FM Channels – Frequent Mokkais

As a two wheeler rider, sometimes when there’s a long drive or traffic jams while back home, I have this habit of listening to the FM from my mobile.

Few days back, after a tiring day, when I was going back home, got struck in a heavy traffic jam around 7.30 pm in the evening. I was in Kotturpuram and could see the traffic is fully jammed upto the Gandhi Mandapam Signal and from there till Halda Junction.

The whole traffic was inching very slowly and obviously I was breathing the smoke from various vehicles around. Thought I could listen to some FM channel so that I can forget the world for sometime. Now the traffic came to a halt and I switched off my bike and kept my FM on.

Wow… what an experience!!

The first song I listened was Vaji Vaji from Sivaji…. I wasn’t in a mood to listen to such numbers… ok. next channel… ‘Kumbuda Pona Deivam’. Full kuthu song. Even the noise of the vehicles outside was better to listen….

Next channel aired some song. I just was not able to follow the song. All I could understand is that it was a female voice. Out of curiosity I just increased the volume to listen those historic lyrics, beyond that noisy orchestration.

Yeah…I finally was able to catch the first line of the song after few minutes. And it was “Saturday Partykku Polam Variya”. Fortunately Kannadasan is no more to listen to such great lyrics.

Cursing my fate, I moved on to the next channel. Heard a track which resembled the one I liked the most in my child hood days. It was ‘My name is Billa’ with excellent rendering by SPB. And before I could be happy, I realized that it was a remix for the new ‘Billa’, by Ajith. Thanks to the Music Director (Yuvan.. I think). Sorry Yuvan … am not for those remixes where the originality is spoiled and the whole song is filled with noisy instrumentation and so called Englishy words in between.

As there are many more channels on choice, I thought I could still get some better numbers to listen… moved on to another channel.

BTW now traffic made me float till Gandhi Mandapam Signal. And my bike is switched off again coz of the long halt.

Listened to one of the great ‘Call in’ show where listeners call up and answer to the Radio Jockey’s question of the day. The question of the day was ‘If the crow can be renamed what would be your choice for the name?’

A listener called up. Usual courtesies like, ‘Hello! Mr.Gopal. How are you?’ etc., were exchanged (as if they know each other for years!!).

Caller suggested that the RJ’s name can fit in well for the crow and he gave some reason for it. RJ thanked him for the crazy idea and the caller thanked the RJ.

Caller also said that, he has been trying to talk in the show and he could never get through the line in the past. And he was so happy that he could get through on the day. Also he wanted to dedicate one of his favorite songs to his wife, friend (2-3 names), his cousin in Ambattur, another sister in Tambaram etc.,

Enna Kodumai Saar Idhu?!?!

Don’t know who found this concept of dedicating a song. No patience…. I just skipped and went on to listen to the next channel.

Now I could listen to one of the most innovative program on air where lakhs of people are listening. The callers have to call the given number and can discuss their personal problems (mostly love problems), secret affairs, love failures etc. The RJ tries to give solution to your problem and also pacifies you. What a wonderful innovation to happen on air? And people are there to call up and talk about their secret (?!?!) affairs to get counseling from RJs. Wonderful world!!!!

Next channel aired a great song with ample creativity. A husky female voice was singing “Selai Maatrum Bodhu Imsai Panna Vaada”. The traffic Imsai was better than this song.

Moved on to the next FM from ‘All India Radio’. Came across a wonderful song “Thedinen Vandhadhu” a good old classic.

Now the traffic started moving slowly. Thanks to City Traffic Police. After atleast 20 minutes they could do some damage control for the traffic to move freely.

Next song was ‘Yaaradi Nee Mogini’ from ‘Uthamaputhiran’. I could recollect the song, situation, Sivaji’s dance, everything as a whole, while listening. (Kudos to AIR)

Unfortunately, the fact is, in recent times, many of the Composers never mind the quality of the song. The directors are least bothered to create some great situations, where the song will fit in perfectly to move the story further.

Most of the lyricists never hesitate to write those filthy lines with the fear of missing those just some thousands.

Forget me. If anyone driving a car with family (irrespective of their cultural background) would like to listen to a song like “Selai Matrumbodhu” or noisy numbers like “Kumbuda Pona Deivam” etc.?

I couldn’t understand how they convince the advertisers who are spending their plenty of money on these channels for airing their ads.

And whom do they think as their listeners? Anyone on a drive would always love to listen to some good melodies or some super hit songs, whether it’s new or old one. But FMs always think that only if they play the brand new song, they would be listened. (Exception: All India Radio)

The best part is the wonderful melodies are aired by all the FM channels after 9 pm where everyone is busy with their TV into serials or news or something else.

Onnume Puriyaley…. Ulagathiley!!!