Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Madhu Mailankody in Sports Broadcasting

By Abhishek N Bhat | coastaldigest.com
May 3, 2019

CDM1.jpg

When Star Sports decided to launch its first dedicated Kannada sports channel, the move created ripples in a space already brimming with dozens of state level TV channels. But amid this crowded landscape emerged a fresh, commanding voice — one that quickly captured the hearts of sports lovers across Karnataka.

Madhu Mailankody, with her effortless charm and astute presentation, brought a new energy to sports broadcasting in the region. In a world where television anchors often lean towards theatrics and sensationalism, Madhu stood apart — grounded, insightful, and refreshingly authentic.

The Beginning of a Star

Flashing what many call her “million dollar smile,” Madhu became the first anchor to go live on Star Sports 1 Kannada, marking the channel’s historic launch under the Walt Disney owned Star India banner.

Known today as an all round sports presenter, she is one of the few female specialists in Karnataka covering a diverse range of games — cricket, football, badminton, kabaddi, and volleyball. Her work spans pre match build ups, post match analyses, and in depth interviews with some of the biggest names in international sport.

Despite her growing fame, Madhu’s humility and unassuming nature remain constant — traits that have earned her the admiration of colleagues and audiences alike.

Conversations with Legends

“How does it feel to work with some of the greatest names in sport?” I ask her over WhatsApp after catching her live on TV. She responds with candour:

“Working with legends and sharing space with them… it’s a dream. A great opportunity to interact with giants like Brian Lara, Brett Lee, Scott Styris, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Venkatesh Prasad.”

Moments later, she’s back on set — ready for the next live broadcast.

Rooted, Yet Global

Madhu’s journey began far from the studio lights. She hails from Mailankody, a pristine village in Perdala, Kasaragod district, born to Savithri G. Bhat and M. Ganapathi Bhat — a postgraduate who chose farming over corporate life, defying the tide of rural to urban migration.

Raised amid the simplicity of village life, Madhu moved to Mangaluru for college, graduating from two of its prestigious institutions — St Agnes College and St Aloysius College. Before stepping into television, she had already made a name for herself as an event anchor in Mangaluru, charming audiences at cultural festivals, weddings, and corporate gatherings.

Fluent in English, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tulu, Madhu effortlessly bridges cultures and connects with audiences across India and beyond — earning her the moniker of “an anchor without borders.” Her work has taken her to stages not only across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Goa, but also to international events in the UAE, Qatar, and Oman.

A League of Her Own

Madhu’s career is closely tied to some of the country’s biggest sporting leagues:

•    Anchor for the Indian Super League (ISL) since 2017.

•    Presenter for the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in 2018 19.

•    Host for the Premier Badminton League (PBL) during 2018 19.

•    Ground MC for the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) since 2015.

•    Solo host for three seasons of the Mangalore Premier League (MPL).

•    The iconic voice of Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, engaging 35,000 plus spectators live.

•    Anchor for several international cricket tournaments, including the Asia Federation Cup.

Beyond the Spotlight

Madhu’s appeal isn’t limited to sports. She made her acting debut in the Tamil blockbuster Mookuthi Amman, sharing screen space with Nayanthara, and played the female lead in the Kannada music album Bheti on YouTube. Her candid voice has also reached audiences through podcasts and numerous interviews aired on South Indian television channels.

Despite her accomplishments, she remains grounded — a traveller at heart, happiest exploring nature rather than malls or restaurants. And while she’s outspoken, she shies away from unnecessary publicity, letting her work speak for itself.

Free‑Spirited and Fearless

Ask her what drives her and she’ll smile — the same smile that first captivated viewers — and say with quiet confidence:

“I am purely an independent girl.”

It’s this independence, combined with talent and humility, that has made Madhu Mailankody not just a presenter but a symbol of what modern sports broadcasting can be — authentic, inclusive, and deeply connected to its audience.

CDM2.jpg

CDM3.jpg

CDM4.jpg

Comments

PK Kudla
 - 
Sunday, 5 May 2019

Terribly gorgeous girl.  Nice photos. 

Richard Rego
 - 
Sunday, 5 May 2019

Well written. Hope Madhu Mailankody reaches great heights of success

Roshan Martis
 - 
Sunday, 5 May 2019

Wonderful article on a wonderful girl. Proud of you Madhu Mailankody. God bless.

Aron
 - 
Saturday, 4 May 2019

Nice piece of article on a nice girl. All the best Madhu

Nithin Mangalore
 - 
Saturday, 4 May 2019

Madhu Malankodi is quite familiar in Mangalore. Happy to see her scaling new heights. I liked the last line: “I am purely an independent girl”. You are practically a feminist. I must thank the writer Mr Abhishek N Bhat for the beautiful write up. 

