The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Fond memories

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Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Fond memories

The news that Radio Ceylon, now called the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, has turned 80 (Dec. 20) brought back fond memories of the 1970s. In fact, the huge sale of radios and transistors then can be attributed to the popularity of Radio Ceylon. While the national broadcast mostly aired programmes of cultural value, the commercial broadcast was entertainment-based.

Mayilvaganam was undoubtedly the superstar but broadcasters such as Rajeswari Shunmugam, Bhuvanaloshani Durairajasingham, Natarajasivam, Vimala Chockanathan, and K.S. Raja cannot be forgotten either. Each one of them had a distinct, inimitable style that mesmerised the listeners.

V. Pandy,
Tuticorin, T.N.

* * *

The velvety voice of Mayilvaganam, who passed away many years ago in London, still stays with countless enthusiasts like myself for whom tuning in to Radio Ceylon was a daily ritual. Ameen Sayani, who compered the Binaca Geetmala every Wednesday night with remarkable brilliance, still remains a legend.

Nirupama Rao, India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, has rightly echoed the nostalgic sentiments of millions of fans when she said: "We were the radio generation. Radio Ceylon was our introduction to Ceylon."

T.S. Pattabhi Raman,
Coimbatore

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