Enkayaar, Bollywood Trade News Network

There is this old song from the famous pop band Carpenters, which eulogizes the virtues of RADIO to use it as a tool to address the beloved. Ishan Trivedi's RADIO seems to be the first attempt in the Indian cinematic history that is situating the popularity of RADIO in its modern avatar all over the country, into a cinematic oeuvre. To underline the importance of RADIO in our daily lives, may be, a famous face was not chosen, but a voice in the form of Himesh Reshamiya was chosen to play the lead role, as it is his voice that has captivated a generation of nation more than his face. Himesh's voice is his signature tune, and there could not have been a perfect platform than a RADIO to accentuate it.

It indeed is one of the apparent paradoxes that though we as a nation have got such a strong affinity towards RADIO, RADIO has not been used as a theme to develop it into a full-length movie. The paradox becomes more so apparent when one views it from the context that most of the stars of the Black and White era were associated with RADIO in one form or the other. Could it have got something to do with the fact that one of the biggest icons of our times, Big B who has cultivated audience and frenzied fan following on account of his sonorous voice was not fit enough to be a part of the RADIO world as his voice was not found suitable.

Great service to RADIO through Hindi films was done in a big way with BARSAAT KI RAAT of the Black and White era, which underlined the importance of RADIO in our lives. The famous Quawali of the film "Na to caravan ki talash hai", when broadcasted on the RADIO had brought out Madhubala from her home into the mehfil of her lover, Bharat Bhushan. In the same manner the virtues of RADIO were utilized in a big way in the climax song of HINDUSTAN KI KASAM where RADIO was used to convey a secret message to the hero of the film Raj Kumar. Among the current crop of directors Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra used RADIO in a very profound manner in his epic film RANG DE BASANTI, where RADIO was used as the veritable tool building up to the climax. It was probably for the first time in recent memory where inside of the RADIO station was shown in stark detail. Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra revisited the charm of RADIO in DELHI 6 where it was symptomatic of the importance that it had as a binding element for whole of the family, a kind of patriarchal symbolism, manifest from the scene where a crisis engulfs the family the RADIO starts working, signifying its value as the binding element of the family, as it used to happen during the old times.

Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi had said that he views Radio as a source of power, power to communicate, to inform and entertain. When RADIO releases in the theatres it is hoped that a part of Gandhi's wish would be realized.