Kochchi, exuberant sought-after FM radio presenter

In Sri Lanka there is an abundant of FM radio channels -- Gold FM, Sun FM, Hiru FM, Shaa FM, Siyatha FM, Neth FM, TNL, Sooriyan FM, Shakthi FM, Sirasa, Lak FM, Capital FM etc -- in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

A survey has not been done as yet to classify the popularity of these FM channels. However FM channels adopt various strategies to attract as many listeners as possible. Deploying their best presenter or the best duo is the widely adopted strategy of many stations. Sometimes, FM channels even adopt a strategy that require the change of presenters quite often. However one presenter in Siyatha FM is Kochchi alias Thilini Poornima Kulasiri. She has been presenting programmes on Siyatha FM channel for three years and grown in stature, impressing many listeners with her flamboyant presenting style. She is a bit of an unconventional presenter using a language exclusively conducive to her that is not so common.

Her fans are increasing daily and she is finding it difficult to cope with the fans’ requests for songs. She has in her, in addition to her sweet adorable voice, a variety of words such as ‘ patiya’, ‘what nonsense, No No No, toin, ‘what wedding’ ( mona magulatada)’, methana’. She uses such wrods constantly in addition to the peculiar impressive laugh in her own inimitable style. It is entertaining to listeners who invariably await her to begin her belt. Kochchi loves her wide audience and speaks to their hearts. In addition to acceding to fans’ requests for songs, she accommodates wishes for birthdays, anniversaries, happy moments etc.

Kochchi has drawn fans from all walks of life -- office workers, housewives, and even elderly people and those in the twilight years relaxing in bed during the period 2pm to 5 pm on all week days when she presents the programme.

The fans from many institutions, offices, communication centres, restaurants, cafes, transport offices, trading institutions etc, request for songs while at work which Kochchi promptly obliges. Perhaps the employees in these varieties of institutions do get an impetus to get out of any monotony in their work.

The manner Kochchi addresses all of them is very commendable winning the hearts of all fans. Her fan club consists of people from many parts of the world like Britain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Korea and Australia.

- Sunil Thenabadu in

Brisbane