference to how Kodavas continue to enjoy exemption under the Arms Act to own guns without licence, a privilege enjoyed only by Kodavas (Coorgs) by race and Jamma land-holders in Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka.

During the interview, I had recalled the role played by IAS stalwarts, former Karnataka chief secretary, T.P. Issar, and the late C.G. Somaiah, former Union home secretary and N.A. Muthanna, who had served as Karnataka’s home secretary, in continuing the gun exemption privilege.

Most of them who telephoned to me and sent WhatsApp messages were of the view that the programme duration was too short.  The Sodara Siri programme on DD Chandana has typically a broadcast duration of 30 minutes.  

One of the positive outcomes of the telecast was that many people who are not on social media, were able to watch the programme in Kodagu. I have been getting messages and calls from people in Kodagu, enquiring where they could purchase my books.

The sum and substance of the story is that, one has to come out of the comfort zone to achieve success. Thanks Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra for helping me to connect with people, living in the interior parts of Kodagu.

Photo: courtesy Doordarshan

Sharing YouTube link to the interview: