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| Type | Television Channel |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Network | Doordarshan |
| Headquarters | Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala, India |
| Programming | |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Picture format | SD & HD |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Prasar Bharati |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 January 1985; 41 years ago (1985-01-01) |
| Founder | Government of India |
| Former names | DD 4 |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Waves | DD Malayalam |
| JioTV | DD Malayalam |
DD Malayalam is an IndianMalayalam-languagefree to airtelevision channel operated byDoordarshan, India's national broadcaster. Originally known as DD4, the channel was rebranded as DD Malayalam after 1995. It serves as one of the 11 regional language channels run by Doordarshan, catering specifically to the Malayalam-speaking population.
The channel operates from its headquarters located inKudappanakunnu, a suburb ofThiruvananthapuram, the capital city ofKerala. As a regional broadcaster, DD Malayalam plays a pivotal role in disseminating information, entertainment, and educational content tailored to the cultural and linguistic identity of Kerala.
The channel broadcasts through satellite in the name DD Malayalam and through terrestrial in the name DD Malayalam. The channel has its main studio in Thiruvananthapuram and an auxiliary studio inKochi. In terrestrial mode, DD Malayalam is available to 99.2%[1] of the population ofKerala. The satellite broadcast was started in 1994 and theHigh Definition version of this channel started on 23rd September 2025 throughGSAT-17[2] satellite.
Though television made its entry inIndia on 15 September 1959, it took a quarter of a century to speak the language of most literate state of India -Kerala.The television broadcast inMalayalam -the language of Kerala - under the legacy ofDoordarshan was formally launched by the thenChief Minister of KeralaK. Karunakaran on 1 January 1985 at Tagore Centenary Hall,Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala.
The first ever television programme in Malayalam was a children's play entitledOru Koottam Urumbukal-ഒരു കൂട്ടം ഉറുമ്പുകൾ (A Group of Ants) presented by Rangaprabhath Children's Theatre,Venjarammoodu, Kerala under the leadership of Kochunarayana Pillai. The play was written by writer and academic in Malayalam Drama,G. Sankara Pillai. This first ever television programme in Malayalam was directed and produced by A. Anwar.Oru Koottam Urumbukal was aired at 6:30PM on 2 January 1985. The duration of this children's play was 15 minutes.
Initially there was a broadcast in Malayalam for just 70 minutes daily from 6:30PM to 7:40PM. The first ever news bulletin Malayalam (വാർത്തകൾ) was aired live at 7:30PM on 2 January 1985. This live bulletin was produced by T. Chamiyar and presented by G. R. Kannan. The text and visual contents were edited by Baiju Chandran, A. Anwar and P. K. Mohanan.
There were a score of programmes in a week specifically targeted to special audience as well as general public. Among them the most popular wereVaarthakal-വാർത്തകൾ (News in Malayalam),Chithrageetham-ചിത്രഗീതം (Malayalam Movie Songs),Malayala Chalachithram-മലയാള ചലച്ചിത്രം (Movie in Malayalam),Poomottukal-പൂമൊട്ടുകൾ (Children's Prograamme),Arogyavedi-ആരോഗ്യ വേദി (Health Magazine),Sindooram-സിന്ദൂരം (Women's Magazine),Padavukal-പടവുകൾ (Development Program),Kalikkalam-കളിക്കളം (Sports Magazine),Yuvadarshanam-യുവദർശനം (Youth Magazine) andRainbow (English Magazine).
The premier band of producers in Malayalam Television comprise T. Chamiyar, G. Sajan, C. K. Thomas, John Samuel, S. Venu, Baiju Chandran, M. A. Dilip, A. Anwar, R. Shyamaprasad, P. K. Mohanan, G. Jayakumar and T. N. Latha Mony.
The first ever tele-serial in Malayalam was a joint production of Doordarshan andUNICEF entitledOru Poo Viriyunnu-ഒരു പൂ വിരിയുന്നു (A Flower Blossoms) which went on air in 1990. The serial was written and directed by Eravi Gopalan, A. Anwar and P. K. Mohanan.
