News Broadcasting
AI cannot judge or feel the pulse of the audience: Musicians Mahesh Raghvan and Nandini Shankar
Mumbai: AI cannot judge or feel the pulse of the audience, and seeing original music garnering millions of views on YouTube is very encouraging, said the musician couple Mahesh Raghvan and Nandini Shankar at ABP Network’s The Southern Rising Summit. The couple, who rose to fame with their musical video, “The Kapi Dance,” shared their musical journey and how they found love while collaborating on the song during a session titled ‘Making Music: Crafting A New Style’ at the Summit.
“I started with music when I was 3. Later, I discovered an app on my iPad that allowed me to play Indian notes. Kapi is a raga in Carnatic music, which is equivalent to raga Mishra Pilu in Hindustani music which became the inspiration for The Kapi Dance,” said Raghvan.
Talking about whether AI technology will spoil creativity, he said, “AI cannot judge or feel the pulse of the audience. In every profession, you have certain tools to help you, but in the end, what matters is how much you learn, how much knowledge you have. What truly matters is how much the audience loves your music, and that completely depends on the musician.”
Adding to this, Nandini elaborated,” We shot the video in Chennai, and it is an original song. Seeing such support, appreciation, and getting over a million views is definitely encouraging for us.”
Apart from finding success in their musical careers, Mahesh and Nandini also found love while collaborating on their common passion – music. Speaking about their first meeting, Shankar said, ” I first followed her on Instagram. After talking, we decided to meet a few months later to collaborate on the song. Later, we became friends and eventually decided to get married.”
Meanwhile, Nandini, who is also a chartered accountant and comes from a family of musicians, has also worked as an investment advisor for a bank. Sharing about how she decided to make music her career, she said, “The importance of education was never undermined in my family. I topped my school and chose to become a Chartered Accountant. I worked as an investment advisor for a bank, but since I was working five days a week with the bank and performing during the weekend, it was then I decided to pursue music.”
The musical couple performed a classical rendition of their popular music video, “The Kapi Dance,” and enthralled the audience with their musical talent at the Summit.
The ‘Southern Rising’ Summit was conceptualized and instituted by ABP Network as a tribute to the exceptional growth, cultural opulence, and societal harmony exemplified by the southern states of India. It aimed to celebrate the spirit and richness of the southern states, united on a singular mission of driving a transformative journey for India. The summit witnessed profound deliberations and the sharing of insights by the movers and shakers of South Indian states and Union Territories.
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
