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Weekend with Ramesh
Weekend with Ramesh
from Wikipedia

Weekend with Ramesh
GenreTalk show
Created byRaghavendra Hunsur
Based onAchievers of Karnataka
Written byPradyumna Narahalli
Presented byRamesh Aravind
Theme music composerVijay Prakash
Country of originIndia
Original languageKannada
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes132 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerAnil Kumar J
ProducerZee Kannada
Production locationsAbbaiah Naidu Studio, Bengaluru
CinematographyInhouse
EditorInhouse
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running timeApprox. 90 minutes
Production companyZee Entertainment Enterprises
Original release
NetworkZee Kannada
Release2 August 2014 (2014-08-02) –
present

Weekend with Ramesh is an Indian talk show hosted by Ramesh Aravind on Zee Kannada.[1] The first season of the show began airing on 2 August 2014, and ended on 26 October 2014, after airing 26 episodes.[2] The second season of the show aired from 26 December 2015 to 16 April 2016. The third season aired from 26 March 2017 and 2 July 2017. Raghavendra Hunsur directed the first Season, Prakash G., seasons 2 and 3, while Anil Kumar J. directed seasons 4 and 5. Pradyumna Narahalli wrote the seasons 2 and 3.[3]

Overview

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The format of the show involves achievers on various fields, primarily from Karnataka, being invited and the story of their life being told. It involves appearances of various people associated with the "achiever" who narrate incidents from their association with the person. The show is being taped at Abbaiah Naidu Studio in the Chikkalasandra locality of Bangalore.[4] The first season began airing on 2 August 2014, with actor Puneeth Rajkumar as the first invitee.[5] Season 1 ended on 26 October, with the host Ramesh Aravind on the "achievers' seat", with film director and lyricist Yogaraj Bhat as the host.

The second season saw invitees mostly personalities of Kannada cinema like Vijay Prakash, Rajesh Krishnan, Ambareesh, Darshan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anant Nag, Raghu Dixit, Sudeepa. Season three saw a mix of professions with achievers from entertainment industry like Arjun Janya, Gangavathi Pranesh, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan; poet, writer, lyricist Jayanth Kaikini; former judge of the Supreme Court Of India, former Solicitor General of India and Lokayukta for Karnataka N. Santosh Hegde; police officer Ravi D. Channannavar; businessman Vijay Sankeshwar; litterateur, priest, writer Hiremagaluru Kannan and some politicians. The season 4 was aired starting 20 April 2019. Philanthropist and the Dharmadhikari of the Dharmasthala Temple Veerendra Heggade, industrialist and co-founder of Infosys N. R. Narayana Murthy and an inspirational writer, speaker, philanthropist, chairperson of the Infosys Foundation Sudha Murthy were invited.

The show returned after a three-year gap for its fifth season, in March 2023. It was reported that the makers hoped to have film personalities Rishab Shetty and Dhananjaya, cardiac surgeon Devi Shetty, and former cricketers Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble on the show.[6] Actress Ramya was the first guest on the show, which was aired on 25 March.[7] The deputy chief minister of Karnataka D. K. Shivakumar was the last guest of the season.[8]

List of episodes

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Season 1

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No. Guest(s) Original air date
1 Puneeth Rajkumar 2 August 2014
2 3 August 2014
3 V. Ravichandran 9 August 2014
4 10 August 2014
5 H. R. Ranganath 16 August 2014
6 Arjun Sarja 17 August 2014
7 Yash 23 August 2014
8 24 August 2014
9 Yogaraj Bhat 30 August 2014
10 T. N. Seetharam 31 August 2014
11 Dwarakish 6 September 2014
12 Ashwin Karthik 7 September 2014
13 Radhika Pandit 13 September 2014
14 Gurukiran 14 September 2014
15 Upendra 20 September 2014
16 21 September 2014
17 Shiva Rajkumar 27 September 2014
18 28 September 2014
19 G. R. Gopinath 4 October 2014
20 Syed Afsar 5 October 2014
21 Umashree 11 October 2014
22 Mukhyamantri Chandru 12 October 2014
23 Master Hirannaiah 18 October 2014
24 Tara 19 October 2014
25 Ramesh Aravind 25 October 2014
26 26 October 2014

