Popular Tamil broadcaster honoured

Kalabhooshanam Chelvathamby Maniccavasagar

FELICITATION: S. Visvanathan, Director (Tamil Unit) of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and a popular TV broadcaster has been honoured and felicitated in recognition of his service in the sphere of broadcasting for the past 25 years.

Visvanathan hails from an illustrious family which has produced veteran musicians and dancers of international repute.

His father Kalabhooshanam Dr. K. Shanmugampillai was a veteran Mirudhanga Vidvan, and his mother Mrs. Vijayaluckshmi Shanmugampillai was a dancer who was held in high esteem by art lovers.

Besides, his sister Kalasuri Vasugi Jegatheeswaran is a dancer of international repute who has been honoured by Dr. Pathma Subramaniyam for her services in the field of dancing. As a dancing teacher she has presented more than 77 Bharatha Natyam Arangetrams up to now. Visvanathan is a science graduate and a diploma holder in journalism and TV broadcasting.

The television training programme was conducted by the Canadian TV experts and was organised by the Ministry of Information.

Besides he learnt the TV programme techniques in the Netherlands.

Visvanathan is the only Tamil who had the privilege of being honoured and felicitated for the services he had rendered for the Rupavahini Corporation.

Visvanathan joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in 1977 as a part-time announcer, scriptwriter, programme producer and now he has completed 30 years in the field of radio and television.

Besides, he is one of the most remarkable television personalities in the Tamil Unit who is being held in high esteem by the people of all communities irrespective of race and religion on account of his qualities of simplicity and humility.

He joined the Rupavahini Corporation as a news reader in 1982 and his services were immensely appreciated and duly recognised by the listeners for his excellent presentation. Furthermore, he has served in the Rupavahini Corporation as a senior Tamil news reader for more than 24 years.

Besides, he has presented live telecast and interviewed important personalities and conducted important events.

As a programme producer he has produced and presented several hundreds of special and important programmes.

He has even produced and choreographed several musical, dance and dance drama programmes for telecasting. He was instrumental and responsible for introducing new programmes and also several announcers and TV broadcasters as well.

In fact he took all possible steps to enhance, enrich and expand the Tamil service in the ‘Eye’ channel by even extending the time limit. He has even inspired and encouraged local artistes for their participation and contribution in the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

The television dramas like Thurathu Kanavugal, Katththirunthavan, Mandayan, Thappu, Manudamvellum which were all produced and presented by him brought name and fame for him. In fact, he was presented with OCIC award for having choreographed Thuruththu Kanavugal.

The Hindu religion, culture and Tamil Language Ministry awarded him with the title of ‘Best TV Tamil announcer’.

Indeed, he has excelled in the production and presentation of music, dance and film programmes. This was evident in all the programmes conducted by him in TV and also on platforms. He has compered several programmes with his exceptional ability and to the greatest satisfaction of the audience.

His Tamil pronunciation, artistic techniques and excellent presentation reflected Tamil culture and tradition.

Besides, his TV programmes were shown not only in India, but also in Europe, Middle East and Far Eastern countries. In fact he has acted in Sinhala dramas as well which have brought tremendous popularity among Sinhala cinema actors and audience. He has even played key roles in Sinhala dramas. In addition to all these he has even acted in an English film based on ‘Mother Theresa’ which was produced in Italy.

Visvanathan has done several research work in the field of music. Even the SLBC has used his research work in Tamil music programmes continuously. It was Visvanathan who has compiled and presented this.

He was responsible and instrumental in broadcasting programmes pertaining to Tamil culture and religion.

Furthermore, he was a member of the Carnatic Music and Bharthya Natya panel of the Sri Lanka Art Council for a number of years. Presently he is a member of the National Drama Panel of the Art Council of Sri Lanka.

He is also a visiting lecturer at the Colombo University for Diploma Course in Journalism and a visiting lecturer at the College of Journalism.

Visvanathan is a multifaceted and multidimensional personality who pilots the affairs of SLRC Tamil Unit as its Director to the greatest satisfaction of all the communities and denominations.

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