Pic Nacho Carretero Molero-Unsplash
It’s been a decade since private FM channels came to India and changed the way we tune the good old radio. Taking away the spotlight from All India Radio the fresh and peppy FM channels with their extended broadcast hours boomed from the paan kiosks to the interiors of our vehicles.
The RJs, some just out of their teens sound hip as they speak without pause while playing music that appeals mostly to the young. Their incessant chatter punctuated by short ditties or jokes, more in the mould of spoofs, are attempts to break the monotony.
Around five private FM channels are available in each city, playing round the clock, with an overload of commercials. Yet they have not been able to take on the state behemoth All India Radio and its commercial arm-Vividh Bharati which came into existence in 1957.
Increasingly one turns back to the public broadcaster, just to escape the inanities being mouthed by RJs who are badly in need of a crash course in general knowledge, diction and pronunciation. It is almost a relief to hear the rich baritone of the presenters on AIR who seldom deviate from the set script. The music and other programmes have a balmy effect too.
The 90 year old broadcaster still remains relevant because of the variety of programmes that it offers. It’s rich repertoire draws listeners from all age groups. With lakhs of songs from Hindi and regional films in its archives, the connoisseurs of film music still turn to Vividh Bharati to catch their all time favourites on Bhule Bisre Geet or Aapki Farmaish. The soldiers away from home tune into Jaimala every evening while the young and not so young get their musical high from Chitralok and Chayageet.
Moving beyond the music buffs there are programmes for theatre enthusiasts and sticklers for classical music. Hawa Mahal, the fifteen minute slot given to drama is akin to what is getting traction as podcasts these days. The dramatised versions of many popular stories have been heard on this programme for years now. Sangeet Sarita with its signature tune set to evoke images of a cascade of water, continues to hold in thrall fans of classical music. The fifteen minute capsule based on Hindustani classical music continues to be heard by legions of listeners for half a century now.
Sangeet Sarita started off with raag based film music in which the raag was played followed by a film song based on it. It evolved further when prominent artists began presenting series based on their craft. The popular ones include Santoor Yatra by Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Varsha Choumasa by vocalist Shubha Mudgal, Meri Sangeet Yatra which featured the like of Vidushi Girija Devi and Pt. Jasraj and the 22 part series based on the Maihar School of Baba Allaudin Khan.
Vividh Bharti is not for only listeners. The programmes get interactive too. Title Sakhi Saheli may not inspire the urban cool women. The audience for this afternoon programme include rural, suburban and cosmopolitan listeners. Balam Takli, Gola Bazaar, Katghora, Sohjani, Ural, Hardoi, Nayapara, Sambalgarh, Mungeli, New Majri Colliery are some of the places from where letters pour in. The programme has a simple format of two women in conversation in which current affairs, topics of household interests, medical information, acquiring hobbies and good parenting are weaved in. The conversations are also interspersed with reading out queries from the listeners and film songs. Every Friday listeners can also phone in with their suggestions and contributions in the form of poetry. That the programme has been gaining audience over the last fifteen years speaks of its relevance.
Compare all of this with the non-stop music, chatter and commercials that are aired on the private FM channels. Just an hour of listening and one feels that there is nothing to gain-either by way of information or entertainment.
Vividh Bharati on the other hand engages with people of all ages. It easily transcends the urban, rural, regional divide with the variety of programmes it offers. The archives of Prasar Bharati where many of the popular programmes can be accessed offers a rich treasure trove of music, art and theatre related information.
FM channels now also face competition from various musical apps that come with the freedom to put together a personal playlist. In the homes too Alexa or Caravan can play the music of choice on a single voice command.
The programming heads of private channels need to put some more imagination and thought to better utilize precious airtime. Till then listeners would just keep flipping channels in between commercials and promo songs.
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