Season 2

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No. Guest(s) Original air date
1 Prem 26 December 2015
2 Rakshita 27 December 2015
3 Vijay Prakash 2 January 2016
4 3 January 2016
5 Duniya Vijay 9 January 2016
6 Rajesh Krishnan 10 January 2016
7 Devaraj 16 January 2016
8 Rangayana Raghu 17 January 2016
9 Ambareesh 23 January 2016
10 24 January 2016
11 Darshan 30 January 2016
12 31 January 2016
13 Sadhu Kokila 6 February 2016
14 7 February 2016
15 Srujan Lokesh 13 February 2016
16 Doddanna 14 February 2016
17 Srinath 20 February 2016
18 21 February 2016
19 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 27 February 2016
20 28 February 2016
21 Anant Nag 5 March 2016
22 6 March 2016
23 Lakshmi 12 March 2016
24 13 March 2016
25 Raghu Dixit 19 March 2016
26 20 March 2016
27 Leealavathi 26 March 2016
28 Rockline Venkatesh 27 March 2016
29 Sudha Rani 2 April 2016
30 B. Saroja Devi 3 April 2016
31 Saikumar 9 April 2016
32 P. Ravi Shankar 10 April 2016
33 Kiccha Sudeepa 16 April 2016
34 17 April 2016

Season 3

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No. Guest(s) Original air date
1 Prakash Raj 25 March 2017
2 26 March 2017
3 Jaggesh 1 April 2017
4 2 April 2017
5 Arjun Janya 8 April 2017
6 9 April 2017
7 Gangavathi Pranesh 15 April 2017
8 16 April 2017
9 Bharathi Vishnuvardhan 22 April 2017
10 Jayanth Kaikini 23 April 2017
11 Ravi D. Channannavar 29 April 2017
12 V. Harikrishna 30 April 2017
13 Rakshit Shetty 6 May 2017
14 Priyamani 7 May 2017
15 Kashinath 13 May 2017
16 N. Santosh Hegde 14 May 2017
17 Krishnegowda 20 May 2017
18 Vijay Raghavendra 21 May 2017
19 B. Jayashree 3 June 2017
20 Vijay Sankeshwar 4 June 2017
21 H. D. Deve Gowda 10 June 2017
22 11 June 2017
23 Shruthi 17 June 2017
24 Hiremagaluru Kannan 18 June 2017
25 Siddaramaiah 24 June 2017
26 25 June 2017
27 Ganesh 1 July 2017
28 2 July 2017

Season 4

[edit]
No. Guest(s) Original air date
1 Veerendra Heggade 20 April 2019
2 21 April 2019
3 Raghavendra Rajkumar 27 April 2019
4 28 April 2019
5 Prema 4 May 2019
6 Prakash Belawadi 5 May 2019
7 Shashi Kumar 11 May 2019
8 Vinaya Prasad 12 May 2019
9 Sriimurali 18 May 2019
10 19 May 2019
11 N. R. Narayana Murthy 1 June 2019
12 Sudha Murthy 2 June 2019
13 Sumalatha 8 June 2019
14 T. S. Nagabharana 9 June 2019
15 Sharan 15 June 2019
16 16 June 2019
17 Vaijanath Biradar 21 June 2019
18 Chikkanna 22 June 2019
19 Shankar Bidari 29 June 2019
20 B. B. Ashok Kumar 30 June 2019
21 Rajendra Singh Babu 6 July 2019
22 Chandrashekhara Kambara 7 July 2019

