As calls to stations reach dizzying numbers, we get RJs to share some unforgettable moments
As calls to stations reach dizzying numbers, we get RJs to share some unforgettable moments
It's raining calls at radio stations.
Though this is how it is every summer, RJs say the numbers are overwhelming this year.
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In the hot seat: RJ Johnny from Radio Indigo, RJ Shruthi from Big FM, RJ Avinash from Radio Mirchi, and RJ Pallavi from Radio One |
"We get at least 200 calls a day," says RJ Shruthi from Big FM. "There are no good movie releases this time and with the Indian Premier League happening in South Africa, youngsters don't really have much to do," she says.
Contests and interactive shows on air have been big draws. "We usually don't track calls but there's been an overwhelming response this year, especially for contests related to the IPL," says RJ Avinash of Radio Mirchi.
And what are the calls like? From insipid to vitriolic to plain funny, say the RJs. We get them to look back on some unforgettable calls:
Prank time
RJ Johnny, Radio Indigo: "We usually play pranks on unsuspecting callers and sometimes it doesn't go down well. For instance, we had a request from a girl to fool her boyfriend on his birthday. I called him and told him that the girl was two-timing him and was secretly going out with me.
"The moment he heard that, he started abusing me. Initially, it was funny but later he started using slang. That's when we had to cut him off and tell him it was just a prank. I don't really take such things seriously and somehow try and make them smile at the end of it."
RJ Avinash, Radio Mirchi: "I usually do a lot of mimicry on my show and once, I put a caller on line and spoke like girl, asking him to press 1 and sing after the beep. The guy actually believed it and sang a Kannada song from Jogi. I cut him off and said his voice quality was really bad and asked him to dial 2 and sing again.u00a0 This continued and he sang nearly three songs. The studio burst out laughing the moment he finished his third song. He seriously was a terrible singer."
RJ Preeti, who used to work for Radio City: "Long back, when I was doing an agony aunt kind of a show, I got a call from this guy who sounded terribly low and soon, he was bawling like a baby. He wouldn't divulge his problem but wouldn't stop crying either. It got very frustrating. At that moment, all I did was crack a silly joke and dedicated a cheerful song to him. It does become difficult sometimes to deal with such situations."
Marry me!
RJ Pallavi, of Radio One, said a stalker. "A fan of mine or rather a stalker came to the studio with a bundle of gifts and proposed marriage to me. He had done the same to two other RJ's from our station earlier. When he learnt theyu00a0 were married, he chose me. I met him and told him I was married too.
"We also got to know his sister and brother-in-law were on their way to support him. I don't know what happened after I left. He still calls me sometimes but I've clearly told him he has absolutely no chance."
