Mala Lutchmanan leaves Lotus FM

Mala Lutchmanan will be taking her final bow from Lotus FM.

The much loved veteran religious and language presenter started her radio career in 1995 and has celebrated 28 years at Lotus FM.

Alvin Pillay, Lotus FM’s programme manager, announced on Monday, June 3, that Ms Lutchmanan will be leaving the radio station.

“Mala’s presence at Lotus FM has been nothing short of invaluable. Her passion for radio and unwavering commitment to delivering quality content have left an indelible mark on our team and listeners alike,” he said.

“Through her knowledge and engaging broadcasts, she has enriched the lives of countless individuals and established herself as a beloved figure within our community. We wish Mala all the best in her future endeavours and thank her for her exceptional service to Lotus FM.”

In addition to her regular programmes, Inisai Mazhai and The Best of Kodambakkam, she stood in as a presenter for programmes like Sangeetha Nilaiyamu, Bakthi Sangeeth, LocalVocal and special programmes for Maha Shivaratri and Krishna Janmasthami. So far, she has presented about 3000 programmes, said Mr Pillay.

Ms Lutchmanan, a qualified maths and English teacher, taught at a Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) school until her retirement a year ago. She was a teacher for 29 years and also taught in India and Sussex in England.

She has produced 22 publications to date, including books and CDs. Among these are the biographies of former president Nelson Mandela in Tamil; and of Valliamma Munuswamy Mudaliar, a teenage activist; two CDs on spoken Tamil and a set of readers for LSEN pupils.

Ms Luchmanan enjoyed a cordial relationship with her colleagues and management at Lotus FM. She acknowledged all of those who played a pivotal role in her journey at the station.

“My decision to leave Lotus FM was well thought out and I now hand over the baton to someone else. I plan on focusing on completing my PhD and investing more time on my writing,” said Ms Lutchmanan.

While Ms Lutchmanan is a recipient of many awards and accolades, the one she holds most dear to her is the “The Gem of Tamil”, which she received in India.