Season 5

[edit]
No. Guest(s) Original air date
1 Ramya 25 March 2023
2 26 March 2023
3 Prabhu Deva 1 April 2023
4 2 April 2023
5 C. N. Manjunath 8 April 2023
6 H. G. Dattatreya 9 April 2023
7 Dhananjaya 15 April 2023
8 16 April 2023
9 Avinash 22 April 2023
10 Mandya Ramesh 23 April 2023
11 Sihi Kahi Chandru 29 April 2023
12 Gururaj Karjagi 30 April 2023
13 Prem 6 May 2023
14 7 May 2023
15 Chinni Prakash 13 May 2023
16 N. Someswara 14 May 2023
17 V. Nagendra Prasad 20 May 2023
18 None 21 May 2023
19 Doddarangegowda 27 May 2023
20 Jai Jagadish 28 May 2023
21 D. K. Shivakumar 10 June 2023
22 11 June 2023

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Weekend with Ramesh is a Indian talk show hosted by actor, comedian, and director , which airs on the television channel and features conversations with accomplished individuals from various professions recounting pivotal moments from their careers and personal lives. The series premiered on 2 August 2014, with its inaugural season concluding later that year, and has since produced multiple subsequent seasons, including a fifth season in 2023 that highlighted guests such as politicians and personalities. In its format, Aravind engages guests in informal yet insightful dialogues, often delving into untold stories, challenges overcome, and inspirations drawn from their journeys, which has contributed to the show's reputation for providing authentic glimpses into the lives of region's prominent figures. While the program has maintained steady popularity within the entertainment landscape, evidenced by consistent viewership on broadcast and streaming platforms like , it has not been associated with major controversies, focusing instead on celebratory and reflective content.

Premise and Development

Concept and Origins

Weekend with Ramesh originated as a Kannada-language television conceived by host to spotlight the success trajectories of accomplished individuals, primarily from , across domains such as arts, business, sports, and beyond. The program debuted on on August 2, 2014, with the intent to foster regional appreciation for self-made achievers by eliciting narratives of perseverance and accomplishment. Aravind emphasized curating content that motivates viewers through uplifting accounts, deliberately clear of guests' setbacks, controversies, or comprehensive biographical scrutiny to maintain a constructive tone. The core premise revolves around intimate conversations where guests recount pivotal personal episodes—ranging from early hardships surmounted to driving inspirations behind their rises—without delving into unflattering details. This selective focus, as articulated by Aravind, aims to inspire audiences by highlighting pathways to success rather than exhaustive life audits, aligning with the show's of promoting actionable . Drawing from established biographical traditions, the format adapts them to underscore Kannada cultural ethos and local triumphs, capitalizing on audience affinity for authentic, affirmative tales of regional luminaries. By prioritizing empirical tales of resilience and achievement over , Weekend with Ramesh positions itself as a platform for vicarious learning, encouraging viewers to emulate positive strategies observed in guests' journeys. This approach, rooted in Aravind's vision, distinguishes the series within media by emphasizing causal elements of success—such as determination and opportunity leverage—while omitting elements that could dilute its inspirational core.

Launch Details

Weekend with Ramesh premiered on August 2, 2014, on the -language channel , with the first season consisting of 26 weekly episodes airing on weekends. The debut episode featured film actor as the inaugural guest, selected to leverage his popularity in the regional entertainment industry for initial audience draw. This launch timing positioned the show in 's prime-time slot, targeting family audiences amid competition from other regional talk formats. The first season concluded on October 26, 2014, establishing the program's foundation through conversations with cinema and music figures to generate early interest.

Host and Production

Ramesh Aravind as Host

, a Kannada film actor, director, and television personality with a career spanning over three decades, was selected as the host of Weekend with Ramesh for his affable persona and established hosting experience on programs such as Preethi Inda Ramesh (52 episodes in one year) and Raja Rani Ramesh, which had garnered positive audience reception. His background in acting over 140 films and directing several, including scripting Hoomale in 1998, equipped him to foster empathetic yet incisive conversations centered on guests' pathways to achievement, aligning with the show's emphasis on regional cultural figures. Aravind's interviewing style deliberately highlights the positive facets of guests' lives, consciously eschewing controversies and negative events to prioritize motivational narratives over exhaustive biographical accounts. In a 2017 interview, he explained, "Weekend with Ramesh is not a 360-degree coverage of a person. We only try to cover the better aspects of the achiever's life," adding that the decision to avoid negatives stemmed from a commitment to inspiration, as "more than being a story or a show, it is about inspiring people to do great things." This approach reflects his personal philosophy of focusing on life's positives despite challenges, as he noted, "I'm always smiling and look at the positives of life, rather than its negatives. Life is not easy, but it is good." By gracefully portraying difficulties alongside successes, the format promotes perseverance without delving into personal shortcomings. Aravind has been involved with the show since its in August 2014, maintaining a consistent tone of celebration for cultural icons through direct interaction with guests while limiting his role to on-air engagement rather than guest solicitation. This sustained oversight ensures the program's regional relevance and uplifting , shaped by his multifaceted career.

