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er fans call her chulbuli [playful]. She calls herself a voice without a face.
The popular Mumbai radio jockey and star of rediff radio, Malishka chatted with rediff.com readers for an hour on September 29 and was peppered with questions from wannabe RJs.
You don't need to have an outgoing personality, she says. All it takes is confidence in front of the mic. More on the radio industry, with Malishka:
Malishka: Hey guys, this is Malishka. Ready with your questions? Then shoot 'em!
miki_20: How much time does it take for someone to become an RJ?
Malishka: It depends on you and the organisation you're working for. See, before you get anywhere close to a mic [microphone], you'll have to go through hazaar [thousands of] auditions. They'll probably test your perseverance, give you a late night slot... One fine sunny day -- if you're gooooood -- you'll bag a slot for yourself.
renasworld: Hi Malishka. Where do we listen to you now?
Malishka: Hi Renasworld, how sweet of you to ask :0). I'm currently gabbing on Rediff Radio. It's for the US only as of now. You can try logging on though. Quite a few Win listeners have managed to log on.
renasworld: Malishka, I don't know if you remember me, but we used to play Battle Of The Sexes [a programme on Win 94, the radio channel Malishka used to work for]. I am Renita and my friend Mohammed (the Shah Rukh lookalike)...
Malishka: Of course madame. Meri ek buri aadat hai... main chehre aur listeners ko kabhi nahi bhoolti [I have a bad habit -- I don't forget faces. And I don't forget my listeners] :)
Rajeev: Hi Malishka, I have a question for you. Don't you feel bored talking for so long?
Malishka: Hi Rajeev. The battle with boredom is constant for a jockey, but that's not because you've gotta talk to people. That's the fun part. It's important to reinvent yourself and your show to keep you from feeling the monotony.
deepak: What role does a sensuous voice play in an RJ's success?
Malishka: Ha! Sensuous! Yaar, before I joined Win, I thought I had a very husky, sensuous voice. Par logon ne mujhe chulbuli ka chhaap de diya [But people labelled me as playful] :) It is important for an RJ to have a not-unpleasant voice and a pleasant personality. Don't let anyone tell you it's all about the tonal quality. Amitabh Bachchan ko bhi government radio ne ek baar na kaha tha [Even Amitabh Bachchan was rejected by the government radio station]!
dennis: Does an RJ need to be artificial and diplomatic?
Malishka: Yes and no. You can't get in front of the mic and cry about your personal life. In that sense, yes, you've gotta be discreet. But artificial... no! You talk to your listeners like you talk to a friend.
Parrdner: Hello Malishka. Is it possible for a quiet person like me to become a good RJ? I mean, I am not so talkative in daily life as I am sure you are, so do I have a chance?
Malishka: Hello Parrdner. If you have asked this question, it must mean that somewhere you believe you will blossom in front of the mic when left alone. Why don't you practise at home and ask friends and relatives to give you feedback?
shubhas: Someone told me you're married and have two kids. Is that true? What is the scope for married women in this line? Is RJing only for youngsters or are young thoughts enough? Pleasssse respond.
Malishka: A major portion of the RJ fraternity seems to be married and listeners don't care. It's got nothing to do with your job. Unless your pati [husband] and bachchas [children] insist on going to the studio with you, you shouldn't have a problem.
ND: Hey Malishka, I know Rediff is not going to like this question, but why did you choose Rediff Radio instead of the other popular ones? I still tune in everyday morning to 94.6 on FM, hoping to hear your voice...
Malishka: No baba, Rediff is the one that insisted I chat :) Thanks for the faith and the hope. I'll catch you live on-air again someday soon :)
ankitkaul: Hi Malishka. I wanted to ask you about the difficulties RJs face, considering the fact that you are not face-to-face with viewers. How do you know a particular thing or line will work as you want it to work? Thanks.
Malishka: I think the best thing about being an RJ is that you don't have a face. Imagine not being able to eat at your local pani puri stall like film stars. What a shame!
sujit: Hello Malishka. Are you a Maharashtrian? You speak great Marathi.
Malishka: Issh gade! Thank you aho. Maharashtra madhe Marathi tar yaayalas pahije na [You must know Marathi in Maharashtra, no]?
