In “Are you listening?” (Business Standard Weekend, October 9), Vanita Kohli-Khandekar talks about radio stations, their reach and the listeners’ reactions. Surprisingly, she has made no mention of All India Radio (AIR), which has two FM channels, 100.7 and 107.1 in Mumbai. AIR is India’s oldest radio station and has a wide reach and coverage all over India.
AIR channels have a distinctive style and the quality songs that are played there are now aped by private radio stations under the nomenclature of “retro music”. It also runs public service messages on the evils of speeding, safe investments, blood donations, etc.
Considering the article did not merit even a single reference to AIR, one is constrained to note that it is entirely an effort comprising time spent in the offices of private radio channels and using material and data supplied by them. Hence we are fed lines like “Mirchi is a sunshine brand” — whatever that means!
Rajagopal, Thane
