What you didn't know about A2L

Hello lovely people! Today I have the pleasure to introduce to you a man you have heard on Virgin radio; the one and only A2L. From the time he was a child, he has always had a passion of talking to a point his best friend once let a dog chase him up a fence because he wouldn’t keep quiet! Apart from being a presenter, he is also a qualified electrical engineer and is known as the “tech guru” in the Virgin Radio studio. Here is more about Athul Kamal

Which part of India are you from?

I was born in the state of Kerala. Down south.

When did you move to Dubai?

We moved here in 1996, I was 10.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Probably rallying up the kids in the block to play street cricket. The number of windows that we had broken smashing those shots.. Those were the days.

Which song best describes your personality?

Eminem - Till I Collapse.

It describes me because when I set my mind on a goal, nothing will stop me. I’m very persistent when my career goals. The song also helped me battle out my years of being bullied. It gave methe strength to move past them.

What is the one thing that people do not know about you?

I’m an introvert. People find that hard to believe because I work on the radio. But that’s the truth.I keep a very small number of very good friends around me. And don’t ever even think of

inviting me to a night club. I’d rather be home, on my couch, in my onesie and under my blanky.

How did you begin your career at virgin

radio and how old were you?

Rewind. On my 10th birthday, I was a Sony Walkman as a gift (yes I’m from the

previous era). I tuned into an English radio station and heard a guy on the air. I kept

listening all day, every day

and had always wondered what it was like to be on the other side of the microphone.

Fast forward. Nov 30, 2009.

I was 23, sent my good friend and

colleague Kris Fade an email.

Said I wanted to creatively contribute on

the radio. He gave me some pointers and asked me to practice at home. Long story short, Nov 19 2010 was my first ever show on Virgin Radio Dubai.

It’s been a long, tedious journey but I

wouldn’t change a thing.

Have you always wanted to be a radio presenter?

Yes. From the age of 10. But I kept that to myself. When you grow up in an Indian household

(in the 90s), you don’t have an option. You first become either a doctor or an engineer, then

decide what to do with your life. So I became an engineer first. Then pursued my dream of

becoming a radio presenter.

If you were not a radio presenter what else would you do?

I have absolutely no idea. I’d have hated every other job there is on offer.

What is the most exciting part of working in the media

industry?

You get paid for being yourself.

Every day I get to be the silly goofy idiot that I am and somehow, I don’t know

why or how, people seem to like it.

Haha its weird, I can’t explain! Oh and I met some very cool people along the

way. Do you have any other talents apart fromradio presenting?

I can roll my tongue in 3 different ways.

Ask me sometime.

What advice can you give to young people who want to pursue a career in media?

Stop thinking about it and just go for it. Do it. If you’re scared of failure, then you’ll never

succeed.