Papiha Nandy founded Lead in Heels to umbrella her 35+ years of ongoing projects focused on social advancements for women through building a support system for victims of domestic and gender violence, for NGOs dedicated to work for the betterment of women and children, for activists committed to bringing about social justice, and for women and girls to have access to means for financial independence, education, and health. An award-winning Radio Host & TV Producer, advocating for women’s rights and protections has been at the forefront of her humanitarian efforts across U.S. communities and abroad. Papiha Nandy is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Papiha Nandy Broadcasting Company. PNBC produces Tv Shows and radio programmes for South Asia and Indian subcontinent. Papiha’s name is synonymous with trustworthiness, compassion, empathy, and justice. She has led and supported grass-roots efforts for numerous non-profit organizations and is known throughout communities as a safe-haven and means to resources.
In an exclusive interview with Nitish Raj; Editor-in-Chief, Today Magazine Papiha Nandy talks about the entertainment industry of USA along with tv shows and radio programs produced for Indian subcontinent.
Q.1: Even after having a postgraduate degree in science, why did you choose a career in broadcasting journalism?
PN: I was pursuing medicine and was studying for my PMT (Pre-Medical Test) when I got an auto-immune disease which made me quite sick and for few months I was off-tracked from the main course which I wanted to follow to become a doctor. I realized that I will not be able to follow my dreams because of my health condition and took a route which was less stressful to my body. So, I changed my course of studies and got into Journalism and Media Management.
Q.2: How much entertainment industry in USA is different from the entertainment industry in India?
PN: The entertainment industries in India and the United States differ in production and distribution systems. Bollywood produces a large number of films annually with relatively lower budgets than Hollywood. Hollywood, on the other hand, produces high-budget films with a highly organized global distribution system.
Q.3: What is the major difference between radio and television, both being two distinct categories of journalism apart from the visual appeal of television?
PN: Radio and television are both media used to convey information and entertainment to audiences. The main difference between the two is that radio uses primarily audio, while television uses a combination of audio and visual elements. Televisions have screens that display visual images, while radios rely solely on audio. Radios require listeners to use their imagination, such as for radio dramas, whereas televisions provide both audio and visual content. Overall, both radio and television are useful for relaxing and learning. When it comes to content, radio typically focuses on music and talk shows, while TV covers a wide range of content, including news, sports, dramas, comedies, and documentaries. And if you look at the audience, TV broadcasting is watched by a large, diverse audience, while radio broadcasting is typically listened to in the background. There are some advantages of radio and that is you can do multitasking while listening to radio. People can work, drive, or do something else while listening. TV requires almost full attention from the viewer. When it comes to the cost factor, radio spots are less expensive than TV placement, and they are often sold in packages of a certain number of spots in a rotation. Also, if you study about its reach then according to recent Nielsen research, radio has the most reach among American media consumers, with 93% of adults listening to the radio each week, compared to 87% who watch TV.
Q.4: You have produced two television shows: Salaam Namaste and Ekla Cholo Re. What was the motivation behind creating both shows?
PN: I produce total 3 television shows. Salaam Namaste, Lifestyles and Ekla Cholo Re. Salaam Namaste is more of an entertainment show featuring popular Hindi film songs. It presents some of the most popular and melodious songs from Bollywood movies. This show is immensely popular amongst my viewers because it does not require them to sit at one place and to listen carefully to what is being aired instead they can still move around and listen to the entertainment section by listening and enjoying the melodious songs. This program is for the whole family, so the family come together to watch it and enjoy the light entertainment. Lifestyles With Papiha is a TV program which showcases the hottest trends in fashion, food, travel, technology, and more. One of my most popular talk show is 'Walk Alone-Ekla Cholo Re' which focuses on women empowerment and social reform.
Q.5: You have created a Radio Show; Ghungroo which focuses on Bollywood news and gossip. Are your listeners going to hear news and gossips of other movie industries of India?
PN: In my shows Ghungroo and Rimjhim, I only cover Bollywood news, gossips, and happenings. My shows include many segments which the NRIs would love to hear. In these shows I have Bollywood gossip as well as there is a segment called the "Papiha’s Corner". This deals with day today’s topic of concern and many other interesting topics which directly affects us as a community.
Q.6: How tough is it to run a successful TV and Radio Show based on India and South-East Asia in USA which already has a giant like Hollywood which produce almost every type of shows?
PN: There is absolutely no comparison between the two. By the way Hollywood does not produce any India TV shows of which I have heard. The Indian shows are exceedingly negligible compared to the Hollywood shows which only produces shows with English as their language but mine are in Hindi or more like Hinglish with a mix of Hindi and English. It is easy to understand. My target audience are the NRIs who wait for Saturday and Sunday to listen to Hindi shows. The popularity amongst The Indian, Pakistani, Fijian, Bangladeshis, Afghanistanis is unbeatable. My TV shows are mainly for our people and Indians in the American subcontinent is huge.
Q.7: Are we going to witness a brand-new show in the upcoming future by PNBC?
PN: Not now as the TV shows which I am producing covers almost every subject an Indian or a NRI will be interested in. I am already giving them what they want.
Q.8: What would be your advice to the young students who want to carve a career in broadcasting journalism?
PN: My advice will be to jump on it! To have a career in broadcasting journalism is extremely exciting. It can be stressful but if you have the passion to succeed in it and enjoy doing it then no one can stop you. A journalism degree can prepare you for several professional paths, including a career in journalism. In journalism, you can be creative, develop strong research skills and work on exciting projects. Your journalism degree may lead to careers that allow you to travel, meet new people and produce meaningful work.
