Four special programmes started experimentally by AIR Manjeri FM,LRS(Kerala) when the lockdown started have become instant hits with the listeners and continue to attract audience far and wide. All of them are live phone-ins with active listeners' participation. First of them 'Hello Akashvani Veettuvishesham' (News from home) is meant for all sorts of listeners to share their lockdown experiences, opinions and thoughts. The second one is 'Oru Pattu Padam'(You can sing a song) is for talented listeners to sing a song over phone while other listeners evaluate the performance and whatsapp their responses which are broadcast live in between the songs. The third one 'Oru Kadha parayam'(Let's tell a story) is for listeners to present a portion of their favourite literary work over phone while other listeners whatsapp their evaluation. Each listener also contributes live one sentence each to complete a chain story, the first line of which will be supplied by the anchor. The fourth programme , an infotainment one, 'Vachakamela'(Speechfest) is the regional language version of 'Just a Minute', in which listeners are asked to talk continuously for one minute without repetition, hesitation , deviation or mistakes. An English-Malayalam-mix sentence is given to the caller for instant translation also.
Apart from these programmes the station broadcast two health programmes everyday, which are now focussed totally on Covid19 awareness. The morning information programmes of the station include all possible formats and content including career guidance,novel reading, cyber info, kitchen recipes, skits and counselling.
Manjeri FM,the smallest and youngest station in Kerala which was started in 2006 with evening transmission only, gradually increased transmission hours and from 2nd June 2019 onwards has seamless transmission from 5.55am to 11.05pm.
Contributed by :- HOP, AIR ,Manjeri FM, LRS