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Avinash Kalla

Behind the non-stop entertainment that FMs offer is the hard work of a dedicated team. Read on to get the real picture inside a radio station.

It's 3 a.m. and Nitin is up and ready to leave for work. He picks up some snack to share with the security personnel over a cup of tea. As the clock strikes 5, his car enters the office premises and he heads towards the third floor. A table has been set for Nitin and his friends to discuss current issues and some poetry as well. Nitin is all set to enter the disturbance-proof cabin, but before that he goes through the painstaking and comprehensive research done by his colleagues. Exactly at 7 a.m. he hits the microphone with his energetic voice and his commentary; the punch-line Chipak ke baitheiye, Jhoomte Rahieye (stay glued and let's swing) infuses a verve into the hectic city morning. It's no surprise that radio stations are fast picking up listeners and the radio as a medium is commanding a loyal fan following.

The shows are an eclectic mix... promising entertainment 24x7. Perhaps this explains the meteoric rise of FMs in the metros. Prashant Panday, Chief Operating Officer, Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) of the Times group,says, "Private FM operators have captured listeners' imagination with innovative programming, modern packaging and vigorous marketing. The medium always held promise — but it had been overshadowed by the sudden arrival and spread of television."

Ever wondered about the effort RJs and other creative people put in to create such magic?

Fun at workplace

Step into Delhi's Radio Mirchi Station and you just can't miss the musical environment. The workplace is no different from any multinational company. You can feel the sense of urgency, as programme producers, researchers and the creative team busily scan the print and electronic media to keep up with the latest developments; the marketing team is charting new strategies, while the RJs and a few others are keenly watching a cricket match. The excitement increases as the match progresses and there are loud cheers of appreciation. The freedom to have fun at the workplace is a well-planned HR policy. Panday explains, "We encourage informed risk-taking. We are not hierarchy-driven and we actively seek constructive confrontation. Our team members are passionate about radio. In such an environment, it is but natural that they feel highly charged and this is evident on the show — and in the listener numbers!" There are regular outings to de-stress employees. The employee-friendly HR policy has obviously worked its magic. "People back home complain that I have no life beyond the radio station," says Nitin.

No room for error

But the RJ's job is not all fun and frolic. His task is cut out and there is no room for error. RJs have to use the right words always and convey the right message and emotion, while entertaining listeners.

This calls for meticulous planning and execution. The producer-RJ duo decides on the daily content. The research team then takes over, getting in touch with the people concerned, fixing up interviews, arranging sound bytes and organising all other components essential for the show. The music co-ordinator reviews the music and uploads it for the RJ's use. Meanwhile, the RJ's script is given the final touches and the show is ready to roll. "We use the `Mood' software that puts everything in place. RJs have to synchronise the act and follow instructions in the stipulated timeframe," says Alok Baruha, Manager - Technical, Radio Mirchi.

In fact, with the right technology, a show can run even without the RJ; his/her presence is needed only for live shows. "It is only when the hardware or software malfunctions that technicians are needed to resolve the crisis. However, technology levels in a current radio set-up are so high, that such breakdowns are few and far between," says Col N. Thiagarajan, Chief Technical Officer, ENIL.

The backup arrangements are foolproof. During a crisis (a five-second silence is all it takes for the switcher at the transmitter site to sense a problem), the switchover to the backup studio is automatic and smooth. Should that fail too, the transmitter site would automatically switch to a CD player, leaving no break in transmission. The equipment is checked daily and the technical staff is trained to handle emergencies. It's not just the machines that have a backup; there are backups for RJs too. In a worst-case scenario, there are hourly CDs to keep the show going... complete with breaks. Listeners might not even realise that a CD, and not the RJ, is at work.

Honesty, the best policy

If you happen to live in the Capital, and are a regular FM listener, then there is no way you could have missed Nitin's groovy voice with his everyday "Hello Delhi" greeting. Fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, English (with even an American accent to boot), he has also worked with MNCs before becoming an RJ.

His mantra for success is honesty with listeners. "Otherwise you can never be successful. I just speak my mind and voice my concern for issues. I have to strike a rapport with my audiences and we share a wonderful relationship. If I am in a bad mood, I tell them not to bother me. I have also done a show where I created an effect as if I were talking from the skies. I was in an elated state that day," he says.

He also appreciates the efforts his producer and other team members put in for his shows. So do you have it in you? If yes, then there is no denying the fact that one day, you could also boast of names like Kareena Kapoor and Mandira Bedi in your fan list...

Picture by N. Balaji

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