MUMBAI: A music loving electronics engineer, Ananta ... has been a radio jockey for a decade now. RJ Ananta is a successful programming head and RJ with Big FM Delhi, and wants to be an RJ forever. The four hours when he is on air are the best part of his day, he says.

How did your journey to becoming an RJ begin?

I have been listening to radio and writing scripts since my school days. After my graduation, I realised there are too many engineers around, but not as many RJs. Something that will pay me to talk and listen to music! I realised that nothing was better then being an RJ.

You are also the programming head of Big FM Delhi. For how long have you been associated with Big FM?

I have been associated with Big FM for the past three months. I took a break for two years and went to Dubai, did some Hindi radio there for a channel that was part of the Radio Asian Network and now I am back with Big FM.

Your conversations as an RJ on Big FM are very edgy. Do you try and keep a guard on your tongue? Is there a fear of crossing the line in 'Gupt Arth' or 'Don't ask Ananta'?

You can be edgy in an intelligent manner. If you are in a car with your uncle, you will be uncomfortable listening to me. But I should be able to make you smile in your mind, you should know what I am talking about and basically you understand things which are unsaid. If you understand me, it's good. If not, it is just some boring conversation for you.

What were your career goals before your turned RJ? If you had not been an RJ, what would you have been?

If not an RJ, I would have been a taxi driver or maybe a ladies' tailor at Lajpat Nagar Market (laughs). These were my two goals when I was a kid. Not an engineer definitely, because I feel there are better engineers then I, so why do something one is not good at?

What role has music played in your life?

I will not say diplomatic things like 'it is a universal language'. Music is something one can experiment with. It is similar to reading a good book which you can read any time and every time, you learn something new from it. It is the same with music for me. This is why I play a guitar - it give me lots of time to experiment.

You have been an RJ for a decade now...

Being a full time RJ is something I want to do as long as I can. The four hours of my day while being on air are the best part of my life.

Radio is no more about only playing music but is also a commercial medium . What do you have to say as a listener, RJ and programming head?

I have asked the same question to many of my listeners who have visited the studio. They say ads are necessary because that is how we earn. From the perspective of a programming head, it depends how I programme the show, without making the audience suffer from fatigue.

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

In 2018 ( giggles). I would like keep doing the show with increment in two years. Everyday I come I do my work and I leave , this is what I like and so I have not really planned as how I wish to see myself as. But yes surely I would love Keep doing my present activity for a long run.

What kind of audience you have been attracted?

My audience varies in the 20s to 40s age group, basically people who are young at heart because you know my show is a little naughty, so they are the ones who like it.

How are you living up to the tagline 'Big FM Sunte Hi Pyaar Hojaye'?

Here I am given a licence to romance. It’s a different story that I try and romance with people outside the studio but they are already busy with someone else(laughs). I do like talking about love and relationships.

Are you still in the trial and error phase with Big FM programming? how much has changed since the Delhi station revamp?

The programming has gone through a good change. All our programmes come under the umbrella ‘Sunte Hi Pyaar Hojaye' and it is doing well. The romance here I talk about is trending and naughty, not like the old ‘gulab’ type romance.