Rakesh and Pragya, Radio Jockeys, Red FM, Kolkata
Our programmes are very interactive. We make the listeners feel very important. We are sensitive, patient yet humorous when talking to those who call in on our programmes. We try to keep our language simple, the kind used in our day to day lives. We don’t say anything that might make our classy listeners cringe nor anything that might have someone running for the dictionary!
Our programmes are very interactive. We make the listeners feel very important. We are sensitive, patient yet humorous when talking to those who call in on our programmes. We try to keep our language simple, the kind used in our day to day lives. We don’t say anything that might make our classy listeners cringe nor anything that might have someone running for the dictionary!
They have the gift of the gab, play all the hit songs doing the rounds, give company to myriad people day and night, are even travel companions to commuters to and fro offices, colleges, etc. They are the RJs, aka radio jockeys.
With the second phase of FM expansion getting a very enthusiastic response from various players and nearly 300 new FM stations set to hit the air waves soon, demand for skilled radio professionals are on the rise. So much so that veteran radio professional Roshan Abbas has joined hands with EMDI to set up India’s first radio management institute to train hopefuls in various facets of the radio industry.
Perhaps the most visible – or rather audible – job is that of the RJ, with every FM station having their star RJs. One such pair is that of Rakesh and Pragya, the voices behind several popular programmes on Red FM Kolkata. The pair has today become household names in the Eastern metro. They have even penned a book titled, what else, ‘Radio Jockeying’.
In conversation with exchange4media’s Indrani Sinha, Rakesh and Pragya have much to share about what goes on behind-the-scenes in the studio, their journey as RJs, with some advice thrown in for RJ hopefuls. Q. What made you choose radio jockeying as a career?
Rakesh: I had been doing stage shows as an anchor, performer, compere, and announcer. Then in 1994, someone suggested that I joined an FM station. I began my career as an RJ with Radio Network and worked there for six months, following which I joined Times FM and continued there till the end of 2002. After that I moved to Red FM. I hadn’t planned on radio jockeying as a career choice, but somewhere along the line I began to take it seriously and have gained popularity as an RJ.
Pragya: When I was in college, radio was ‘dead’. My father was posted in Shillong those days and I would listen to All India Radio Shillong everyday on my way to college. One day my father and I entered the AIR Shillong office building out of curiosity. There we met an official, who instead of shooing us away spoke nicely to us and asked me if I would be interested to read the news on radio. He suggested that I meet the News Editor and I grabbed the opportunity and went for an audition, which I passed. Thus, my journey in the radio sphere began as an English news reader. Initially I would read the news only on Thursdays, which was the regular news reader’s day off, but some time later I began working as a bilingual announcer with AIR Shillong. When we moved to Kolkata, I began working for the western music slot on Yuva Vani. In 1995, I heard that Times FM was looking for a Hindi RJ and applied for the post. At Times FM I used to host a programme called ‘Khaat aapke geet hamaare’ with Rakesh.
Rakesh: The Rakesh-Pragya team has been working together since 1996, almost 10 years now.
Q. Tell us something about your shows on Red FM?
Rakesh: We host ‘Chitthi aaye hai’, ‘Jeene ka funda’ and ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’.
Pragya: ‘Chitthi aaye hai’ is a request show. We get letters mostly from school children and teenagers and we play their requests.
Rakesh: ‘Jeene ka funda’ is a three-hour long infotainment show for all age groups. It is divided into several beats. We Indians swear by three Cs – cricket, crime and cinema. Since crime on radio is not a very positive thing, so we do not talk much about it… sometimes we touch on some political issues lightly, with perhaps a tinge of sarcasm. In ‘Cricket wicket ki baatein’, we give cricket updates, for which we keep tab on all records made and broken in the last 10 years.
Pragya: ‘Idhaar udhaar ki baatein’ covers the interesting bits of news, which may not have been covered on the front pages.
Rakesh: Our programmes are very interactive. We make the listeners feel very important. We are sensitive, patient yet humorous when talking to those who call in on our programmes.
Pragya: In ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’ we play old Hindi numbers. But that’s not all, we also try and give some background information about the movies and the songs.
Q. Who are primarily your listeners?
Rakesh: Our listeners are both the masses and the classes. We give clean, balanced entertainment, which appeal to both.
Pragya: We try to keep our language simple, the kind used in our day to day lives. We don’t say anything that might make our classy listeners cringe nor anything that might have someone running for the dictionary!
