Ashmilla Shanmugam Being Herself, Authenticity Affairs A SOUGHT AFTER RADIO PRESENTER – By Sunil Thenabadu
While mastering voice control, accent, and tone is important, nothing resonates more with listeners than authenticity. Radio presenters who try too hard to mimic someone else or put on an act often come across as inauthentic, which the audiences could identify and tell. Successful presenters like Aishmilla Shanmugam are those who are comfortable being themselves, sharing their personality and peculiarities with their listeners. This authenticity builds a connection and makes the presenter more significant.
Aishmilla Shanmugam was born to a mother of Tamil origin and a Sri Lankan father has two siblings one elder brother and a younger brother.Ashi as she is called by many is a dynamic radio presenter is in a journey that combines both natural innate talent and developed skills. She possesses a pleasant and pleasing voice, able to impress all listeners in her flamboyant manner of presenting combined with her fluency in Sinhalese language, though not her mother tongue is Tamil possess a conversational voice tone, authenticity, with her immense ability to engage with the audiences which are the crucial characteristics for any aspiring presenter. Aishmilla has had never thought of becoming a radio presenter which had been by sheer coincidence. She had after left school had been an Air Hostess for a few years at the Sri Lankan airlines, from which unfortunately she had been forced to resign plagued owing to a prolonged spinal issue.
She had thereafter followed a course in child psychology at the Institute of mental Health successfully However, while she was traveling in the car she had heard over a radio FM channel that applications were called for radio presenters by SRI FM of EBC net work for which she had applied with a voice clip for which she had been an automatic selection. At Sri Frequency Modulated radio channel she had presented many popular programs like ‘Rasa Rahasa’ in the morning belt from 10 am to 12 pm, by which she had attracted many listeners particularly as her approach in her inimitable style of conniving with listeners which was stimulating. During her tenure at Sri FM she was also entrusted to present the afternoon and evening belts which predominantly owing to her unique elegance had attraction via her presenting to all listeners.
Ashi had been herself which does not mean been unprofessional, but it does mean allowing her true personality to shine through, whether she possess a quirky sense of humour, a calm demeanour, with an energetic disposition, embracing her uniqueness allowed her to stand out in a swarming field of radio hosts. Audiences could tell when someone is being genuine, and they tend to gravitate toward presenters who are authentic rather than those who seem but beyond these qualities, it’s obviously the interaction with the audience that truly sets great presenters apart. By staying true to herself, adapting to the audience’s needs, and continuously honing her skills, one can create a radio presence that resonates with listeners and keeps them coming back for more.
Ashi during her short tenure of two years at Sri FM had captured three awards for the unsurpassed radio announcer after been nominated once also at Calin annual award ceremonies very creditable when there were many senior announcers in other FM channels where there are an abundant of FM channels competing with one another. Aishmilla also during her tenure at Sri FM was felicitated with an award by the authorities of the Tower Hall Foundation for her impeccable ability in producing a program.
After before long Aishmilla was sought after by other Frequency Modulated channels. But the authorities of Ms Supreme Radio channel were successful in absorbing her as the Assistant Program Manager entrusting her the responsibilities of programming all programs in the Supreme Radio FM channel in a sequence while she too takes the initiative to present a three-hour program in the late afternoon 8 pm to 11 pm termed ‘The Evening Drive” proving her unique innate mettle.
In a very short time in the radio media Aishmilla has reached to unprecedented tall elevations by entertaining and capturing vast audiences. All her fans and followers would no doubt wish her to lengthen her popularity to thrill listeners as she is a unique presenter possessing her own inimitable elegance.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
