CPM Mouthpiece Kairali TV and Shanthi Madom Builders Exposed by Blind Family

This is the story of cheating by a Channel and their nexus with a prominent builder in Kerala. The family of 4 blind and an aged mother of them explained this issue in press conference, but you could not see this news on your dailies or channels because they were afraid of giving such news against the prominent builder, thereby losing their advertisement revenue.

A family of 5 consisting of 4 blinds and their mother participated in a reality show hoping to tide over their poverty finally ended up in debts even thought they were declared the winner for price of 35 Lakh worth Villa.

Thangamma and family were the star attraction in the Kairali TV program named “Ellarum Padanu” in 2008.  Ellarum padanu had a theme of all family members participating in the reality show. Though Thangamma family were blind by birth, they had a god given gift of beautiful melodious voice. The blind family was fighting aginst all the odds to meet the ends,  that is when they came to know about this reality show.

Each episode of this reality show demanded them to wear new attractive dresses, and they were forced to spend money on new dresses. Though they could not even afford such money, they borrowed money from others hoping that they can win and pay back the debt. They surely won, but the Channel and the sponsors failed them miserably.

After being selected as the winner, Shanthimadom MD Dr. Radhakrishnan had handed over the agreement in a function at Eranakulam Le Meridian Hotel on November 1, 2008. As a first step they even gave away 5 cent land at Kandanassery in Thangamma’s name. The award ceremony was huge. Both Shanthimadom and Kairali has taken the maximum mileage by giving away the price to a blind family.

The first price worth 35 Lakh ( A villa at Kandanassery Shanthimadom Greencity near Guruvayoor) was sponsored by ShanthiMadom builders and it was to be 3 bedroom villa of 1571 square feet. The Villa handover was supposed to happen on the Vishu celebration day of Shanthimadom at Guruvayoor on 14th April 2009. On that occasion Shanthimadom had invited the family and they were asked to sing again in the function but did not hand over the villa and was told that there are some more work pending and ask them to wait for completion.

There on, the family had to knock their door many times, but all in vain. Then in 2010 January Kairali TV invited the family again to the Gandharva Ganam finals and they made Ganagandharvan Yesudas to give a thermocol model of villa and key to Thangam family.

When ever they contacted Kairali TV, they asked them to contact Shanthimadom. Because of this uncertainty the family had consulted a lawyer (K.V.Prakash) for legal advice and advocate had sent legal notices to both Kairali TV and Shanthimadom.

Kairali TV in their reply to the legal notice has mentioned that Thangamma is not eligible for the price as she has not sung during the content. But then why did they announce first winner as “Thangamma and Family” and they were presented and facilitated as winners in various functions. Why did they even register 5 cent of land in her name?

Shanthimadom’s reply was more interesting. They have maintained that they had already given the villa, but when asked to get the details of the property given out, no answers.

On further interaction through lawyers, it was told that their villa is ready near that of Film star Nayana’s villa. Any time it can be handed over to the family. There were notice sent on 30-07-2010 asking when the handover will happen, but no response yet.

It is embarrassing to see that a channel headed by Padmashree Mammootty had given such a ridiculous reply to the poor family.

Follow this Youtube link to watch their Semi Final Round: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPaYE5G9XiE

Follow this Youtube link to watch the Prize Distribution Ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtWjrh_qljA

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