When an `air attack' on Neethi made news

At 20, she joined the All India Radio and moved to a news agency for Rs 150 a month. When she was 25, she became the evergreen face of Doordarshan. People looked at her like cinema star, keenly glued to the television sets, bewildered by her enchanting elegance. The 70s and the 80s were the times when people tuned in to the prime time news at 9 in the night just to tell their kids to learn impeccable English. Those were the times when national carrier Doordarshan was the king and the news that was given was eagerly watched by all.

We take you back to the days, the days when the newsreaders were hailed for the legacy they created. One of the most famous and a Malayalee from Kannur district who made a mark among newsreaders was Neethi Ravindran. This was during the time Doordarshan had a monopoly over television broadcasting.

Neethi visited Mathrubhumi's channel office in Thiruvananthapuram as part of Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters where she is the anchor and the chief presenter for the event. Recollecting her memories of news reading, Neethi goes about eloquently of those golden times when she accepts that given the technical shortfalls, she would say she was a `dinosaur’.

Neethis Ravindran's flair for news readings began at an early age and could not forget the times when she was in Vietnam teaching English when she was only 19. Neethi had always wanted to be associated with news. Thus began the journey.

At 20, she began from Radio and later joined UNI but quit the news agency due to family responsibilities.

Wife of an Air India pilot hailing from Thalassery, Neethi had named her first daughter Ayeda. The name signifies I shall return, in Persian and was borrowed from her French friend.

Like a migratory bird, Neethi was shifting gears. Neethi first got a chance to present the news in Doordarshan in 1976, a Diwali Day. "I read my first news on Doordarshan and I had butterflies in my stomach. During every reading, I get butterflies. One should never be complacent."

Does Neethi have a best moment while reading news. Of course it was during mother Theresa's funeral where for the entire duration of the funeral procession, she was asked to give a commentary. They gave me a book and I have to prepare my own notes. The saree that I wore, a deep purple saree with gold border. Somebody said it was inappropriate but thankfully the sisters of the convent felt it was appropriate.

Neethi feels Reiki helped her a lot to relieve stress and avoid nervousness.

She also recollects when Mrs Gandhi was shot at she was called at the studio at 12 o clock noon but the matter was announced only at 6 in the evening, due to government restrictions.

Neethi still remembers the day distinctly after trying to get back home from the studio on the day of the assassination. While returning, riots broke out and to a waiting Sardarji, Neethi shouted "Watch Out, Jeeps are burning". Many years later, when Neethi had gone to an AI dispatch office, one sardarji comes to her and says "You saved my life". That’s the moment she loves to remember always.

How is the present news reading? Neethi shoots back "It's not a fair question.  It’s not a fair question at all. Now Doordarshan has some solid content than other channels where they are shouting at you all the time. I really don't appreciate."

"Aggressiveness does not help in any way. What needs to be understood is that basically you are communicating with another individual, communicating in a confined space. Maybe your bedroom, your drawing room. Talk to them as if they are understanding. Don't shout as they are not inferior to you," is her humble advice.

Neethi is enjoying her twilight years in Kerala, shuttling between Delhi and Kannur, where she owns 55 cents of land. "Working and mingling with the tribals who work in our estate, is a totally different experience."

 What does Neethi feels to be as an anchor person for an International Festival of Letters. I think for me, it’s very exciting to be here with the well-known and struggling writers.

She signs off after taking this final question. Was there any unpleasant experience while reading. Oh yes. Once when I was about to enter the studio, huge monkeys were occupying the editor's chair. And in another occasion, bees inside the studio, was the scene of attack, and the largest selling newspaper Navbharat Times reported the next day "Air attack on Neethi Ravindran."