PHONATION was their identity.
People had once recognised radio jockeys only through their unique tone of voice. Today, in the trend of the growing of number of FM stations, radio jockeys are being promoted not just through their voices but through their faces as well. A few of them have even made it to the celluloid because of their popularity among radio listeners.
Expresso spoke to four popular RJs who are now making waves in Kollywood.
RJ Balaji
Having a passion in writing for cinema, this lad started his career as an RJ. His voice and his style of making people feel close to him landed him as a television presenter for Little Masters, a show for kids on Jaya TV. And that's receiving fan mails,” he says. It was through his music director friend GV Prakash, director Vijay offered him a role in the film Poi Solla Porom. “I never say no to my friends. That's the reason why I accepted the offer, though I didn't have a clue about my role in the film,” he recalls.
For Balaji, it was his belief that one good thing always leads to the other, that also got him an opportunity to be the assistant dialogue writer for the film. Though Balaji has five years of experience in radio, he found dubbing for the film, very challenging. “I wanted to contribute 100 percent for the film. For the actor, looks matter only 50 percent. It is the dubbing that defines your character in the film,” says Balaji who is the cluster head-programming in Hello FM.
Balaji who is now waiting to do more meaningful roles believes that his way of emoting on air has helped him in dubbing for his role in the film. “My way of talking is very natural. It's just like how I talk to everyone. If you don't emote right way, then the character play in a film becomes a failure,” finds Balaji who is also working to succeed as a storyteller and scriptwriter in Kollywood.
RJ Shiva
RJ Shiva is well known not just for his witty talks on air but also for his presence on screen. His success as an RJ landed him in films. Chennai 600028 and Saroja gave him the much deserved recognition for his acting. Shiva, who now presenting Mokka Nights on Radio Mirchi believes that his witty talks on radio, has helped him a great deal in the films. “Because it's the same way I talk on radio too. It is actually easy to act in films than on-air. Also I was trained in theatre groups like Little Theatre and Magic Lantern,” says Shiva. “Though looks also matter for an actor, it is the voice and the creative way of expression that is more important,” he adds.
His success in the previous two films has now got him offers in director SD Sabha’s film 16 and Thirumanam Endra Nikka.
RJ Darbuka Siva
There seems to be an air of spontaneity around him. Moving the air waves every Saturday evening on Radio Mirchi, his voice is as well liked as his drum rolls.
Crisp, clear and down-to-earth.
Darbuka Siva sounds pleased to be on air. Says the percussionist RJ, “RJing is a small part of acting.
It's about acting with your voice. What one needs to be a good RJ is spontaneity.” Then he quickly points out, “Being on screen is a totally different thing. It's a sphere I am just stepping into. I don't think I can talk in-depth about its technicalities.” Darbuka Siva, along with his Mirchi colleague Shiva has ventured into the acting scene, with the former’s first movie, 16, directed by SD Sabha. “The producers thought we had a good chemistry. We are good friends in real life. So they put us together,” he says.
About RJs adorning the acting robe, Siva says, “There might be RJs who are good actors. But I know a lot of hosts who are scared to be in front of the camera though they are the smoothest talkers on air.”
RJ Suchitra
RJ Suchitra, popularly known as RJ Suchi stole many hearts with her chirpy voice in the morning shows. The liveliness of her tone got her chances to sing for Tamil films. But singing for music directors was nothing new for the RJ from Radio One. “I sang for many jingles for music director Harris Jayaraj when I was working in an IT company,” says Suchi who presents the Good Morning show.
Though her first song was for the film Lovers, the backing vocals for the song Uyirin Uyire in the film Khaka Khaka is what made many recognise her voice. Her balancing act in both radio and playback singing got her opportunity to perform before the camera.
Suchi played the role of a radio presenter scene in the film Jay Ja y. The RJ who’s waiting for more powerful roles to play in Kollywood feels that it was her experience in radio that helped her play the small roles with ease.
“RJs have an outgoing personality.
Their genuine talk has loads of wit. This makes it easy for them to emote on-screen as well,” she says, adding that looks also matter not just to become an actor but to be even a radio jockey. “Because these days, even radio jockeys are being photographed. They can't be looking frumpy in a picture,” she says.
expresso@epmltd.com