Raveena M
 - 
Saturday, 4 May 2019

Wonderful woman. One should live life like this! I worked Madhu during an event in Mangalore years ago and received my first salary from her. 

M Sadashiva Rao
 - 
Friday, 3 May 2019

A stupendous performance and achievement - By Madhu Mailankdy - hailing from a remote rural place - proving that it is one's talent, attitude and passion that makes or marks a person - one need not be City bread to be an achiever -  Congratulations and compliments to this simple girl from Perdala - who has carved a niche for herself in the arena of sports presentation

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
coastaldigest.com news network
November 29,2025

health1.jpg

Mangaluru, Nov 29: Around 12,500 healthcare students from Medical, Dental, AYUSH, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Allied Health Sciences colleges of Dakshina Kannada, affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), took part in a massive walkathon to promote awareness on Organ Donation and Nasha Mukth Bharat.

The inaugural ceremony was held at Mangala Stadium. Dr Bhagavan B C, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, delivered the welcome address. The walkathon was flagged off by Shri U T Khader, Hon’ble Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, and presided over by Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge. Dakshina Kannada MP Shri Brijesh Chowta also addressed the students.

Music director Guru Kiran, MLA Dr Bharat Shetty (Mangalore North), Police Commissioner Shri Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Shri Manjunath Bhandary and Shri Harish Kumar were among those present.

Institution heads including Dr Haji U K Monu (Kanachur Colleges), Dr Shantharam Shetty (Tejaswini College), Dr Bhaskar Shetty (City Group of Colleges), Mr Abdul Rahiman (Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences), and the District Health Officer, Mangalore, also participated.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof U T Ifthikar Fareed, Syndicate Member, RGUHS.

The event was organised by Dr U T Ifthikar Ali and Dr Shiva Sharan (Syndicate Members), Prof Vaishali (Senate Member), Prof Mohammad Suhail (Chairman, BOS Physiotherapy), Dr Sharan Shetty (Former Senate Member), along with principals and faculty of various colleges.

Students marched from Mangala Stadium to Karavali Grounds via MCC and Lalbagh signal. The event set a record as one of the largest gatherings of healthcare students for a social cause in the RGUHS Dakshina Kannada Zone.

health7.jpg

health6.jpg

health5.jpg

health4.jpg

health3.jpg

health2.jpg

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 21,2025

Bantwal: A domestic dispute appears to have led to a violent confrontation in BC Road area, where the owner of a textile shop was allegedly attacked with a knife by his wife on Wednesday evening.

Krishna Kumar Somayaji, the owner of Somayaji Textiles, sustained serious injuries in the incident and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. He is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit and is reported to have survived the assault, according to police.

The Bantwal Town police have registered a case against Somayaji's wife, Jyothi KT, who has since been taken into custody.

Police stated that the complainant, Namita, an employee at the shop, reported the sequence of events. She stated that around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the suspect entered the shop, wearing a burqa and disguised as a customer, before attacking Somayaji with a knife. The employee then transported the injured owner to a local hospital via an autorickshaw.

Superintendent of Police Arun K confirmed that an ongoing domestic dispute between Somayaji and his wife reportedly preceded the attack. Police noted that Jyothi KT had previously visited the shop and issued threats.

Based on the complaint, Bantwal Town police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Indian Arms Act-1959. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 27,2025

siddDKS.jpg

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday announced that he will convene a high-level meeting in New Delhi with senior leaders — including Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — to resolve the escalating leadership turmoil in Karnataka and “put an end to the confusion.”

Kharge said the discussions would focus on the way forward for the ruling party, as rumours of a possible leadership change continue to swirl. The speculation has intensified after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reviving talk of an alleged 2023 “power-sharing agreement” between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

“After reaching Delhi, I will call three or four important leaders and hold discussions. Once we talk, we will decide how to move ahead and end this confusion,” Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru, according to PTI.

When asked specifically about calling Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to Delhi, he responded: “Certainly, we should call them. We will discuss with them and settle the issue.”

He confirmed that Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and other senior members would be part of the deliberations. “After discussing with everyone, a decision will be made,” he said.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah held a separate strategy meeting at his Bengaluru residence with ministers and leaders seen as his close confidants, including G. Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh and K.N. Rajanna.
Signalling calm, the Chief Minister told reporters, “Will go to Delhi if the high command calls.”

Shivakumar echoed a similar stance, saying he too would head to the national capital if summoned by the party leadership.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.