Simran Kohli Radio Jockey

She is the Tanka Queen for many hearts in love. If you are also in love with someone, but unable to pour out your feelings to the person or if you want to be loved by someone, just call her up. She would fix your ‘tanka’.

Well, we are talking about Simran Kohli aka ‘Simran’. Yes, she is the one, hosting Nau bhaje ki setting, on Big 92.7 FM from 9pm to 11pm.

Her first stint, as a Radio Jockey (RJ) was with All India Radio way back in 1995. In a span of ten years, Simran has carved out a niche for herself. Having worked with the stalwarts of the field, from Deepak Chibber of AIR to Mark Tully of BBC, she has grown up as a genius to reckon with and carries a huge own fan following. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that couple of RJs like Simaran have infact infused life into the decaying medium, that since 1927 was the source of entertainment and awareness.

With the objective of nurturing seasoned RJs she run an Academy of Radio Management. When not hosting her show on the radio, as the Director of the Academy, she is busy grooming students for the 30,000 odd jobs that will be created with the opening of 300 Radio Stations in the country in the coming years.

National Network of Education (NNE)’s correspondent caught up with this vivacious and versatile lady at her academy in South Delhi, where she spoke at length about her childhood, her education and her interface with the Radio. Excerpts from the exclusive tête-à-tête.

Let’s start from your childhood and education.

I was born in Srinagar (J&K) as the first child of my parents. My father was into Indian Administrative Services (IAS). I was a little on mischievous side and never behaved like a girl. I had passions, sported usually by the male counterparts like flying kites and playing Gulli Danda. Even at the school, I was a big bully. But when I stepped in Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow for my graduation in Psychology honors, I got more inclined towards the college cultural activities. I even won the National debating championship trophy.

After my graduation, I pursued Mass Communication programme from Jamia Milia Islamia University.

Did you aspire to become Radio Jockey or was, sort of emergency landing?

Never in my wildest dreams, I had thought of being a RJ. My mother tells me, till the age of 10 yrs, people confused me for a boy. Because I was dressed like one, behaved like one and to add to it I had a voice like them. People were surprised to know that I am a girl.

And that time radio wasn’t even secondary choice for anyone. I think it’s in my blood as my mother was with Radio Srinagar for more than 5 years.

Besides a good voice what other traits a RJ need to excel?

Firstly, I must tell you that any good RJ does not need a good voice at all. A “Good Voice” is a very subjective concept. There is no guarantee that a voice liked by me would be liked by someone else also. Secondly voice alone, can not be made the basis of a growing industry. Instead of the voice, there are many other things without which one cannot become a good RJ.

As a Radio Jockey you interact with lots of people? Did you always enjoy talking to people or you developed the trait after joining this profession?

I call myself a peoples-person. People are like fodder to my soul. I have always loved being around them. Maybe that’s why I connect so easily with my Listeners.

How to be a successful RJ?

To become a successful RJ one has to keep in mind the following points:

• A very good command over the spoken languages. A good command on the regional language is also a big plus too, as many FM stations are springing up practically in every nook and corner of the country.
• Learn to listen more and talk less. It will help you become better observers.
• Creative writing and expressions.
• A general knowledge about your local/Nation/International events.
• Interest in films, music, Bollywood etc., always helps.
• And most important of all, sensitivity and love towards all things alive & kicking!

Do you think your medium can bring tangible change in the society?

Radio has and it will continue to change society for the better in the years to come. Because, Radio is immortal. It has survived repeated predictions of its doom and grown tremendously earning the status of a “constant companion”. The answer lies in your FM Station and the increasing number of youngsters eager to join Radio Stations!

The arrival of ‘Motion Pictures’ with sound and then Television was expected to be the funeral of RADIO. However Radio like the quintessential ‘SUPERMAN’ was indefatigable, it kept resurrecting itself, proving media practitioners wrong again and again.

Today, Radio is one of the most desired new Media, all are waiting to embrace, it has not only benefited the listener and advertiser alike but has crossed boundaries to bring people closer to each other; it has redefined ‘entertainment’. And from a social perspective Radio’s most sought after Avatar as ‘Community Radio’ is on it’s way bringing tangible change in the society.

In India alone, the FM market is facing an unprecedented boom, with more than 300 Radio Stations about to go shopping for more than 20,000 professionals.

How do you rate your experience as a RJ?

Ten on Ten. It is because I’ve enjoyed every moment of it! I have grown with it not only in terms of knowledge/experience/status/bank balance/Monetary assets but also in terms of my entire human avatar which would have been incomplete otherwise. And the best is that it has given me a whole new repertoire of friends.

Do you have preference for a particular genre of songs or composition?

I love anything with music/sounds/instruments/voice. But my favourites are Semi classical, Farida Khanum and Ghulam Ali.

One goes through various mood swings in a day? Did it ever happen with you that you were upset but had to host a show? If yes, how did you carry yourself then?

I remember when blast rocked Sarojini Nagar market on the pre-Diwali evening in 2005, I had a show the very next day. When I reached my studio and started taking calls, I found myself in the midst of people calling who were crying and looking for their loved ones lost in the bomb blast. They were so scared and seemed unsure. And I felt all the more helpless until I received a call from a young woman. Her husband, In-Laws and a 4 year old son hadn’t returned from the market since last night when the blast took place. she was crying inconsolably, I made a request to her relatives on the radio to give her support. I even called out her lost relatives, not sure whether they were listening to us or not. Listening my appeal, his husband called her only to say that she’d lost her 4 year old to the blast. It was a highly emotional moment. I broke down on-air. But since the show must go on, after a song or two we were back to consoling the others!

