Radio, Women, and Me

When the morning bells ring at 6'o clock with the TikTok of the big winding clock that adorned the drawing room we hear our father calling us to wake up and be ready with for the day. Along with that we hear the adjustment of the nob of the big radio kept in the tall tripod radio stand. Because it was the AM (Amplitude Modulation)era and there was much difficulty to get the sounds clear especially if there were any clouds or disturbances in the atmosphere. The sounds get clearer with the iconic signature tune that represented All India Radio composed by Walter Kaufman. Then comes "Vante Mataram',a small briefing up of news and the bhajans, mostly lead by Lata Mangeshkar's "Meera Bhajans". And this used to be our daily routines on an era where radio broadcasting ruled as the primary media till the 1980s.

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Everyday life - the games, the goodness, the cheer, the songs whether in Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, English, Tamil or Malayalam - all were equally accepted and relished as the part of our lives.  Everything spined around this electronic medium with 2 nobs. I remember praying to almighty in all my naive innocence not to make any hindrance like rain, clouds, thunder or power cut to hamper the film song time which were rare programs that lasted only for 1hour. The whole schedule of the radio programs were announced and prompted by the RJs who were the personal favorites of the time. The news readers, announcers, specialist RJs, were all loved and liked by the listeners who felt them to be a part of our household. Their sounds mesmerized us. We can call those years the golden age of radio. 

Reading about radio history today shows how deeply this medium shaped society. Radio became a tool of political communication, social awareness, empowerment, and cultural unity. In a time when cinema and newspapers were the only other major media, stations like BBC and Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation broadened listeners’ worlds far beyond their physical surroundings.
Among these cultural shifts, the representation of women on radio is particularly striking. In the early decades of broadcasting, female voices were often considered “unsuitable” for the airwaves, and many women worked only behind the scenes. Sheila Borrett’s experience at the BBC in 1933 is a powerful example — she became the first woman announcer, but was removed from her role after only three months due to listener complaints claiming that women’s voices did not “sound right” on radio. In the United States, Mary Margaret McBride broke through this prejudice in 1937, hosting hugely popular interview programs that proved audiences were eager to hear women lead serious conversations. And Edythe Meserand paved the way not just as a broadcaster but also as one of the first women to lead radio newsrooms, shaping the way news documentaries were produced. These pioneers — later joined by influential voices like Annie Nightingale at BBC Radio 1, who championed new music and youth culture from 1970 onward — demonstrated how compelling, authoritative, and imaginative female broadcasting could be. Their determination transformed radio into a more inclusive medium, opening the soundscape to women’s stories, perspectives, and personalities.
In India, the legacy of women in radio began taking shape as early as the mid-20th century, when pioneering broadcasters first entered a space dominated by male voices. Saeeda Bano became the first professional woman newsreader on All India Radio in Urdu, breaking convention simply by being heard. Around the same time, Lotika Ratnam and Neena Singh emerged as recognisable and trusted voices across Indian households, helping to establish AIR’s reputation for clarity and authority. In the following decades, prominent cultural figures like Asha Parekh lent further appeal to the medium through popular programs that reached millions.
Kerala too saw its own trailblazers. Indira Joseph Venniyoor became the state’s first woman English newsreader, marking a significant step at a time when women’s public voices were still rare. Broadcasters like S. Saraswathi Amma expanded the scope of radio through programs centered on women’s lives and creative expression, ensuring that women’s perspectives were not just heard but valued. Later, figures such as Sushama Vijayalakshmi became beloved by listeners for their distinctive presence and engaging styles, solidifying women’s place at the heart of Kerala’s radio culture.
With the rise of FM broadcasting, opportunities for women expanded even further. Today, female RJs drive audience engagement through interactive formats that were unimaginable decades ago. Indian radio has celebrated voices like Maliksha Sayema, Meenakshi, Nisha Disha Oberoi, Pooja, Smitha, and Neha—and in Kerala, names such as Asalatha, Thennal, Nina, and Neha have strong fan bases across major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Kochi. Today, RJs like Ambika Krishna, Neena, and Renu continue this tradition with their positivity and strong on-air presence.
From the crackling AM sets of the past to today’s interactive FM platforms, female radio voices have shaped the medium’s identity. Today, as radio moves from AM and FM to digital streaming, podcasts, and interactive audio, its place in the media landscape is being reshaped. Once a central source of news and cultural connection, radio now leans more toward entertainment and niche listening, reflecting the demands of a fast, fragmented world. Yet this shift has not weakened the medium — it has pushed radio to evolve. Broadcasters, producers, and technology innovators have adapted formats and platforms to keep listeners engaged across phones, cars, and smart devices.
Community radio stations continue to play a vital role, especially in regions where the internet is limited, while digital audio brings new audiences and voices into the fold. Women have been a significant part of this transformation — leading storytelling, music programming, community initiatives, and socially engaged content. Rather than fading away, radio has reinvented itself: surviving the era of television and social media by remaining flexible, human, and deeply connected to everyday life.
Written by Meena S., and edited by Janaky S.