Parrdner: Hello Malishka, I want to know why, when two people host a show, sometimes it sounds very bad, but sometimes it sounds very good... What is the secret to co-hosting?
Malishka: Co-hosting can go horribly wrong sometimes. But if two people hit it off and there are no ego hassles and, of course, the two of you can talk sense without going overboard, it can be great to listen to.
ankitkaul: What does the recording studio look like? Does your show go live or is it recorded first and then aired? If it's live, what are the challenges an RJ faces? Thanks Malishka.
Malishka: The recording studio gets painted in the RJ's favourite colours and you can post wild messages on it ;) Naah! It's a sacred place... no chai [tea], coffee allowed. Most of the shows are live, especially the day time shows. The night time shows are sometimes recorded, unless live calls happen. You can tell the difference between the two. Live ka maza kuch aur hi hota hai [Live shows are something else].
shubhas: How do you handle live calls... all that witty talk... cracking jokes on time? Do you regularly read the newspapers and see the news to keep yourself updated on the local news?
Malishka: Very often, necessity is the mother of invention. I've lived with that mantra. Secondly, a live call is about a coupla minutes of on-air fun. Your listener himself will provide content, you just egg 'em on.
sjitu: What type of personality is necessary for one to become an RJ?
Malishka: Being able to speak is, of course, is a necessity. But being able to connect with your listener is not a skill that everyone has. You don't need to be maha chulbuli [very playful] or a melancholy shaayar [poet] either. You just need to be yourself (with a lil tweaking for the listeners' benefit).
amitahuja: How would you rate RJing as a career prospect?
Malishka: If you've got what it takes, it's a good option. The pay packet is not bad either, depending on what slot you host or how good you are or how many listeners you have ;)
amitahuja: Have you ever faced problems from callers during your programme?
Malishka: Ha ha ha... Of course, yaar. Those three-four hours you're on-air are possible problem mines. Anything can happen. You don't have to solve the techie difficulties, but you're responsible for everything else -- from content to on-air goof-ups to listener grievances to gaalis [curses] on-air. The important thing is to handle them well so that you, your listener (and hopefully your boss), have a laugh.
ss: An RJ is born, not made. You don't teach a duck to climb a tree. The charisma is there already. Do you agree?
Malishka: I'll take that as a compliment. Yes, I was always a chatty person but I know lotsa others who are bheegi billis [scared] outside the studio but, on-air, they are something else. It's something you've got to discover about yourself. I never knew I would get so much public acceptance... for which I shall remain ever grateful :)
santoshghosh@rediffmail.com: After Win, where can we hear you?
Malishka: Right now, I'm doing stuff for Rediff Radio. But stay tuned. Kissi na kissi mod par on-air phir mulaaqaat hogi mere humsafar [At some point, we'll meet on-air again].
ronny: Dear Malishka, any plans of switching on to television?
Malishka: Oh finally! Yes, of course, I'd love to do television. Now that Rediff has chapaoed [posted] my pics on the Net :) I don't think I can claim to be faceless anymore. The next step is television, my friend.
ursidds: What kind of warm-up do you do -- if at all you do -- before you go on air... maybe five minutes prior? And what about your chulbule and mastibhare [playful and funny] scripts? Or is it the beauty of spontaneity that makes it chulbule?
Malishka: Mr Sidds, the warm-up I do at Rediff Radio is that I scream at my co-host (he deserves it) before starting. And scripts... we don't write, there's no time. It is, as you put it, the beauty of spontaneity... and some madness thrown in.
sriramakris: Do we need a non-interrupted accent in any language to be an RJ?
Malishka: I'm not clear what you're talking about but you need to know at least one language fluently. If you know more than one, it can only be a bonus. I can't tell you how much fun it is to talk to a listener in his own tongue :0)
iprakash: So what have you planned to attract the US listeners?
Malishka: My pics of course :) Naah, it's the same masti [fun] with a co-host thrown in.
Malishka: Arrrritey, lads and lassies... Was great chatting with you. Sorry, couldn't answer everything, especially the ones about my wonderful looks :). Will try and be back soon. Thanks for missing me. Love ya -- Malishka.
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Photograph: Jewella C Miranda