MUSCAT — A grand ceremony, including a cultural feast, held at the Al Falaj Hotel after dusk, marked the dawn of the official presence of Kerala’s premier television channel Kairali in the Sultanate of Oman.

Oman’s presence in the Malayalam media, especially electronic media, has been prominent even before, but the official launch of the Oman franchisee under the banner of Shamel Concepts LLC, a well-known conceptual company of Oman, will ensure enhanced prominence.

Malayalam Communications Ltd, the organising behind the Kairali Channel, which has added two more channels — People (news-based) and We (entertainment) — to the air has been growing leaps and bounds lately and very recently has established itself as one of the few profit-making media ventures in India.

The new franchisee in Oman, meant the widening of network in the Middle East, and is hoped to reap in more revenue from the untapped market of Oman.

However, the joyous evening at Al Falaj, had a tinge of sadness as the officials of Kairali and Shamel Concepts, paid glowing tributes to the illustrious dramatist and film actor Murali, whose sudden demise had left a void in the Malayali film industry.

Incidentally, Murali was the former director of Kairali and the architect of the channel from its infancy. The entire gathering at the function yesterday observed a one-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

However, the loss did not stall the launch of the franchisee, though Kairali’s managing director John Brittas, who was expected to inaugurate the function, stayed back to attend Murali’s funeral.

In Brittas absence, Kairali’s director T.R. Ajayan marked the official opening and said Shamel Concepts LLC was the right choice the Malayalam Communications Ltd has made.

“We are venturing to Oman market, when the channel’s stakes are high, and we hope Shamel Concepts will help in consolidating our base in the Sultanate market,” said Ajayan in his address.

“I take this opportunity to say that our channel has grown leaps and bounds and if the latest audit revelation is considered we have posted a 30 per cent growth even when the global market is shrinking at times of recession,” he detailed.

Ajayan also praised all the share holders in Oman, and promised that each and everyone will relish the benefit.

“By this year end, I believe every share holder of the company will be paid dividends,” he said.

Dr Swati Kulkarni, councillor at the Embassy of India, described the launch of the Oman franchisee as a milestone for Kairali as well as the Keralite committee residing in Oman.

She wished the franchisee all success in their endeavours in enhancing the Indo-Oman relations through electronic medium.

Meanwhile, Indian Social Club’s community welfare secretary P.M. Jabir, who is also the sole Oman representative of Kairali’s popular Pravasalokam programme, said the new franchisee will help in strengthening the media presence in the Sultanate. “This joint venture will provide an ideal platform to highlight the grievances of expatriate population working in Oman and also showcase the emerging talents in all fields, especially cultural and literary.

Others who spoke on the occasion were prominent Malayalam writer Vaisakan, who described the channel as a helping hand with a new vision, critic and writer K.E.N. Kunjahmed, Malayalam Communications director Moosa Master and Dr Satish Nambiar, chairman of the Indian Social Club, Dr J. Retnakumar, resident manager of New India Assurance, Shamel Concepts officials Anil Dev, Prasad, Anil Kumar, George Leslie.

Also extending best wishes were Said Al Jabri and Said Khamis Al Zadjali.

Proposing the vote of thanks, Anil Kumar said the channel would focus on issues not dealing only with the Keralite community but on expatriates as a whole while abiding by the law of the Sultanate.

The cultural evening that followed had singers Kamal, Sanjana and Devika belting out some melodious songs supported by live orchestra, while adding colour and glitter were the dance sequences, which included classical forms like Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam.

Well with this official presence, Oman would be visible a lot more in the three channels of Malayalam Communications Ltd.