Rakesh: Yes, we follow the middle path.
Q. What kind of music do you usually play?
Rakesh: As Pragya has mentioned before, in ‘Chitthi aaye hai’ we play listeners’ request. Otherwise we play popular hit tracks, both filmy and non-filmy.
Pragya: Yes, catchy hummable numbers.
Q. How do you prepare for your shows?
Pragya: Apart from referring to the research done by IMRB, we also do our own research. We disguise our voices and call up viewers for their feedbacks. We also maintain our own library and keep updating it every 60 days. In the ‘Aap ne pucha hai’ segment of our programme ‘Jeene ka funda’, which is aired on Fridays, you can ask any film related question and we will give you the answer.
Rakesh: I always keep my ears open to new suggestions or a casual remark made by anyone, it could be a teenager I met at the shopping plaza, the guy at the petrol pump or even the fruit seller who sits below our office.
Q. What are the different roles that each of you take while doing a show?
Pragya: (Laughs) Now I take the dominant role. Earlier though, when I was new, Rakesh used to dominate me a lot. Then one day I just refused to say my lines according to the script and though Rakesh was a little irritated with me initially, it started our own style of presentation.
Rakesh: I am the bumpkin, a ‘buddhu’. I tend to forget everything and am making mistakes or rather slow on the uptake.
Pragya: (Laughs) And I am the educated, intelligent one.
Rakesh: I have to stick to this image to the extent that even publicly I am extra, extra cautious that nothing intelligent or contrary to my assumed persona passes through my lips. And though I am fluent in Bangla, I don’t utter a word in Bangla in public!
Pragya: We have a very divided fan following, a greater chunk of which likes me, the intelligent Pragya, and some who sympathise with the ‘buddhu’ Rakesh!
Q. You are playing the same music, and perhaps say the same things everyday. How do you avoid being monotonous?
Pragya: Any job tends to become monotonous after a point of time. It requires a lot of self motivation to keep the excitement alive, and we are no exception.
Rakesh: We are never satisfied, and at the end of each programme we feel that the next day’s programme should be better than today’s.
Pragya: We keep setting high standards for ourselves and try to achieve that. Both of us are forever trying to improve ourselves.
Q. According to you, how different is RJ-ing from DJ-ing?
Rakesh: Both are very different in nature.
Pragya: A DJ has to mix music depending on the mood of the public, add an extra beat or rap to the music. We don’t mix music. Again, a DJ is only playing the music, but a RJ is required to have ready wit.
Rakesh: However, one thing that both of us have in common is that the understanding of what the public wants.
Q. Have you hosted any live shows? How different is it from hosting a show from the studio?
Pragya: In a live show, the host or the compere has to judge the mood of the crowd and play along.
Rakesh: In a live show, personal presentation is very important. As for a show from the studio, I can be sitting in a faded T-shirt and a pair of old shorts and say that I am as brightly dressed as the sun outside. Also, in a live show, one has to be very, very careful about hand gestures and facial expressions. No place for slip-ups or goof-ups as there are many eyes watching your every move.
Pragya: You taste the public reaction instantly in a live show, they can boo you out or cheer you, but in a studio-based show, we get the listeners’ reactions much later
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TRAI releases Consultation Paper on reserve price for auction of FM radio channels
The regulatory body has asked for written comments on the consultation paper from the stakeholders by November 6
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a Consultation Paper on "Reserve Price for auction of FM Radio channels".
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) sent a reference dated August 22, seeking recommendations of TRAI on reserve prices for 283 cities (260 new + 23 existing) under FM Phase-Ill Policy.
Accordingly, this Consultation Paper has been prepared to seek the comments and views of the stakeholders on issues related to estimation of the reserve prices for auction of FM Radio channels.
As part of the consultative process, the Consultation Paper has been uploaded on the TRAI website.
The regulatory body has asked for written comments on the consultation paper from the stakeholders by November 6. Counter-comments, if any, may be submitted by November 13, the paper said.
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ShareRadio Mango Nerolac ‘Pulikkali’ celebrates the essence of Onam
Radio Mango in association with Nerolac Healthy Home Paints flags off an Onam folklore-themed roadshow in Kerala
Radio Mango in association with Nerolac Healthy Home Paints launched ‘Pulikkali’, an Onam folklore-themed state-wide roadshow that resonates with the ideology of unity among all people, regardless of their caste, colour or religion.