Production and Broadcasting

Weekend with Ramesh is produced by , the regional television channel that commissions and broadcasts the series. The show maintains a weekly production and airing schedule, with new episodes typically premiering on weekends in slots to align with its title and target audience availability. In response to production disruptions caused by , initiated re-telecasts of select episodes starting 11 April 2020, beginning with the installment featuring actor Darshan. Additional special re-airs followed, including those with guests Kiccha Sudeep and from season 2, airing over subsequent weekends to sustain viewer engagement amid halted new filming. Broadcasting extends beyond linear television through on-demand availability on the streaming platform, where full seasons and episodes from 2014 onward can be accessed. This supports the show's continuity, with seasons progressing annually up to at least early 2025 without fundamental alterations to the core broadcasting model.

Format and Content

Episode Structure

Episodes of Weekend with Ramesh generally adhere to a narrative-focused format that traces the guest's life journey in a chronological sequence, emphasizing personal anecdotes and milestones without adversarial probing. The structure begins with host introducing the guest in a casual setting, often featuring shared to foster a relaxed atmosphere conducive to . This opening segment sets the stage for the guest to recount early life experiences, hurdles overcome, and incremental steps toward achievement, narrated primarily by the guest themselves. Core portions of the episode intersperse these discussions with supporting elements such as archival video clips or guest-provided anecdotes, illustrating key turning points and causal connections in their path to success. Aravind's role involves gentle prompts to guide the flow and ensure coherence, maintaining a positive tone that prioritizes inspiration over critique or debate. This design contrasts with investigative interview styles by centering guest autonomy in the narrative, avoiding to highlight authentic, self-reflective accounts of perseverance and . Running approximately 50 minutes, episodes culminate in reflective segments where guests distill lessons from their experiences, offering motivational insights for viewers on resilience and strategic choices in professional and personal growth. The editing reinforces thematic causality, linking specific actions and opportunities to outcomes without speculative embellishment.

Guest Selection and Themes

The selection of guests for Weekend with Ramesh prioritizes individuals recognized for tangible achievements primarily within Karnataka, spanning fields such as cinema, business, and medicine, with a emphasis on those whose successes can be empirically verified through career milestones and public records. Prominent examples include actor Sudeep, noted for his prolific output in Kannada films exceeding 50 leading roles since the early 2000s, and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, credited with building a multinational IT firm from a $250 startup investment in 1981 to a market capitalization over $100 billion by 2023. This criterion extends to sports figures and entrepreneurs, though entertainment personalities dominate, reflecting a regional lens on contributors to Kannada cultural and economic spheres rather than national or international diversity. A distinctive element is the "red seat," reserved for iconic figures whose honors symbolize peak accomplishment, such as cardiologist Dr. , who performed over 95% of heart surgeries at Sri Jayadeva Institute since 1979, or veteran actor Dattanna, with roles in more than 200 films since 1976. Guest invitations appear driven by alignment with inspirational narratives of perseverance, evidenced by over 98 achievers featured across five seasons by 2023, selected for stories of ascent from modest origins without delving into disputes or institutional failures. This process favors profiles that underscore personal causality in outcomes, sidelining broader socioeconomic analyses in favor of agency-driven accounts. Recurring themes emphasize causal mechanisms of , including sustained effort, guidance from mentors, and resilience against personal setbacks, as illustrated in episodes tracing guests' trajectories from rural upbringings to professional pinnacles. For instance, discussions highlight how figures like entrepreneur attribute firm growth to disciplined innovation and team-building over two decades, promoting as a core driver rather than external aid. Motifs of regional pride recur, celebrating contributions to identity through diligence and cultural rootedness, while avoiding viewpoints challenging traditional hierarchies or introducing ideological variance, thus framing inspiration through individual merit and localized triumphs.

