Ilam Seithi Vasipalar Thedal: Tamil News Reading Contest Offers Students a Chance to Be the Next Young Newsreader

Have you ever imagined yourself reading the news on television or radio?

Here’s an exciting opportunity for young Tamil-speaking students to showcase their confidence, pronunciation and news-reading skills through Ilam Seithi Vasipalar Thedal (Young Tamil News Reader Search).

Organised by Astro Ulagam, the contest gives young talents a chance to put their Tamil news-reading skills to the test, with five grand prize winners set to receive RM1,000 cash and an opportunity to read a segment on Astro Seithigal on Astro Vinmeen and Astro Audio Tamil News.

Who can participate?

Students who meet the contest eligibility requirements can take part by recording a one-minute Tamil news-reading video. Parents or legal guardians will need to complete the registration form on behalf of eligible contestants.

What do you need to do?

For Phase 1, contestants must:

• Record a news-reading video in Tamil only, without mixing other languages.
• Ensure the script, description or narration is entirely in Tamil.
• Keep the video to a maximum of one minute.
• Record the video in 1920 x 1080p HD resolution.
• Upload the video on a social media platform and ensure the account is set to public.
• Submit the video link together with the required details through the official registration form.
• Read and accept the contest Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before submitting. 

Each eligible contestant can submit only one entry, so make that one-minute performance count!

When can you submit your entry?

Phase 1: Online Registration & Entry Submission

25 September – 16 October 2026

Registration will be available through the official Astro Ulagam website.

What happens after the first round?

Once all entries have been submitted, the videos will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of judges. The top 25 contestants will then advance to Phase 2, the online voting round.

Voting will take place from:

16 November – 30 November 2026

Each voter can cast up to 50 votes per day during the voting period.

What can the winners take home?

Five Grand Prize winners will receive:

• RM1,000 cash
• A chance to read a segment on Astro Seithigal on Astro Vinmeen, Channel 202
• A chance to read on Astro Audio Tamil News
• An opportunity to participate in the Astro Seithigal Tour briefing session
• An exclusive meet-and-greet with Astro Seithigal and Astro Audio Tamil newsreaders

The next 20 winners will receive a chance to participate in the Astro Seithigal Tour briefing session and enjoy an exclusive meet-and-greet with Astro Seithigal and Astro Audio Tamil newsreaders.

For students who dream of becoming a newsreader, this could be more than just a competition. It is a chance to step in front of the camera, practise speaking confidently in Tamil and experience what it could be like to read news for a professional media platform.

Parents, this could be the opportunity to encourage your child's confidence and passion for Tamil language and media.

Winner’s Date Announcement 

The winners will be announced on or before 8 December 2026 through Astro Ulagam's official Instagram page.