The road show brings to life the most vibrant and eye-catching ritual of Onam, the Pulikkali (Tiger Dance). The campaign also fondly recalls the popular Onam folk song ‘Maveli Naadu Vaneedum Kaalam, Manushar Ellaarum Onnu Poley.’
It is designed around the ancient folklore of the golden reign of King Mahabali when there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class and there was neither crime, nor corruption.
The dynamic crew of entertainers, dressed as Pulis (Tigers) accompanied by Chenda Melam (traditional percussion) artists will travel across Kerala for 15 days as part of the campaign to emphasise the fact that no matter what, we all are one and whatever the colour, we must unite to make this Onam colourful.
The flag off to the ‘Pulikkali’ roadshow was conducted in Kochi by Malayalam actor Saiju Kurup in the presence of Ravindran Nair, Programme Director, Radio Mango, and Rajesh C., Kerala Regional Sales Manager, Nerolac Healthy Home Paints, at Malayala Manorama’s Panampilly Nagar office.
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PM Modi lauds Fever FM’s #PlasticSeBreakUp initiative
In a tweet, the Prime Minister congratulated Fever FM for its innovative campaign to ensure reduced usage of single-use plastic
As part of the Fever Voice of Change CSR initiative, Fever FM launched the ‘#PlasticSeBreakUp’ campaign to make India free from single-use plastic.
Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message this Independence Day, the initiative urges all shopkeepers to do away with single use plastic bags.
PM Modi too tweeted in support of Fever FM’s Bharat Positive initiative. He said ‘I congratulate Fever FM for their innovative campaign to ensure reduced usage of single use plastic. I urge shopkeepers to take part in this campaign with vigour. Such efforts will add valuable momentum to the Swachh Bharat Mission.’
I congratulate Fever FM for their innovative campaign to ensure reduced usage of single use plastic. I urge shopkeepers to take part in this campaign with vigour. Such efforts will add valuable momentum to the Swachh Bharat Mission! @FeverFMOfficial
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 12, 2019
Talking about the initiative, Harshad Jain, CEO – Radio and Entertainment, HT Media Ltd and Next Mediaworks Ltd., said, “We are extremely grateful to our honourable Prime Minister for his encouragement and appreciation of our latest Bharat Positive campaign, and assure him of our unending support. This encouragement gives us motivation to continue our work with greater zeal to bring about a positive change in the country. We are committed, with our latest campaign against single use plastic, to drive the citizens towards a plastic free India. Bharat Positive is a Fever Voice of Change (FVOC) initiative, the biggest CSR in the history or radio.”
Gautam Gambhir, cricketer, MP and face of Bharat Positive initiative, said, “Credit to team Fever and the listeners of the radio station. PM sir noticing the campaign is no mean feat, it just gives a shot in the arm. Of course when Mr Modi talks, the world listens. There’s substance in his thoughts and him putting the weight behind ‘Plastic Se Breakup’ campaign will only galvanise the whole movement. The fact that his following cuts across age groups is another huge plus. Through PM’s support, the youth, the mid-aged and the elderly, everyone will know about this campaign.”
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RED FM's ‘Pride Ki Side’ campaign highlights LGBTQIA + issues
To celebrate the first anniversary of repealing of Section 377, the initiative will provide a platform to share stories and highlight challenges faced by the community
93.5 RED FM has launched a brand-new initiative – ‘Pride Ki Side’ to celebrate the first anniversary of repealing of Section 377. The initiative will provide a platform to share stories and highlight the various challenges faced by LGBTQIA+. The concept of this campaign majorly aims at educating the masses about the pride community.
RED FM has joined hands with Naz Foundation and Breaking Barriers – a project by students of Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, Delhi, to sensitise the society at the grass root level.
RED FM is targeting the children at a young age so that they become compassionate and kinder towards LGBTQIA+ children.
To support this belief, various workshops are being conducted in schools to provide a safe and respectful learning environment for everyone. Trained and certified counsellors accompanied by RED FM’s team and RJs are conducting the workshops.