Seasons and Episodes

Season 1 (2014)

The inaugural season of Weekend with Ramesh premiered on August 2, 2014, on , featuring actor as the first guest in the curtain-raiser episode, where associates shared influences on his career. The season consisted of 26 episodes, airing weekly on weekends and concluding in late October 2014 with a two-part finale on October 25 and 26, hosted by director , who interviewed himself as the guest. Early episodes introduced prominent figures from , including V. Ravichandran in episode 4 on August 10, 2014, who discussed his career as a multifaceted known for directing, , and singing. Other guests in the season spanned actors, directors, and achievers, aligning with the show's focus on personal journeys and professional milestones, which helped solidify viewer engagement through relatable, anecdote-driven content. This season established the program's core formula of extended, conversational interviews emphasizing inspirational life narratives and success arcs, with maintaining a facilitative role that highlighted positive experiences and avoided contentious topics, as evidenced in the structured guest testimonials and host-led reflections. The finale's self-reflective format underscored the season's experimental yet polished approach, paving the way for subsequent renewals by demonstrating sustained weekend viewership potential. All episodes from Season 1 remain archived and streamable on ZEE5.

Seasons 2–5 (2015–Ongoing)

Season 2, which premiered in late 2015, expanded the guest roster beyond the inaugural season's focus to encompass prominent achievers from and music, including playback singer , whose episode aired on January 2, 2016, and actor Darshan in the 11th episode broadcast on April 11, 2016. The season comprised multiple episodes featuring stalwarts like , , and , emphasizing personal narratives of perseverance and success while preserving the show's inspirational interview structure. Seasons 3 through 5 upheld this format without significant structural alterations, airing in periodic runs—Season 3 from March 25, 2017, Season 4 from April 20, 2019, and Season 5 from March 2023—primarily on weekend evenings via . Guest selection progressively incorporated figures from non-entertainment domains, such as and , alongside film personalities like in Season 5's finale, fostering a wider array of motivational stories amid competition from digital streaming services. Production enhancements in these seasons included broader on platforms like , enabling higher accessibility and viewer engagement through on-demand episodes, which supported sustained weekend telecasts into 2025. This evolution in guest caliber and delivery quality reinforced the program's appeal for uplifting content, adapting subtly to audience preferences for authentic, achievement-oriented dialogues without overhauling the core conversational style.

Special Episodes and Adaptations

In April 2020, amid production halts due to the , Weekend with Ramesh aired special episodes featuring re-runs of popular segments from previous seasons to sustain viewer interest and fill broadcast slots on . These re-airs, including highlights from high-viewership interviews, allowed the program to maintain its weekend presence without new filming, demonstrating operational adaptability during lockdowns that disrupted original content creation across Indian television. The series has occasionally featured themed episodes extending its interview format, such as consecutive broadcasts honoring prominent couples. In June 2019, during Season 4, Narayana Murthy appeared on the Saturday edition (June 1), followed by Sudha Murthy on Sunday (June 2), both at 9:30 PM, marking a deliberate pairing to explore their shared personal and professional narratives as co-founders. This structure deviated from the typical single-guest focus, emphasizing relational dynamics and drawing significant anticipation for its rare dual-episode tribute to influential figures in Indian business. Digital adaptations have enhanced the show's accessibility beyond traditional television, with full episodes and season playlists streamed on platforms like ZEE5 and YouTube since at least 2018, targeting the global Kannada-speaking audience. These online extensions include on-demand viewing of specials and re-airs, such as Season 4 episodes featuring the Murthys, enabling diaspora viewers to engage with content post-broadcast and underscoring the program's shift toward hybrid media distribution.

