China Media Group has popular Tamil experts as announcers
For Kalaimagal alias Zhao Jiang, Poongothai alias Liao Liang and Nilani alias He Liyuan their connection with Tamilnadu and the language goes a long way. Not only are these three women fluent with Tamil, but they are also on a mission to spread the ancient language throughout the world. The three women reportedly learnt the language in Beijing and have ever since “fallen in love” with it.
The three women are currently employed with the Tamil branch of China Media group in Beijing. The channel by itself has a huge fan following in India and one of its presenters Ms.Nilani is extremely popular among the Indian masses.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony on Thursday in the city, Ms.Nilani who started her speech with a couplet from Thirukural said,” Tamil is one of the most ancient languages in the world. It is as ancient as Chinese”.Nilani reportedly spent six months at the Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, learning Tamil. For Poongothai her interest in the language stemmed from a book on yoga and the experience of practising yoga, she said. The two women also added that they are extremely happy about Tamilnadu having been chosen as the venue for the Chinese President Xi Jinping's Indian visit.
They visited Chennai as part of a delegation from the China Media Group, whose head of the South Asia division, Sun Jingli, also addressed the audience in Tamil at the presentation ceremony on Thursday in the city. K. Pandiarajan, Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture, Tamilnadu was also present at the event among other dignitaries.
“These three women are a testimony to the improving bond between India and China. China was once regarded as our enemy nation. However, times are changing. The summit between our Prime Minister and Xi Jinping is a sign of this change.”, he said. He also expressed pleasure over the two world leaders having chosen Tamilnadu as the venue for their meet.