Punjabi Antenna
Master of all trades
Randeep Wadehra

Radha Sahni is blessed with a charming screen presence and excellent communication skills

Sometimes one has to resort to the clich`E9d she-needs-no-introduction line in order to describe a noted media personality. Radha Sahni, who is well known among Punjabi TV aficionados, is one such. Personally acclaimed by the then President Abdul Kalam for her feature on Punjab’s water scenario, which she had done for Doordarshan, Sahni’s portfolio has been both eclectic and exciting.

Blessed with a charming screen presence — the camera apparently loves her — and excellent communication skills, Sahni is a much-in-demand voiceover artiste for various TV commercials and other productions. A postgraduate in mass communications and journalism, she has also done PGDCA.

After a couple of years’ stint as Punjab Today’s staff correspondent (later on, she had also become the channel’s anchor and production assistant), she joined Doordarshan Punjabi as host for Roz Savere, a precursor to the present Sajjri Saver. Thence she went on to become producer and director of the renowned Bulandiyan — serialised biopics on Punjab’s achievers in various fields. She, thus, carved out a respectable niche for herself.

Radha Sahni has impacted the world of radio, too. Apart from lending her voice to All India Radio’s various advertisements, she has been anchor/radio jockey for AIR FM Rainbow 102.7 MHZ. She has done radio shows like Mashwara, Good Morning Punjab, Rainbow Dial Out, Antakshari, FM Roadshow etc. Presently, she is with PTC News as anchor for live news bulletins, Hello PTC Punjabi and different special shows.

Smart and sophisticated, Radha Sahni is destined to go places.

Doordarshan, Jalandhar, has quite a few interesting but unheralded programmes. For example, in its Mehfil slot on the morning of August 28, one came across the narration of Punjab’s history — the period pertained to Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign. Such educative shows ought to be assiduously promoted by the channel. Another is Ravayati Sangeet, which comes up with variegated themes in its different episodes.

On August 29 the theme was Heer, and one was regaled by Barkat Sidhu’s rendering that articulated Ranjha’s yearning for his beloved. Sublime stuff. Such shows should be telecast in late evenings in order to reach out to a larger audience.

Politicians will be politicians. When on TV they seldom let go of an opportunity to indulge in blame-game, reminding one of quarrelling kids. Only, a politico’s blame-game has far more serious repercussions for society at large, something that is not being realised in Punjab. This was clear on PTC News channel’s Masle on August 29.

At issue were the results of recent byelections to the Punjab Assembly. Instead of enlightening the viewers about their respective takes on the byelections results, the invited guests — Daljeet Cheema (SAD), Harjit Grewal (BJP) and CDS Kamboh (INC) — kept on harking away on matters that were patently irrelevant to the bye-polls or their aftermath. Graham Staines and his sons’ murder by the Bajrang Dal’s Dara Singh, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots etc were bandied about with the sole aim of escaping the real issues like chronic and acute power shortage in Punjab.

Challenges of governance, too, got a short shrift. Ritesh Lakhi should consider bringing in non-political and non-partisan intellectuals (these do exist even today, believe me) to discuss issues of import. Our politicos are, intellectually, too negligent to rise above petty politics and chicanery.

Finally, a word about the on-field television journalists. They are doing a good job. If Daljit Singh catches officials stealing electricity to provide power to semi-official functions in Mohali/Chandigarh and, later on, asks uncomfortable questions, then Rajesh Inderpal captures a lovely model slipping and falling onto the floor while pirouetting during the mandatory catwalk at a fashion show in Ludhiana. Corruption, avarice and mismanagement are obviously ubiquitous. Mercifully, the media hasn’t given up fighting them, as yet.