After spending more than 19 years in the FM industry, 92.7 BIG FM’s RJ Khurafati Nitin feels, that the role of RJs in India is more than an entertainer and that is what he is trying to do with his CSR activities. In an exclusive chat with TMM, India’s most favourite RJ talked about his struggles, learning and why he thinks that life is the biggest teacher.
Khurafati King
I was a very notorious kid and my mother used to call me ‘Khurafati’. At that age, I used to feel that it’s a word of appreciation. Later, as I grew up, I realised that I was living in an illusion. Much later, as I became an RJ and started the concept of making prank calls, I realised that the word ‘Khurafati, suited my persona and with time, it actually became my identity. Today, from my business card to bank account, everywhere it is ‘Khurafati Nitin’.
CSR Call
I was working for a radio station and things were coming to an end. I lost the job and was unemployed for a good 6 months. At that time, I and my brother used to sell samosa on a stall in Gurugram (then Gurgaon). That particular phase was a learning lesson and God’s sign to tell me that the struggle you are facing for a while is actually a lifestyle for many out there. It was the time I realised that life is the biggest teacher. Once things shaped up and I got a new job, I decided to give it back to society through CSR activities. Initially, the entire team at the radio station made fun of me, but later, the success of ‘Ambulance First’ spoke for itself and the power of radio as a medium. I started the campaign and urged Delhi, pledging with them that “I, Khurafati Nitin pledge to always move my car to the left, the moment I hear an ambulance’s siren”. Later, the biggest campaign I did was ‘Barbaadi Bandh’. It is an ongoing campaign under which we feed 5 lacks homeless people every month in Delhi/NCR. So I guess CSR is a two-way process, where you do something for the needy and it comes back to you in some way or the other. I feel it’s the need of the hour that all the radio channels should make an effort towards CSR.
Reality Check
When it comes to audience, we need to accept the fact that they know it all. This reminds me of Rajesh Khanna’s song, “Ye public hai, sab janti hai”. In this digital world, these lines are coming true. We as professionals need to accept the fact that change is only constant and it is important to evolve with time to serve the best to your audience. As far as the change is concerned, the digital social media world has become like a podium, where everyone is opinionated and that is where we as RJs play the key role of balancing it out and perform our responsibility of guiding th masses in the right direction. All this makes me feel that FMs are actually a public station and not a private station because it’s the public who makes it us stand where we are. The day people stop listening to us, it’s the end.
Influencer Insight
Yes, to a large extent I am the voice of the public, but ironically at times, it becomes a mess for me too. There have been instances when I felt the need to raise my voice against the issues and I have done it via my show or YouTube channel. And then, I have been trolled like anything. So, I feel that being the voice of others has its own pros and cons. For me, as a professional, it is important to raise voice against things that are not right and I keep doing the same.
The nineties versus millennium
For me, music means songs of the 80s and 90s. And when it comes to work, I love playing these songs because I can relate, enjoy and sing along while entertaining my audience. Having said that, it never means that I am not a fan of new age songs. I am a fan of Amit Trivedi and Arijit Singh, but there is some magic in the songs of 90s that excites me and I feel connected.
Talent Pool
Thanks to Big FM and many other platforms that organize talent hunts, there is no dearth of talent in India. The big concern is that these talents don’t sustain because they never get the opportunity. I agree that factors like nepotism exists, but we need to understand that we live in a democratic country and every one has its own way of working. I feel that the need of the hour is to generate enough opportunities for such a pool of talent so that their hard work gets their dues.
Favourite recent song: Aankh Marey (Simmba)
Social media to you is: A sea where you get lost
A song that describes you: Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya
Favourite food: Sushi
A destination you wish to explore: Great Himalayan National Park
A dream yet to come: Run my own radio station
Khurafati King, Your biggest fan moment: When a girl observed Karva Chauth fast for me
A concern that needs immediate attention: Hunger
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