Reception and Impact

Popularity and Achievements

Since its premiere in 2014, Weekend with Ramesh has consistently achieved high television ratings (TRPs) in Karnataka, elevating ZEE Kannada's performance and leading to multiple season renewals. Specific episodes have set benchmarks, such as the Season 2 installment featuring actor Darshan on April 11, 2016, which recorded the highest TRP in the channel's history and Karnataka television at the time. Another standout was Rakshit Shetty's appearance in Season 3, which topped TRPs for that season according to ZEE Kannada's business head. User-generated ratings reflect strong audience approval, with the series averaging 9.2/10 on from 134 reviews as of recent data. High-scoring episodes include Season 2, Episode 34 with actor Sudeep, rated 9.8/10 by viewers. These metrics underscore the show's appeal through relatable narratives of achievers' journeys and host Aravind's engaging style, fostering family-oriented viewership. The program has earned industry validation, including Aravind's "Pride of " award in 2016 and "Best Host" recognition in 2018 tied to the show's format. Episodes spotlighting figures like singer , aired in Season 2, have been highlighted as favorites for their inspirational accounts of perseverance, amplifying the show's role in showcasing regional talent. This sustained popularity has solidified its position as a prime-time staple for .

Criticisms and Limitations

Critics have pointed to the show's deliberate avoidance of controversies and of guests' lives as a key limitation, arguing that this approach sanitizes narratives and omits causal factors such as failures, ethical lapses, or external privileges that shape success. In a , host explicitly stated, "Weekend with Ramesh is not a 360-degree coverage of a ... I consciously avoid controversies and negative events in life," framing the format as focused on positivity rather than comprehensive analysis. This self-admitted selectivity has drawn detractors who contend it misleads audiences by prioritizing inspirational anecdotes over unvarnished realism, potentially downplaying real-world complexities like luck or industry in guests' trajectories. Viewer feedback on platforms like Reddit and Quora highlights perceptions of one-sidedness, with users noting the neglect of "mistakes and bad behaviors" in profiles of film industry figures, which could foster an overly promotional tone alienating those seeking rigorous inquiry. Such opinions, while from user-generated forums prone to anecdotal bias, underscore a broader call for balanced scrutiny in a medium often critiqued for soft-pedaling accountability in entertainment circles. The format's emphasis on cinema and arts guests—evident in episodes featuring predominantly Sandalwood personalities alongside occasional non-film achievers like writers—further limits scope, sidelining perspectives from fields like science, business, or politics that might offer diverse insights into accomplishment. This narrow selection reinforces a feel-good, industry-centric lens, reducing opportunities for cross-disciplinary causal exploration.

Cultural and Industry Influence

The biographical talk format of Weekend with Ramesh has elevated the profiles of non-film sector achievers in media, such as entrepreneurs and sports personalities from , by dedicating episodes to their personal journeys and contributions, thereby broadening the scope of regional television beyond cinematic narratives. This approach has sustained Zee 's competitive standing, with the series ranking among the channel's top-rated programs during Seasons 2 and beyond, contributing to its number 2 position in urban markets as of 2016. On a cultural level, the show reinforces a self-made centered on perseverance and local pride, exemplified by episodes featuring figures like Infosys co-founder , whose recounting of the company from modest beginnings in 1981 resonated amid India's expanding , which saw registered startups rise from approximately 450 in 2016 to over 1,000 by 2018. Such narratives align with broader societal shifts toward in , a state hosting key hubs like Bengaluru, fostering public discourse on determination as a causal driver of success independent of elite pedigrees. Within the industry, while the program's inspirational tone has bolstered viewer engagement and channel loyalty—described by producers as aspirational and reflective of Kannadiga emotions—it invites scrutiny over media's selective emphasis on triumphs, often streamlining complex life paths into motivational arcs that may underplay empirical factors like market contingencies or early setbacks, potentially cultivating viewer expectations detached from fuller causal realism. This curatorial choice, common in biographical formats, risks echo-chamber dynamics by prioritizing affirming stories over balanced inquiry, though no peer-reviewed analyses have quantified its long-term societal effects.

References

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