Munshi (TV series)

Indian Malayalam-language political and social satire television programme

Munshi

Directed by| Anil Banerjee
Country of origin| India
Original language| Malayalam
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 8450
Production
Production location| Kerala
Original release
Network| Asianet News
Release| September 2000 (2000-9) –
present

Munshi is an Indian Malayalam-language political and social satire television programme on the Malayalam-language news channel Asianet News.[1] The show is directed by Anil Banerjee; it has aired continuously since September 2000.[2] Earlier it was formerly aired on Asianet.[3]

Although the original idea during the show's inception was "giving a visualised treatment to pocket cartoons", after about 300 episodes, it "deviate[d] to the path of politics".[4]

## Characters

[edit]

Characters are sketched such that they come from a widely different backgrounds, with different political and religious outlooks. It sets a secular atmosphere in the show.[4]

* Munshi - the khadi-clad central character
* School student - seen with a Pazhampori in his hand
* Kariyachan - seen with neck brace
* Panicker - always wearing formals
* Motta - carrying a rooster in his hands
* Hajiyar - carries an umbrella
* Thirumeni - a Hindu priest
* Sakhavu - a comrade who addresses everyone else as 'Sakhavu'
* President

## Format

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Each episode takes up a social or political topic that is part of the current affairs. The characters, who belong to different socio-political backgrounds, narrates their opinion on the issue. The three-to-five minute strip ends with Munshi stating his view on the topic, often with a quirky proverb or pithy quote. The Munshi never takes part in others' discussion, his sole role is in delivering the final comment. The show begins and ends with a rooster's crowing sound.

## Cast and crew

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* Munshi was initially played by KP Sivasankara Kurup for the first 10 years of the show. Later on he was replaced by Achuthath Vasudevan Krishnan Moosad.[5][6]
* School student - Shreeju Nedumangad
* Kariyachan - Ayyappan
* Panicker - Sreekumar
* Hajiyar - Rajendran
* Sakhavu - Madhu Elavattom
* Motta - Hari
* Cameraman - Ajai Kumar G R

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Official Page of the show
2. ^ "Munshi completes 7645 episodes". The Hindu. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
3. ^ "Malayalam TV show Munshi".
4. ^ a b Interview with Director Anil Banerjee
5. ^ "At last, politics catches up with 'Munshi'". The New Indian Express. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
6. ^ Interview with AVK Moosad

*[No.]: Number