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UTV launches Gujarati language portal

UTV Interactive (UTVi), a subsidiary of Rs 175-cr media and entertainment major UTV Group Company, announced worldwide launch of its second dual language entertainment and information portal in Gujarati-English, www.kemchho.com. Having launched its first language vortal in Tamil, tamizha-tamizha.com, on the occasion of Pongal, it now proposes to launch six more language portals in the next six months in E2C (netentertainment to consumers) area, creating interactive portals for regional communities through a wide range of content, created in-house or sourced through external alliances. “There are in fact eight regional language vortals under preparation now and each one of them will be launched as and when ready,” said UTVi chief executive officer (CEO) Biren Ghose.

The Gujarati portal was inaugurated by Gujarat’s minister for IT and NRG Bimal Shah, who congratulating the UTVi for providing in-depth information, extended all possibles government help to reach out to the NRGs.

Ghose pointed out that many of the sections in the ew Gujarati portal are interactive, for instance the first ever on-line real matrimonial column with facilities for private chat, matching horoscope and putting audi-video messages. The portal’s other unique features is Daairo - the rendezvous a platform for exchanging views on any subject from personal problems to global issues. With 6 MB of space, it has an e-mail address to be in touch with friends and family wi: @kemchhosamaj. There are an estimated 5 to 6 million Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRGs) in USA, UK, East and South East Asia alone.

It also has wide spectrum of subjects ranging from arts and culture, films and music to literature and religion, astrology and almanac, typical Gujarati and other cuisine, tourism, including off-beat places to visit, on-line shopping, besides latest quotes from premier stock exchanges of BSE and NSE. Ghosh said the UTVi effort is based on its study that local language milieu was essential for Internet proliferation.It is already equipped with dynamic database to search faster but is yet to build up live shows as the video digitalising was still below the requisite quality. However, he hoped to introduce streaming in Indian portals shortly as has already been provided along with video on demand to its Singapore-based subsidiary sharkstream.com. To a suggestion for providing a keyboard in Gujarati, he said, it was under advanced stage of testing and would be introduced soon.

Its future plans include spearheading tsnshop.com to establish e-shopping mall, pioneering new media convergence and building upon India’s first shopping organisation and launching a new brand.

VK Chakravarti