Each one of us would jump at the opportunity to represent our city and country in any way possible. That’s exactly what Radio Jockey Disha Oberoi did at the recent New York Festival for World’s Best TV & Films. The host of Red FM Bengaluru’s morning show Morning No.1, Disha brought home accolades and a medal for the country and city, with the show’s recent social initiative ‘Bengaluru’s Most Wanted’.
Bagging the bronze medal under the Best Human Interest Story category, the show was an endeavour to felicitate the people of Bengaluru who have been doing selfless work for the city behind the scenes.
Elaborating on the award, Disha says it happens every year in Manhattan with over 30 countries participating from across the globe. “The kick here is as a kid, I’ve always wanted to wear the Indian jersey and play a sport or be a bomber pilot for the Indian Air Force. But I couldn’t do either. So this was the closest I could come to wearing an Indian jersey, putting my country out there and represent.” She adds that this was also a way for people to realise that this is very progressive radio from India. “It’s a bigger playing field. And we have scope to grow.”
For the award, they sent three entries. “One was about a gentleman called Mahadev whose job is to dispose unclaimed dead bodies. The interesting thing is he had his sense of humour intact. He said he’s not scared of dead bodies, but rather scared of the ones who are alive! He was a funny man and he made me feel grateful for my life.” The second was a real-life personal account of a lady who was on the same flight as Neerja Bhanot, the flight crew member who saved hundreds of lives in the Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking in 1986. “The narration by the survivor was of personal interest to me since I was flight crew too,” Disha says. The third was an interview with Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa, the son of Field Marshal General K. M. Cariappa, the first Indian Army Commander-in-Chief.
“K.C. Cariappa was a prisoner of war in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. The head of Pakistan had served under his father. So he called the father and asked if he can send his son back. The General said all the PoWs are his sons and he wanted them all back. He brought out the spirit of our Army. These are all moving stories with strong emotions,” she adds.
Moving on to talking about the show, an animated Disha says: “When people get on radio, they get excited that they have a couple of minutes on air. A good conversation and a good laugh can change your day.” She adds: “Radio is the only medium that is truly and wholly live. It’s as live as you can keep it. The show is exclusive to Bengaluru – we talk primarily about the city. And it’s for everyone. After all you can’t define a typical Bengalurean today. The city has people from everywhere. It comes with the weather, food and the easy life. Bangalore is cosmo and so is the show.”
How much do you let loose on the show? “I am not allowed to be myself a 100 per cent,” replies Disha with a glint of naughtiness in her eyes. “Most of it is me. Only when the listener comes on and I don’t know what they are talking about, I let them take the lead.”
“A lot of my personality gets enhanced by the people I speak to. I’m a sucker for good conversations. And the people who call are fascinating. For instance, a barber who opens his shop at 7 a.m. and his first customer hasn’t yet come, so he calls to say hello. For me, somebody is Hosur in a small dingy shop is connecting with me. Or even a guy in a car who’s upset about potholes and traffic. I get to talk to so many people, I consider myself very lucky.”
When asked to tell her story, Disha gets nostalgic and says she never really planned to be where she is now. “I was flying for an airline as cabin crew. A friend complimented my announcements and said I should give radio a shot. I was on a six-month sabbatical, travelling, so I walked into a radio station and asked if I could do some ads. They agreed and led me to voiceover artiste Niladri Bose. It was an audition for an RJ. He put me in front of a mike and told me to talk about whatever I wanted. So I went nuts. I was surprised when I came out and he said I can take the job. It happened so naturally, I didn’t plan it.” Having moved from Chennai to Bengaluru six years ago and having dabbled in everything from journalism to flight crew and triathlon to squash, the RJ says the show is just like her. “I don’t have a plan for a future, and that’s what’s worked for me and the show.”
“I have the power to give people some of the sweetest memories of their life. Radio is the most personal medium. When a person is listening to me, I am talking to him or her directly - that can be any of the 18 lakh people in the city.”