Going to your fan club, someone gone beyond the limits and someone who really floored you?

Once a visually challenged person who’d lost his eyesight in an accident came to my studio to meet me and told me that, he does not feels handicapped when he listens to me on the radio, and I show him the world he is unable to see. I was floored, really!

You carry a big fan following who’s your model?

No body from the Radio Industry. But I am greatly influenced in personal life by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He is my role model. I admire him for his tenacity of purpose, his conviction of principals and his single minded dedication to what he believed in. Irrespective of what those principals are, that’s what’s needed in the world today. If we understand the value of these simple things, every life can be transformed for the better. Especially the youth can learn a lot more from this, just as I have.

Can we rate the emotional state of a person by his preference for a genre of music?

Yes, but for the time being or for a moment .But in the long run, a good programmer/Jockey would analyze anybody’s emotional state with something a little more, like the tone, manner, style and enthusiasm with which somebody is talking to you.

Which singer is most in demand these days and king of all times?

Himesh Reshammiya. He is the one singer who is most in demand these days. I do like him, not because his songs are my favorites but because I see some originality in his songs, which is highly deficient in today’s society.

These days, everybody is trying to ape somebody else, everybody is what’s been done before, whether its music/films or TV. Look at the reality shows, the rage these days, they’re all clones of International shows. Can’t we be a little original? Himesh has been one and have won appreciations for the same. Also he does have a signature style and well trained voice.

How does it feel to be a celebrity?

Great! I feel the same as Neil Armstrong must’ve felt when he first stepped on the surface of the moon-top of the world.

Don’t you think the FMs these days target more to the youth of the day and the older generation has been sidelined completely?

Yes, i feel that FMs are targeted at youth but the problem is both sided. On one hand, Radio FM Stations don’t have a choice, youth is one talent readily available one can mould it, its in sync with the persona and character of FM Stations anywhere in the world.

Secondly there’s another thing, I feel most of our Radio Veterans have not been able to keep up with the changing trends and demands of the Industry, otherwise why is a Lata or Asha Bhonsle still winning MTV Awards and the Radio does not have a single old world Jockey?

Voice never gets old but style does. If Amitabh can still rule the Industry there’s no such limitation for the older generation also, provided they can give 24 hours everyday for every week/every month and be on their toes as well!

What are the job hazards in Radio Industry?

Irregular work hours, hard work till it breaks your bones, No time limit for anything, everything comes with a predefined deadline, No time for retakes, everything is live and best or the worst is ‘YOU DON’T GET A SECOND CHANCE’. Everybody rates you here and now!

If not an RJ, what Simran would have been into?

Producing ‘Travel Shows’. I love traveling.

How is Simran at home different from ‘Simran’- the RJ of Big 92.7 FM?

I am the same, as mad, as incorrigible, as naughty, as funny, as ever.

Your views about the present status of the Radio Industry in the country.

The Indian Media industry is witnessing a revolution in the field of Radio be it Commercial Radio (FM) or the Community Radio. After the second phase of licensing in Radio, 338 FM Radio stations are bound to go on air by March 2007 across the length and breadth of the country. This will immediately be followed by the third phase in which around 700 more stations would come up. It clearly means that in one year from now more than 1000 FM stations can be seen. This will create a demand for around 1 lakh vacancies for those who want to join the "Media of Sound". Concurrently, Community Radio is being encouraged in a big way. Recently, the Government of India has allowed 5 minutes of ‘on air advertising’ per hour. This can bring about self-sustainability for Community Radio Stations. Community Radio Stations have the potential to reach out to the remotest possible community of the country. Thus, Radio in India has a bright future.

Ways to improve and popularise Radio in India-

For the improvisation of Radio, we really need to think beyond the format of Bollywood songs in the present FM programming patterns. The 'Radio Pundits' are working day and night in this area. We are quite hopeful that it will get better with each passing day.

My academy is also striving hard to popularise radio. To do the same, Academy of Radio Management (ARM) recently launched a campaign to spread Radio awareness in and around the Delhi University Campus. The academy also plans to go to smaller towns and villages to make the medium known to every person. Talks are in with NGOs working in remote areas to go for Community Radio Stations in their areas of operation.

Will you strongly recommend RJ as a dream career?

Of course, RJing is a 'Dream Career'. You need not be someone born with the 'Gift of the Gab' to be a very successful RJ. Subsequently, I strongly think that one can develop this art. I have successfully experimented this on many students who were not so free when they joined my workshops and classes. Yes, we worked hard on them but this has set an example that if one has a strong urge to chase his/her dream anything is possible. Radio Jockeying has emerged as a popular career option, because it gives the RJs an opportunity to get into the hearts and minds of the listeners. They become a part of their life.

Your message for the youth and the society.

I would say that one should never stop dreaming. It's only our dreams that make us different from animals. We are born with the ability to dream and should develop the discipline to work towards realising them. It's not only about RJing but holds true for every path we choose. Just remember these words-

"If your mind can conceive it...

if your heart can believe it...

YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT."

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(As told to Priya Kapoor)