The Becoming of Annavaru

Dr Rajkumar passed away Last afternoon. He would have turned 77 on the 24th of April.
And this should happen exaclty 3 days after I post on Life and Death - Ironic?

Its not even 24 hours since the incident and the aftermath is already hitting us hard on the head. The death of the Kannada Mega superstar has sent a smoothly functioning city into haywire. It has aroused emotions and fuelled anger and wrath. Its understandable that a state so deep rooted in culture has such feelings for the demise of an old man, but should the passing on of a "Legend" lead to riots and road roka's?

The Local Daily's headline reads "Star passes on" And Alongside it says "Fury and Fire Grip City"

Im guessing that Kannada film activits and the general pro kannada movement and anti social elements are at play for these spurious incidents. Vandals are reported to have broken windsheilds and set ablaze to vehicles in many parts of the city. There also have been reports of stone pelting. Protestors had ensured that by 4pm all the shops all around town were closed.. in the name of mourning. Offices were asked to close. Theatres were forcibily stopped.
Thank god all schools and most colleges have study holidays going on now!





These incidents got me thinking.
What is the use of Vandalism? What do these people think their final outcome will be? Why should a city mourn? Who instigates such riots? Who controls such behaviour? The public. or a few who hold the masses by a leash and move them like pawns on a chess board.? Who operates the Remote Control? If anyone has answers for these questions please do tell me.

All of us remember the Rajkumar Kidnapping. And then the time he was admitted to the hospital. I guess the public should have been mentally prepared for what bangalore has seen is the last 24 hours!

Another intersting Irony to note is that , the same village , Singanallur , has given Karnataka its most famous, and its most notorious, citizen. Rajkumar, born Muthuraj, shares a birthplace with a certain Koose Muniswamy Gounder - more notorious as the sandalwood smuggler and brigand Veerappan.

But that defenitely is one of life's little ironies - for there could be nothing as disparate as the cop-killing, elephant-slaughtering Veerappan and Rajkumar, the matinee idol, an accomplished singer of both film tunes and bhajans and, by all accounts, an aesthete who has, in his advancing years, developed a marked penchant for religion. Incidentally, most of his devotional songs are in honour of Raghavendra Swami - who ranks among his followers the likes of Tamil film icon Rajnikanth, and classical singing doyen Bhimsen Joshi.

The Prayer

Oh doyen of Kannada film industry, Annavaru (elder brother), Mannina Maga (son of the soil) , Kannada Kanmani (Kannadas Darling) , Oh Matinee Idol, Role model to millions of Kannadigas, Sinagullur Puttaswamaiah Ganallur Muthuraj, aka, Dr. Rajkumar... The City mourns for you, The City Burns for you, The city weeps for you, The city Riots for you.
I plead with you. Wherever you are, please influence the minds of your fans and other and make sure they are spiritually at peace.

The Flipside

Frankly Dr.Rajkumar made no difference to my life, or the life of the people I am close to. Until Today.
The karnataka government has declared a holiday today. There will be no offices and schools. Most shops still remain closed for fear of vandalism.
Therefore we have a LONG weekend. My next work day would only be Monday! Yippee! I get to catch up on my sleep, my reading, my bloggin, my mails, my accounts, Spend some quality time with Ammu, and catch up on all that's been pending.

On a lighter note you do wonder why all the halla over the death of someone who was 77. I guess the classes will never understand the masses. And vice versa. I guess we do live in 2 different worlds, like the Ennoi and the Morlocks (from H.G.Well's time machine). Some friends I know are wishing the event happened when we were in college. So that we could cherish this holiday even more. The Irony?

Here's Something to Lighten up the moment. Im sure the ladies will like the way the tush-shake of the tight white pants. Something For you to Remember the Doyen oF Kannada Cinema By. May his Soul Rest in Peace.

The Underdogs.

Many People have started asking me questions about the radio station that I work for. Its a little difficult to understand how All India Radio operates, But I'm going to try my best to explain it in the next few lines.

All India Radio Bangalore's FM Channel beaming out on 101.3Khz on the Fm Bandwidth has a Listenership of 11 million. They have a 11KW Transmitter which beams out to a Coverage Area of 11,300 Sq.KM. The Percentage Listener Population among Radio Set Owners is 89%.

I currently work as a Radio Jockey for All India Radio, Bangalore, and host Western and Hindi repertoire on the FM Rainbow station. I have been with the Fm station since their launch in September 2001 (Hosted their first show). I have more than 12,000 hours of presentation to my credit. (From Sept 2001 when FM-Rainbow was launched in Bangalore to date). Im also their senior most jock. *ahem*
I produced, marketed and hosted a 16 episode Retro Genre special called “Retrojam”.
I also presented A.I.R’s only western Music “Phone-in” Programme on the MW frequency, for about 18 months. (Before the launch of FM)
I handle production assignments with A.I.R on a freelance basis.

Thanx to this station I have developed skills in Radio Jockeying, Scripting, Production/Design and Packaging of the shows, OAP’s/Sleeves and Playlist & Content management.

