A girl of many talents

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

Communication is very much linked in the lives of the people of a country to the extent that they cannot survive without it. Hence television personalities can be considered as the forerunners of a nation providing precise awareness and truthful information in a short period of time.

In fact, when I met Priya Alalasundaram at her residence she was very cordial and prompt when I requested her to share her knowledge and views pertaining to news reading in the Shakthi television (TV). Alalasundaram who is extremely versatile and popular, but a very modest girl whom we very often see on the TV, through her cousin Pragash Umachandraa who is also a girl of exceptional talent in regard to compereing progammes in Bharatha Natya Arangetrams and various other events of paramount importance. Currently she is working at the Express Newspapers (Ceylon) Ltd (Virakesari) in the Editorial section.

Alalasundaram, as a well-known television personality related her background, her childhood experiences, her education, her ideas, opinions and interest in this particular field. She told me that she never dreamt of becoming a media person, but her destiny has made her to become a TV news reporter and a news reader.

Alalasundaram hails from a distinguished family from Madduvil North (New Amman Temple), Chavakachcheri. She received her primary education at Chandra Mouleesa Vidyalayam at Madduvil North and got through her fifth standard scholarship examination obtaining good marks and joined the Chavakachcheri Hindu College. After one year of education at this college, she joined Hindu Ladies College in Wellawatte (Saiva Managayar Vidyalayam). As a student she excelled well in her General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level examination and thereafter at Royal Institute for her London (GCE) A/L. On completion of her educational career at the Royal Institute, she proceeded to India and obtained a Degree in Journalism from Madras Christian College which is affiliated to the University of Madras. Thereafter, she obtained her Master’s Degree (MA).

On completion of her Bachelor and Master Degrees, she worked at Polimer TV (India) Chennai for nearly six months. Indeed, Alalasundaram is a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional personality who is presently studying for her ACCA (Chartered Accountancy) and is in the second year.

When I asked her about the TV announcing and what ingredients make up a good announcer, she told me that some voice training as in enunciation, voice projection, confidence and of course some minimum degree of familiarity with subjects are absolutely necessary. In fact, some are born with it and some acquire it. Either way, hard work must be of importance for anyone to achieve their goal in his or her profession.

When I asked her whether she has any problem with regard her job, she told me that she really does not treat her work as a problem and she enjoys it. She is of the view that there are instances where we have to forget our personal conveniences for a moment to offer our time and service for some important and urgent matters. She further said that her parents are very understanding and render all the necessary assistance, co-operation and support in her profession as well as in her studies. “Understanding and trust are extremely essential in any family. As far as I am concerned my mother has a broad outlook and she always helps people in every way possible,”said Alalasundaram.

“As a news reader, I think our attire should be neat and simple so that we do not become models appearing in a film or fashion parade,”she further added. She is very simple even in her attire and is friendly with all the employees and the supervisor in the Maharajah Organization. Undoubtedly, Priya Alalasundaram has a bright future and May God Bless her abundantly and grant her good health, strength and peace of mind to continue with her remarkable activities.