MAM
BBC launches Tamil film music series
MUMBAI: BBC Tamil Service, Tamilosai, is launching a series of programmes that explore the history of music and songs in Tamil movies. The launch will take place on 22 August.
The 15-part series looks at the evolution of Tamil film music through its history of nearly 60 years from its South Indian classical music roots to the present.
BBC Chennai correspondent Sampath Kumar, who is also the producer of the series, was quoted in a press release saying that it is the music that lies at the heart of the commercial success of the multi-million dollar Tamil film industry. Kumar is not only an expert in Tamil film music but is also very passionate about it.
He adds, “Many a Tamil movie has proved to be a box office hit solely on the strength of the music. But just why have the songs in the films captured the people’s imagination? What are the origins of Tamil film music? And who are the doyens of the Tamil film music, past and present? This is what we are exploring in the series.”
The Tamil film music series is the first of its kind in BBC Tamilosai’s output. Peppered with examples of famous music, the series features interviews with veteran music directors, singers and music pundits.
BBC Tamilosais’ head Thirumalai Manivannan says the series is going to be a treat for Tamil film fans across the world. “Many Tamil film songs created by famous lyricists like Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram and Kannadasan have acquired a literary status while immortal works of poets like Subramania Bharati and Bharatidasan have been successfully tuned to appeal to mass tastes. With this series we are taking a comprehensive overview of the magical music that has enchanted Tamil film fans for years,” he adds.
BBC Tamilosai programmes are available on 31, 41 and 49 metres on short wave at 21:15 IST and 21.45 Sri Lankan time. The series will also be available to Tamil speakers wherever they are on bbctamil.com.
MAM
WPP appoints Estée Lauder’s Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer
Former Estée Lauder executive to lead operations, technology and culture overhaul under WPP’s three-year growth plan
LONDON: WPP has appointed Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer in a newly created role tasked with delivering the group’s Elevate28 strategy.
Choueiri joins from The Estée Lauder Companies, where she led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, including the “One ELC” operating model and major upgrades to enterprise marketing, data and analytics capabilities. She also led the redesign of enterprise technology teams and served on the company’s AI taskforce, driving AI strategy, adoption and value realisation across the business.
At WPP, she will be responsible for designing, implementing and embedding the operating model behind Elevate28, the company’s three-year growth plan unveiled in February 2026. She will lead efforts to improve innovation, efficiency and integration across WPP’s client offerings, with a focus on delivering agile, outcome-driven solutions and measurable growth.
Choueiri will oversee organisational transformation across the group, working closely with product and enterprise technology teams to deploy AI, data and technology to build new capabilities and improve operational performance. She will also work with the people function to embed cultural change, strengthen an agile performance mindset and support talent development across the organisation.
Before joining Estée Lauder, she held senior roles across consulting and digital agencies, including at Accenture, Masaï (a Bain & Company spin-off), and Kearney, with experience spanning strategy, data and digital marketing transformation.
Cindy Rose, chief executive officer of WPP, said Choueiri brings a strong track record of leading large-scale transformation across operations, technology and culture, adding that her appointment will help accelerate the group’s next phase of growth under Elevate28.
Choueiri said WPP’s strategy represents an ambitious opportunity to reshape how the company operates and delivers for clients, adding that she looks forward to building integrated solutions and fostering a culture of innovation and change.
She will be based in New York and will join WPP’s executive committee.
