Radio jockeys creating waves in Orissa

By Sabyasachi Amitav

They are witty, chirpy and always ready to lend an ear. Whether you want to share your personal problems or need help in times of crises, all you have to do is call them up. Meet our radio jockeys (RJs) who have become an integral part of our daily life. RJs are today looked upon as a friend, philosopher and guide. While driving, walking or working they are always there, sharing our problems and entertaining us. Rightly saying the FM boom has opened up new opportunities for youngsters who have a passion for music and a gift of the gab. Radio jockeying is a lucrative career option for the GenNext. In the Twin City Bhubaneswar-Cuttack the FM radio market became spicier and more competitive with the launch of three FMs like

Eastern Media Limited's Radio Choklate 104 “Dhoom Mitha”, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group-controlled Adlabs' radio venture Big 92.7 FM “Suno Sunao, Life Banao”, and Chennai-based Sun Network promoted 93.5 Sfm "Jhoomo Jameiki Jhoomo". Some more FMs like Radio Mirchi and Radio City are also likely to begin their operation in the State in the coming months. Currently, all the three stations promise to fill listeners' daily dose of entertainment with loads of super hit music and the best of RJs round-the clock. “This is boom time in Orissa. Quite a few new channels are coming. It is an exciting career also because people don't know you by face. They are familiar with your name and voice so there is a sense of anonymity and mystery is the major USP of any RJ, and for me my voice and art of mimicry are the USP. Currently, I can speak in the voice of more than 30 Bollywood actors,” remarks RJ Vikash of SFM 92.5 Bhubaneswar. “Similarly it's been quite a journey! I have always loved the sound of my own voice since I was a kid. I've been influenced by the famous RJ of Vivid Bharti, Kamal Sharma from early childhood. From those days, mimicry and the profession of an RJ have been weakness and dream and I have been practicing it since long, and now it's like a dream come true,” he adds. Radio Jockeys are a different breed, not quite like the monotonous news readers or anchors of film-based programmes. With more and more private channels opening up to connect to listeners, one continuously gets to hear fresh voices and phrases on air — from cricket commentaries to reports on traffic snarls or the latest arrivals in the market. Young voices have done away with the textbook language, typical of radio. Rather, they prefer to strike a chord with the listeners in the local lingo. It is for this reason that the voices heard through microphones sound friendlier than ever before. FM channels are targeting the youth while mobile phones are donning the new avatar of music rendering machines. “Today there is certainly a change in perceptions. Earlier, people used to take the job of an RJ as a time-pass, but it is now seen as a serious career option especially for graduates. If they have a good ear for music and are creative, they can make good money by becoming a RJ" says RJ Vikash. “Most RJs write their scripts themselves. So it is very important for them to be articulate. Awareness is also very important. They have to introduce new topics everyday and weave their show around it,” says RJ Jaya of Radio Choklate 104 Fm. The radio is like a friend to a listener. It is not just about plain music, but also about closeness, warmth and happiness. So the RJ should be a friendly person who is always ready to go that extra mile for his audience. RJ Gungun of Big 92.7 FM feels RJing is a medium to showcase one's attitude. “A successful jockey gets the listeners excited when they hear the voice. Even if a RJ has astoundingly gripping voice, people tend to get bored if the RJ doesn't know the ways to hook the listeners.” A good dose of humour and listening skills are crucial for any budding RJ, she adds. RJs host a variety of programmes, including talk shows with film stars and other personalities, dial-in shows where you can dial in to chat with the host and get your message across, as well as shows where you can page in your messages. RJs work on these programmes at the TV or radio stations where they select the kind of music pieces listeners would like to hear. But RJ Vikash of Sfm 93.5 feels "one cannot really work from a script, one needs to be spontaneous. No doubt script is the base of any performance. But few times, in live shows or phone-in shows, the interaction is unscripted. There it's direct from the innermost core of the heart. In fact spontaneity, I would say, is the most essential quality of a performer." Today, radio is no longer what it used to be. The last decade has brought about a sea change in the world of media and entertainment. Radio, in particular, has undergone a revolution. From the sober sounds of Akashvani, radio has metamorphed into the non-stop chatty, witty monologue of new players such as SFM, Big FM, Radio Mirchi, FM Rainbow, Red FM, Radio City also many regional players. And it is not just RJs for whom opportunities are growing in Orissa. It is jockeying in general, which has opened up new avenues in the world of entertainment.