MUMBAI: She is fun, entertaining and energetic - all that one could wish for a heady conversation.  Fever FM’s ‘One On One’ show anchor, RJ Alleyah is a bundle of energy and infectious enthusiasm. Little wonder then that her show recently spread its wings beyond the city of dreams, Mumbai. Currently, it is available in seven cities in Uttar Pradesh and the RJ is on cloud nine.

In conversation with Radioandmusic.com, the RJ talks about her journey and her recent achievements. Excerpts.

Tell us a bit about your journey in the entertainment /radio industry?

Radio happened just like an arranged marriage. I was very new to the medium, had only heard it before I joined, and they thought my voice a good fit. My journey from being an avid listener of this medium to working with the people I grew up listening to has been incredible. I remember when Vinay Manek, who was then national programming head, hired me at Fever Delhi, and I told him during the interview, ‘Hey! I am the girl who used to call on your request show every evening!’

It’s been a decade or more, and every day, I still cherish the fact that I landed up here because this was the most unplanned career choice, yet something that I think I was tailor-made for. I was studying economics back then and wanted to do my M.Phil. , but God had other plans for me. 

How has your show on Fever FM evolved over time?

My show started in February 2015, when I discussed the concept with my programming heads. I wanted to do a complete request based show which no one is doing currently. You know the first thing people say, ‘Radio Pe Mera Gaana Suna Dijiye’? My whole intent was to bring back that old world charm - talk less, play more music, take names of everyone who is sending messages.

Initially, it took time to grow on listeners as I wasn’t talking about their love problems or giving out advice - things they expect from a late night show. But after three months, they figured out that this show was all about dedicating songs, talking about music and yes, at times talking to each other, showing love etc. Only then, people started dedicating songs to each other, all of the ‘roothna manana’, long drive requests started pouring in. But the maximum people who listen to me are students, who play radio in the background while preparing for their exams.

Now after one and a half years, I decided to dedicate a FB Page and a twitter handle for the show. We have some 20,000 followers who send us requests there.

When was it decided to take your show to other cities as well?

The decision was taken during the planning of the third phase itself. Fever FM expanded in Uttar Pradesh (seven cities) and Hyderabad too. I hail from north India and have been on air in those cities before, so they found my show to be a great fit for the late night time band. This was completely my chief programming officer Gaurav Sharma’s idea. He just told me one day, ‘Let’s rock and roll in UP!’

I was absolutely overwhelmed as I would be on air again in that market after six years. It’s too early to quote listeners' reactions as we have just launched, but a lot of my old listeners from UP have already started connecting with me and I hope it works well there too.

Does it also mean a larger fan base?

I would say a yes. But I wouldn’t want to categorise them as fans. Listeners are an equal part of the show, so they are my companions, not fans. I don’t like this word somehow.

I would put up a great show if it's two, twenty or two lakh people tuned in, everyone counts, and off course, the more the merrier.

Earlier radio was considered a local medium. But with shows being taken to more than one city, has the idea changed?

Our zeal for innovation led to the creation of shows like Ramayana, Gandhi, the Entertainment Ka Baap Awards and so much more. These properties played out nationally and did extremely well. Creating content or shows that have the flavour/bandwidth to play across the country, why not?

My show plays out every night in UP and Hyderabad, but they also have their own local RJs hosting the drive time shows. It's just that an Alleyah or an Anuraag Pandey bring that extra zing to the station’s sound.

I also read local messages; celebrate local festivals, which is always doable!

How responsible are you for the content that airs on your show?

I have a full-time producer, Malika who works really hard in collating messages that come from all cities. Trust me, it’s not an easy job, to read thousands of lengthy messages every day and sort them.

But the whole process of selecting final texts to making the playlist is something that I am very involved in. There is no script, these texts are my entire show.

Where do you see yourself a few years down the line? 

Ah! That’s a question I always want to dodge because I don’t know, I am such a ‘Khanabadosh’ person; really don’t know.

Radio is no more just a voice playing in a box. It is spreading its wings by tying up with different properties, events, movies etc. Is this the need of the hour? 

Radio has become an integral part of everything happening around us, from movies to events. It’s great that we are expanding. That’s the power of our medium today; people want to collaborate with us to promote their content, makes me happy as a community. 

A few years ago radio was more about music, but now we have more ads. What is your take on it as a listener and an RJ? 

Well, it’s a free medium, that’s the only way we earn.

I listen to radio in the night, have mostly heard more songs, less ads (winks).