News Broadcasting
CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’with Indian composer extraordinaire A.R. Rahman
Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Saturday, March 18 at 0930am, 2000hrs and 2230hrs
Sunday, March 19 at 0600am, 1700hrs and 2030hrs
Monday, March 20 at 0900am
Indian composer and musical superstar, A.R. Rahman talks to Lorraine Hahn about his love of music and life beyond Bollywood in this weekend’s TALK ASIA. Rahman has more than 50 movie scores and a string of successful albums to his name and is currently composing the music for a stage adaptation of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Called a ‘Composer Extraordinaire’ by the Indian entertainment industry, he was honoured in 2002 with the Padmashree title, India’s highest civilian award, for his contributions to the arts.
Rahman started as a professional musician in his early teens in order to support his family. After a chance meeting with movie director Mani Ratnam, his music soon transferred to the big screen for the Indian blockbuster ‘Roja’. With his innovative mixing of technology with traditional Indian songs, Rahman’s tunes created a new buzz in the Bollywood music scene. “I was a big fan of electronics …when computer music, and computers and all this stuff came-it was fun, I was having fun”. His unique style featured in movie hits such as ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Rangeela’.
Collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber then led the maestro onto the stage with the hit musical ‘Bombay Dreams’, acclaimed by London’s West End and Broadway alike. Rahman views the new stage adaptation of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, as “probably ten times more than Bombay Dreams! You have like 18 hydraulics moving on stage…in three and a half hours…it’s amazing stuff!”
Educated in both the eastern and western music disciplines, Rahman sees the two schools complementing each other. To nurture the next generation of musicians: “My biggest dream now is to start a classical conservatory in India, or Chennai. I think the discipline of classical music is very important – and then we can ring in the eastern elements into it”.
AIRTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
For more program information and details on upcoming guests on TALK ASIA visit http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/talkasia/
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