Speaking about this campaign, Nisha Narayanan, COO and Director, RED FM and Magic FM, said, “Looking at the status of LGBTQIA+ community in India, it is high-time we start educating the people about them. Everyone should have the right to openly appreciate and practice who they are and love who they want. At RED FM, we believe in supporting this movement through our humble initiative ‘Pride Ki Side’. We want to raise awareness in the public about the challenges faced by them. We hope more people will come forward, share stories and help empower each other. Our vision is to create an inclusive environment and encourage our audience to adopt a progressive and compassionate outlook towards the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Commenting on the association, Anjali Gopalan, Founder and Executive Director, The Naz Foundation Trust said, “I am so happy that RED FM has taken this step to highlight LGBTQIA + issues. The Naz Foundation (India) Trust is proud to be part of this journey.”
To ensure maximum outreach, RED FM has also introduced a daily special morning show on their radio channel with a counsellor. This engaging and interactive format of the show will address queries and problems of the community who face bullying, hatred and discrimination at institutes or workplace.
Besides this, RED FM has also invited a well-known LGBTQIA+ influencer at their studio who will share stories of courage in dealing with cyber trolls, verbal harassment, and how they moved-ahead and dealt with such situations.
The campaign, which began September 4, runs till September 13.
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Dia Mirza supports BIG FM’s green Ganesha initiative
To spread awareness about using eco-friendly Ganesha idols, BIG FM held a two-week-long contest and 15 winners were felicitated with a Tree Ganesha by Mirza
For the 12 th year in a row, BIG FM has brought to light the importance of celebrating festivities in an eco-friendly way through Ramky’s BIG Green Ganesha.
The initiative promotes the use of eco-friendly Ganesha idols and its celebration with minimum environmental damage. RJ Rani, the face of Ramky’s BIG Green Ganesha initiative, hosted the event, which was graced by actress Dia Mirza, Sujiv Nair from Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd and Ram Kharpuriya, Director - Greenland Farms.
15 lucky contest-winning listeners were felicitated with a Tree Ganesha by Mirza, at the BIG FM office.
To spread awareness about using eco-friendly Ganesh idols, a two-week-long contest was held and it resulted in widespread response from listeners across Mumbai. BIG FM Mumbai associated with Tree Ganesha as they create eco-friendly idols which are made of natural soil and also melts completely after immersion in water bodies as compared to non-biodegradable options that create pollution.
Commenting on the initiative, a BIG FM spokesperson stated, “BIG FM has always tried to bring about a positive change in society. BIG Green Ganesha has been our on-going initiative for the past twelve years which is amplified through on-air and digital channels. We at BIG FM believe in ‘Change starts with you’ and through this campaign tried to raise awareness on the environment pollution created with non-biodegradable idols. The campaign has been very successful till date and we are happy and proud that we as a medium can offer our listeners entertainment with purpose.”
Nair, Chief Human Resources Officer of Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd, commented, “The Green Ganesha initiative is our contribution to the environment. Being in the space where we closely experience the hazards that affect the environment, we are trying to make Green Ganesha an awareness campaign and save the environment from the use of harmful products. Through this we urge the people to acknowledge an environment-friendly celebration by adopting the use of eco-friendly products.”
Mirza added, “I am very happy to be here. Moreover, I am extremely grateful to BIG FM for this campaign that has been raising awareness over the last 12 years. For the past few years, I have been associating with beach clean ups post the Ganpati Visarjan and it’s very disheartening to see the remains of the idols washed back ashore. Three years ago, Dattadri (Kothur of Tree Ganesha) and I made one of these tree Ganeshas together and it was a beautiful feeling. The happiness you feel while doing something for the better good just elates you to a whole new level. I urge more people to opt for eco friendlier methods, for not just their Ganpati celebrations, but in their day-to-day activities as well.”
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Radio Adex: Ad volume sees 8% decrease in indexed growth in Q2 2019
Paytm.com continues to be the top brand to advertise in the services sector in the first half of both 2018 and 2019
The recent Radio Adex report for ad volumes in the medium for the first and second quarter of 2019 shows 8 per cent decrease in indexed growth.
In the first quarter (Jan-March), the service sector had 31 per cent share which came down to 26 per cent in the second quarter (April-June). The retail sector saw increased share in the second quarter. From 8 per cent in the first quarter, the ad volumes from the retail sector increased to 11 per cent. This was the time when IPL, General Elections and World Cup were ruling the roost.
