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Although Gnani is widely acknowledged as a journalist and social critic, it is imperative to know about his interests and contributions to Small screen and Big screens as well.

The first film of Gnani was a narrative documentary to promote awareness against nuclear power in 1988. His another short film taken at the same time, travels through the life of two women, emphasizing about women's rights and issues named "48.2%”

When Chennai Doordarshan opened their second channel in 1990, the first weekly program to be broadcasted in it was the 13 episode story called ‘Vinnilirundhu Mannuku’ (From Sky to Earth). Gnani directed this television adoption of novel ‘Varandhorum Vayasakiradhu’ by Annandhai Narayanan. The actress of this story Vaishnavi won the award for Best Actor of the Year from Mylapore Academy for her performance.

Gnani also directed two television serials based on two stories of writer Sujatha about children's world. In 1993,One among them was 'Picnic' which received three awards as the Best Serial, Best Producer and Best Director at the Santhome Communication Centre. Director Mahendran was the chairman of the panel.

It is a very lesser known fact that Gnani had composed the music for the television movie called ‘Elipathy’ for All India Democratic Women’s Association.

He had also written and read news articles for program called ‘Nagarvalam’ on All India Radio.And hosted a news and music show for about one year in the channel Radio Chennai FM.

Gnani also conducted a survey and analysis of the election overview for television channel Asianet. He had also participated in multiple debate on various elections in many private television channels as well as in Doordarshan.

In 1990, he hosted the show at Doordarshan regarding the International Film Festival in Chennai.

In 1994, Doordarshan broadcasted Gnani’s ‘Sujathavin Pookutty’ as a one-hour film on Children's Day special airing.

In 1995, he produced a 20-episode quiz show on the Tamil TV channel of GEC and a show for children for 10 episodes.

In 1997, for the Golden Jubilee celebration of Indian Independence, Gnani created a miniseries called ‘Vaergal’ for Doordarshan. Many women who fought for freedom and voice of feminists who were long forgotten in history were brought back to life as characters in this series.

Humorist writer Marina's successful story ‘Kaadhalenna Kathirikaya?’, was produced in the year 2000 as a 13 week serial and was broadcasted on Pothigai TV was directed by Gnani, 35 years after it was originally written.

For 125th year birthday celebration of the renowned rationalist thinker ‘Thandhai Periyar’ Gnani directed a five-Episode Telefilm titled ‘Ayya’ based on Life of Periyar for the Chennai Doordarshan Television Channel. This was the first time that Periyar's life was Televised . Later Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam showed the film as a special show in many cities across Tamil Nadu.

Gnani had scripted and directed about 20 video documentaries for M.S.Swaminathan research foundation on various subjects including gender issues, women rights, bio-village, pre-school education for children etc. He has written and produced more than 40 documentary films for various charities.

What are you doing? A video project of Gnani that reveals the woman's work burden was screened at the International Documentary Film Festival in Mumbai in February 2000. 'Kanuvaai Gopalin Malarum Ninaivugal’, another video project of his, which emphasizes the importance of children's pre-school education, was screened at the Science and Development Film Festival held in Thiruvananthapuram.

In 2001, a 60-minute video guide to teachers on early education was prepared by Gnani in all the major languages in India, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Gujarati and also in English.

In 2007, he started a new initiative called ‘One Reel Movement’. The aim of it is to introduce small movies on alternative perspectives to the audience who visit the commercial cinema. The Pyramid Saimira Company collaborated with him in this initiative, by providing cost of film production and also to run those ten minute movies before the main pictures in the theatres they own.

The first One reel movie 'Thirumadhi James ippodhu enna seyya vendum?’ (What should Mrs. James do now?) was initiated by 40 writers at 40 venues in Tamilnadu. On the behalf of One reel movement, the second short film directed by him in 2008 was ‘Ullaen Ayya’ (Present Sir).

In the commercial environment, there are many practical issues a creator face in making a film and taking it to the viewer. In August 2009, Gnani tried setting up the system in an attempt to communicate directly with the creator and the audience through a movement called ‘Kolam’. He believed that audience exist as numerous dots and the purpose of Kolam is help creators to connect these points together.

“Many of us long for good films. We know that that there are lot of stories that make our lives more meaningful, and we yearn that why aren’t they made into movies. There are abundance of such stories in Tamil and other languages. This Kolam movement has jumped in, to create a feasible alternative environment for filming them and to make three to five full-length video movies in a year. Is this possible?

Yes, Very much if thousands of people who wish to view good films able to provide their contribution before the film is shot.” Gnani proclaimed in its opening ceremony.

In 2009, Gnani scripted, directed and produced of the two episode serial named ‘Anandhi’ for UNICEF. It was broadcasted on Vijay TV.

Gnani had also participated in multiple political discussions on various English television channels and major TV channels in Tamil Nadu including Doordarshan.

A few months before his demise he produced a Short Film for Children called ‘Nila’ in 2017 through Gnanabanu Visual Media. Actor Nassar, Velu Actor Saravanan etc had acted in that Short film among all others.

In the video world, his last attempt was his Youtube channel called ‘Oh pakkangal’.

From - Gnani Sankaran Face Book Post

January 1: “We announced to start at 9:00 and started at 10.25, our YouTube channel 'Oh pakkangal'! Though we were late, we came as the latest. What is Rajini's spiritual politics?” dissected Gnani.

Then, on January 8, He analyzed about ‘the bus strike and political vacuum in Tamilnadu.

On the day before dying (on the 14th Jan), He attempted the whole day to record a interview for his Youtube channel with the social activist Medha Patkar and spent the whole day travelling with her for various activities and meetings and eventually succeeded in recording a conversation with her on the way to Airport. That Interview is edited and posted on his Youtube channel as well.

On January 14 his recording on ‘Vairamuthu Andal controversy’ four hours before his death was his last registry.