Religiously going through my mails, as usual my first office chore and hearing what Mayank (my collegue) had to say about hyderabad traffic (this was also usual for me to hear and Mayank to speak about after coming to office), suddenly Abbas bhai came from no where as the office was empty .We are just in Hello, hi terms with Abbas bhai. There fore he, approaching us was not jibbing well, “hello” “how r u guys” .He was coming explicitly for us.He said “come with me” , “Goal maal hai bhai sab goal maal hai”. I could hear the song in my mind some thing was wrong, I could smell. What is it?
“Remove your shoes”, he said, we were standing just in front of studio.
Working for 2 months in Radio mirchi, we never had a chance to visit the studio. Although it was just 2 cubicles far from our work station. I was always amazed by telling amount of influence the RJ’s and voice over artist can have in small span of air space sans vision only hearing ,on top of it I use to hear Radio while travelling combatant din in the vicinity. Incidently subcociusly somewhere, I think this was one of the prime reson for me to join radio industry for my internship. I think radio is a powerhouse of creative ideas, and I some how wanted to understand this process of creativity.To some extend ,I belive I was succsess full in this attempt.
What……. Abbas is going to launch new RJ? Is Abbas in dearth of new RJs? Has Abbas seen a new RJ in me? A new RJ in town…What it would feel like going on air phew….. I was in my own dream land. I could see Pankaj Mishra …a new RJ in town …going on Air.The way uday chopara use to see a happy married couple, during very first conversation with a pretty girl.
But all these dangling speculation shattared in one whack, as was the case with uday chopada in Dhoom.
We just had to speak one sundry line in radio jingle.
“Oh that day I saw Amrita aunty running from 1 hospital to other” deepti was elegentaly speaking in mike, when we stepped in the room.Pavan was also present in the studio. He is a technician , had a head phone, and was monitering the voice.He also had computer terminal with him, with those cardiograph pulses in it.
“No deepti ur voice needs to reflect excitement” Pavan said, “what the hell, my aunt is going from one hospital to another ,and I should be excited” deepti gigled, and every one started laughing.She completed her lines reading from a already written script. “ Appolo hospital ,were u get ct scan, heart surgery,pathology et al. A one stop solution for for all ur medical needs” was her last few lines, that I could remember and then she left. Then Abbas asked us to clutch the mike and read out line from script, which were marked MV,I guess this stands for male voice. “A new city. In hyderabad.” I said looking at the papper.Pavan said bring some excitement in ur voice.
This time I cleared my throat and forced my voice.i said “A new city. In hyderabad.”
“Excitement does not means shouting ,don’t shout” pavan said. Was I shouting I thought, I was excited damn hard. I tried for 3 times in a row, but Pavan had to object every time with his silly pulses. He was monitering the sound pulses “Amplitude is too high, see”.
I was hitting a road block called Pavan.
Finally he asked Mayank to give it a try. Thankfully Pavan was even more disappointed by his voice “Mayank.. You have got a very flat voice.” It was visible in the pulse graph.
Pavan cannot come in between, I would be the next blue eyed RJ of Radio Mirchi. “shall I give it a try” I minced, “OK” Pavan uttered.
“What ……a new city ? ……..In Hyderabad.”… Perfect said Pavan. I said “was it?”
“Your extra WHAT delivered the effect” Pavan said, and deleted the “WHAT” Pulse. I thought “WHAT” is this! I got the point, every second is critical on air and so is every word. Pavan did’nt have the leeway of putting any extra word.
We came back to our station and that is how I became new RJ in town. I was enjoying the new discovered repute, every one out side the studio were congratulaing me , Again Abbas came, “When is the jingle going to be aired” Mayank asked, “ this jingle first would be approved by client” abbas said
OK till this jingle is approved (or unapproved), I can consider my self A RJ…..