My shows have included Genre based specials, celebrity guest appearances, contests, and request specials. (Live phone in, sms and email driven).
My celebrity interview list includes artists like Euphoria, Pundit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Tanya Zaetta from AXN, Parikrama, Strings, Shibani Kashyap, Bombay Rockers, MLTR, and many others.
The format of my shows has predominantly been “CHR”. (Contemporary Hit Radio)
I have developed a definitive loyal audience for myself on AIR. I love my listeners and would do anything to keep them happy and content. I play hits that they want. My request show "The goodie bag" is on everytime im on. I sqeeze in maximum listener names in the shortest period of time. And I play the hottest Hits.
Last Night I gave away 100 Passes to the strings concert this Sunday. Felt Elevating~ :)
Its been flattering getting appreciation bouquets from all my listeners. Thank you!

All India Radio is a government enterprise. Along with the strict rules comes along the hypocrisy, the red tapism and passing of the buck. Ive lasted with them 7 Years now. Seems like a task but its pretty simple if you dont involve yourself in the politics.

FM Rainbow is the channel which beams out on 101.3FM. RJ's like me are called "casual presenters". The transmission takes places in three segments, namely 6am-11am, 11am-5pm, 5pm-11am. I usually only host the evening slots. (Third Transmission)

We're not employees of this magnificant organisation because we're legally allowed only 10 transmissions in a month. Which means im legally allowed to RJ only 10 days a month!
This came about because some smart fella in Calcutta finished around 26 transmissions in a month and then went and filed a petition in the court for employee status. He lost the case!

Now you need to understand that being a government run station, All India radio operates completely differently from private stations (Like 91fm in Bangalore)
Firstly we're not full time employees. The plus point to that is that someone like me can come in whenever he wants and leave whenever he wants. I usually host the thursday shows. But if I have some other engagement on any thursday, I can get it switched,cancelled,postponed. No hassles.
Our transmission quality is decided by studio engineers who , if in a good mood, keep the gain optimised. Every word of ours is monitored. Social awareness and public responsibility is stressed on. (That I would see as a good thing). But then there are loopholes everywhere. I can say "wanking in the bathtub" and they wont know what im talking about, but I cant use the word "SEX". I cant play "sexy eyes" by whigfield, but ive heard jocks get away with Eminem swearing at his pubes! In a way AIR trains you to be careful of what your saying. Ive leart to avoid using brand names, and anything with a commercial value.
Unlike private radio stations, we still put cd's into the cd player (read outdated topex machines) and press the play button. We still have to play some ads through outdated CTR machines, and some jocks even play songs from LP's and DATS. We still have to manually cue our ads, and interloop our soundbeds.

But its fun. Like ive always said. If u can drive an ambassador car on ..say.. JC Road in Bangalore, You can drive any car anywhere in the world.
Its the same principle.

The rules that we adhere to, the log book entries which we write like school imposition, the silly reasons we get called to the programming department for, and the petty issues that crop up are all very disheartening and demotivating at times.
Also the fact that the average listener compares us to the Technology and Positioning driven private networks, keeps us alarmed at all times.

The Irony - .(du-uh read the blogspot title)
The oldest Radio Establishment in the country, being fast outwitted and outdone by newer lesser experianced players.
The misuse and abstinence of use of the Massive studio facilities in bangalore.
The lack of proper programming and positioning of the channel and the station itself.
An entire frequency (for which bidders are bidding crores of rupees) without any direction.

Sometimes one feels Sad. Sometimes grateful. Sometimes Dejected. Sometimes Elated.
Such a glorius enterprise. And a frequency which has some brand value. But the people running it have no clue what their doing. And someone like me , who in AIR's books is dispensible and "small fry" cant do Shit! The jocks have tried so many things over the years. Ive seen jocks come and jocks go. Some last a week, or less, and some months together. Most people see this as a stepping stone to a bigger template. Or as a part time hobby. Thats where AIR loses out!

With worlspace beaming out 40 channels of crystal clear music and with 6 new private players hitting the market and going on air in less than 3 months, I wonder whats going to happen to All India Radios - FM 101.3.



All India Radio has taught me a lot. And in the next few months when I have sold out to a private player, (for monetary and otherwise reasons), I will look back fondly at my days with the underdogs! :)

All India Radio - FM Rainbow. THree Cheers to you.
You are defenitely the "Buffalo Soldiers" of Radio!!

tune into Anjaan on 101.3fm every thursday between 6-7pm and 9-11pm hosting "The Buzz" and "The Goodie Bag"

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Bangalore Live!!!

Good News! Great News!
A Project that my Company "The T-Pot Media" has been working on for a while now has finally seen the sunlight. Indias First Internet Television is here.

The aim is to create an online community which veiws, opines, gets excited, gets incited by the news capsules that we offer them. An interactive internet initiative to bring out local news in an international Level. My company is involved in the production and management of all the videos you see there. Entertainment and lifestyle Capsules.

Sify is the parterning Company, and is doing spends on parallel media soon. (Hoardings, Television, Radio, Print, Offline Event)
Bangalore is their first city and we're on a 3 month pilot phase. We're looking at replicating this to Bomabay, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkotta and Hyderabad.

Im totally excited because this is my first foray into Online jounalism!!!
The videos you see have been shot by a Guy Im terribly impressed with "Nimish Jain" and His friend Chetan. The NJ's (Net Jockeys) are all Freshers in the communication business and seem to be doing well!

To take a look at what im talkin about go to the Bangalore Live Website.
Click on to the "Bangalore Buzz" Tag and choose the video you want to see.
Tell me what you think. Do play devils Advocate. Tell me frankly what you think. Bouquets and Brickbats accepted!

And I'm looking for feedback. Feedback!!!