This is bound to reflect in the various programmes that are being broadcast by All India Radio and telecast by Doordarshan and various other satellite TV channels. For Doordarshan, the day will also mark a new chapter as it will mean not only entering a round-the-clock satellite telecasting era, but also launching a full-time news channel.

As usual, both AIR and Doordarshan will broadcast President KR Narayanan's address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, and give live coverage of the flag hoisting by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort.

Programmes of patriotic songs will also be telecast on August 15 on DD-I and DD India, which will also carry a special programme on Independence Day. Various TV channels are also screening patriotic feature films tomark the occasion. Doordarshan will telecast Mani Rathnam's Roja set against the backdrop of the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, while Sony will telecast Border directed by JP Dutta which won major awards two years ago. The Hinduja-owned Cable Video Opera will telecast Chetan Anand's Haqeeqat, one of the best war films ever made in India.

AIR has also scheduled several other programmes on its national hook-up beginning Monday. There will be a feature entitled Swadhinta Sangram Ke Sakshi by Baldev Bhai Sharma followed by an English feature, Impressions, at the same time on August 10. There will be a half-hour interview-based feature on Savtantrata Senani Sant Tukkaji on August 12. Shehani maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan will present a recital on the night of Independence Day and there will be an interview-based feature at the same time on August 19 entitled Ek Sadi Ka Safar: Safar Azadi Ka written by Kanhaiya Lal Nandan and presented by Virendra Gohil.