Interestingly, Banking/Finance/Investment sector which was one of the top advertising categories in the first quarter with 12 per cent share, doesn’t find a place in the top five super categories in the second quarter. Education makes an entry in the top five list for Q2 with 10 per cent share. Auto jumped from 8 per cent to 10 per cent, while food beverages declined from 10 per cent to 9 per cent.
If we consider the ad volume in Radio for the first half of 2019 vs the first half of 2018, the indexed growth saw a decline by 9 per cent. Services continue to take the maximum share. In 2018, it was 30 per cent share while in 2019, it is 29 per cent share. Retail, Food & Beverages, Banking, Finance and Investment saw similar shares this year as was in 2018. Auto moved from 8 per cent in 2018 to 9 per cent this year.
Paytm.com continues to be the top brand to advertise in the services sector in the first half of both 2018 and 2019. Google Pay takes the next spot this year as compared to Amazon.in in 2018. Google, Cars24, Yahoo Cricket were the other brands which were a part of the top 5 brands in the first half of 2018. This year, Cars24 remained constant while there has been an addition of Hotstar and Phonepe in the list.
In the retail sector, except for Home Centre (Koz), all the brands that advertised on Radio in the first half of 2018 are missing from the top 5 brands list of 2019. While last year there were Great Eastern Trading, Central (Pantaloons), Max Retail, and South India Shopping Mall, in 2019, they are replaced by Alishan, Reliance Trends, The Chennai Silks and Lifestyle. In the Food and Beverages category, the Pan Masala brands continue to make a mark.
The cars category has jumped from 5 per cent to 7 per cent shares on radio, when compared to the first half of 2018 vs the first half of 2019. Properties/Real Estates have the maximum share of 8 per cent in 2019 compared to 9 per cent in 2018.
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FM Tadka goes for makeover with ‘Apni Suno’ campaign
Apart from the new positioning statement, FM Tadka also sports a new logo indicating dialogue within for a positive change
Three months ago, management at the Patrika group decided to go for a makeover of FM Tadka. And just two weeks back, the revamp exercise reached a climax at film studios in Jaipur with RJs all across the country practicing steps for the new jingle video having both an aspirational and inspirational feel to it.
The radio network, spanning six states and 18 cities, started its teaser campaign on August 1 with a mascot named Mr. Mannki who ignited people's minds on the new message hidden in its pose which became quite a hit amongst listeners.
The campaign garnered praise from celebrities across the spectrum. Singers Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan, Tochi Raina, Aastha Gill, and Hindi film industry stars like Tusshar Kapoor, Mallika Shehrawat, Urvashi Rautela, Sonali Kulkarni, director Nitish Tiwari, Super 30 founder Anand Kumar, comedians Shekhar Suman, Sunil Pal, Raju Shrivastav and sports stars appreciated the concept when it was shared with them during their visits to FM Tadka. The campaign, Apni Suno, talks about making a transformation in life.
“As a country, we have always followed Gandhi ji’s three monkeys, but now the fourth monkey Mr Mannki came with a message- to bring a positive change in your life and to the destiny of the country- Apni Suno. This network philosophy was aptly revealed on Independence Day,” the network said in a statement.
“From students as environment crusaders, young innovators to reality stars from smaller cities- there are many examples of people listening to themselves and carving a new life for themselves. It is this clarion call that FM Tadka is bringing to its listeners and propagating through roadshows, cinema, mall tie ups and artists across the country,” the statement read.
Gaurav S Karrir, the National Programming Head, further reveals, “The prospect of a product change around was quite exciting. We took innovative ways like making Mr Mannki our mascot, mask inserts in newspapers, celeb led Apni Suno life changing stories and using Patrika power in digital, outdoor, print and tv to make people notice the new message of Apni Suno”.
Saurabh Bhandari, National Head Marketing, Patrika Group, who has seen the radio product evolve over the years, applauded team Tadka and shared his vision, saying, “We at Patrika Group always believe to bring change in people’s life. Our endeavour FM Tadka's ‘apni suno’ positioning is yet another step in same direction, there has been a deep study and long research behind this, we are confident listeners and our trade partners will continue their love n support to FM Tadka.”
Apart from a new positioning statement, FM Tadka also sports a new logo indicating dialogue within for a positive change. Shades of blue pointing at freedom of expression. The core TG now is 16-30 with music starting from 2008 and the playlist focused on melody. FM Tadka's flagship Jaipur station now has a new team of RJs making the entire station live with focus on social impact plus technology and sports segments.
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