There were many classic productions in Malayalam television was born under the banner of Doordarshan - the Public Service Broadcaster of India. Among them the following are the most astonishing productions still persist its dominance in the small screen:Venalinte Ozhivu-വേനലിൻ്റെ ഒഴിവ് (Telefilm, Story-Madhavikutty, Directed by Shyamaprasad),Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal- പെരുവഴിയിലെ കരിയിലകൾ (Telefilm, Directed by Shyamaprasad)Blood-stained Allies of the Yore (Documentary, Directed by Baiju Chandran)Uyarthezhunelpu-ഉയർത്തെഴുനേൽപ്പ് (Telefilm, Directed by Shyamaprasad),Viswa Vikhyaathamaaya Mookku-വിശ്വവിഖ്യാതമായ മൂക്ക് (Drama, Story-Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Directed by Shyamaprasad),Snehathinte Mullukal-സ്നേഹത്തിന്റെ മുള്ളുകൾ (Telefilm, Story- N. Mohanan, Directed by A. Anwar),Ragging - Crime & Punishment-റാഗിങ്: കുറ്റവും ശിക്ഷയും (Documentary, Directed by A.Anwar)'Ithente Mannu, Ithente Thaalam'-ഇതെൻറെ മണ്ണ്, ഇതെൻറെ താളം (Musical Feature, Directed by A.Anwar),Hamlet of Mountain Monarch-വരയാടുകളുടെ ലോകം (Documentary, Directed by A.Anwar),Golden Dream-സുവർണ്ണ സ്വപ്നം (Children's Programme, Directed by A. Anwar),Prathiknjaa-പ്രതിജ്ഞ (Telefilm, Story- P. Kesavadev, Directed by A.Anwar),Madhuram Madhuram-മധുരം, മധുരം (Patriotic Song, Written by Rafeeq Ahamed, Directed by A. Anwar) andSooraj ke Pahale (Patriotic Song, Written by K. J. Singh, directed by A. Anwar).
While private channels are set their target to gather more commercial earnings than any other parameters of social development Doordarshan had relentlessly shown its social commitment for human development. DD Malayalam is no exception in this regard.
As part of public broadcasterPrasar Bharati’s nationwide strategy to wind up stations operating on the obsolete technology, Doordarshan shut down 11 analogue transmitting stations in Kerala.
DD Malayalam has entertainment serials, infotainment programmes, news and current affairs, social programmes and film programmes as its major content. DD Malayalam newsVarthakal from its inception in 1985 was popular among the viewers for its crisp and 'to-the-point' presentation. 'Varthakal' speaks the 'best Malayalam' among the Malayalam TV Channels.
| show name | First aired | Lastaired | Episode count |
|---|---|---|---|
| jwalayay | 2000 | 2002 | 500+ |
| Manasi | 1997 | 2000 | 240 |
| Narmadipudava | 2007 | 2008 | 390 |
| Aparichitha | 2007 | 2008 | 390 |
| Nizhalattam | 2007 | 2008 | 390 |
| kudumbam | 2007 | 2008 | 390 |
| Sasneham | 2007 | 2008 | 390 |
| Chandrodayam | 2003 | 2005 | 520 |
| valayam | 2001 | 2004 | 560 |
| Angadipaattu | 2002 | 2004 | 400+ |
| Manjuthirum munpe | 2014 | 2015 | 95 |
| Thoovalsparsham | 2014 | 2015 | 95 |
| Eeran nilavu | 2015 | 2015 | 100+ |
| Ganga | 2015 | 2015 | 100+ |
| Vazhvemayam | 2015 | 2015 | 100+ |
| Aval ariyathe | 2015 | 2015 | 100+ |
... In terrestrial mode, DD Malayalam is available to 99.2 % of the population of Kerala. ...
