Ads and repeated music on one Tamil radio station

I listen to a local Tamil radio station quite a bit. It is known as THR Raaga and I am absolutely sickened by the advertisements aired in this radio and their repeated songs playlist.

Now, for the advertisements; two advertisements about sarees sold at one famous Indian textile shop and its offshoots really evokes the T-rex in me; I'm not kidding here.

First up, a guy comes to the ceremonious ritual of seeing a potential bride. The girl's mother would go, "Maapilai vere yaaro pere soldrare." (Groom is saying someone else's name.) Another lady, presumably younger, would answer the lady, "Ponnu kattirukke saree Gayathri Pattu Maaligai le eduththuthu ille? Athele mayanggi Gayathri, Gayathri nu soldraru." (The saree the girl is wearing is from Gayathri Textiles isn't it? So, enamoured by the saree, he is saying Gayathri, Gayathri.) The older lady, in a disappointed tone would ask, "Appo maapilaieh mayakunuthu ponnu illeya? (Then the groom is not enarmoured by the bride?) And, the younger lady would say, "Ille, ponnu kattirikke Gayathri pattu silei." (No, the saree from Gayathri textile shop.) Next, the guy would gush, "Epdiyo, kalyanam eh venam nu sonne enneku Gayathri pattu silei eduthu katti mayakitingee." (However, I was saying I don't want marriage but by the saree the girl is wearing which is from Gayathri textile shop, you folks enchanted me.) WTF? The girl only has credit for the ensemble she is sporting? That is her only value? Don't her character, qualifications, accomplisments, capability, capacity and potential matter? The ad simply demeans women.

Another ad is also the promoting of Gayathri textille shop. This one is even sillier. A maiden stormily says, "Ennukku inthe kalyanam pudikileh!!" (I dislike this marriage!!) Another girl would whisper, "Avalukku inthe kalyanathile ishtam ille.." (She is not interested in this marriage.) Then her mother would say, "Atho varale, pattu pudavaile en ponnu evlo azhaga irukka.." (Here she comes, my daughter is so beautiful in silk saree.) The younger girl goes, "Hey, pudikileh nu sonneh.." (Hey, you said you dislike it..) Then, the bride to be gushes, "Ama, aana inthe pattu pudavaiyeh paarthathum en manasu maariduchu. Inthe silei yum pudichirukku, Gayathri pattu maaligai yil sile eduthe avarayum pudichirukku." (Yes, but I changed my mind after seeing this silk saree. I like this saree and also him who bought this saree from Gayathri textile shop.) The younger girl quips, "Unnode manam maatram ku kaaranam inthe pattu silei thane?" (This saree changed your mind isn't it?) The bride retorts, "Gayathri pattu podeve nu sollu! Nichiarthartham eh vendam, straight ah thali eh kattu nu sollu.." (Say that it is a saree from Gayathri textile shop! No need for engagemant, tell him to marry me right away..) This ad stereotypes women to be bimbos and airheads. Never will you see this kind of stupidity elsewhere. A girl agreeing for marriage just because she likes the saree a potential suitor presents her. I just can't digest this! DAFUQ!!

There was another advertisement for Sea Gold tea but it is no longer aired thankfully. That advertisement bags the award for 'The Dumbest Advertisement of the Century'. It was so stupid and I used to lose my cool each time I heard it; it was such an ear sore. And another one is for Fruity Mango Juice. Equally dumb or dumber.

Almost all ads on THR Raaga are either borderline dumb or borderline revulsion. So, why do I listen to it? I like the way the disc jockeys' way of conducting the allocated programmes but I stop at listening. I don't give a ring to the people behind the voice. A waste of time and prepaid credit balance as far as I am convinced

You might say that there is an alternative in the form of  Minnal FM but it never failed to make me fall asleep with the DJs' torpid way of presenting, not to mention it being a tool for governmental proganda. I am already a serious, no nonsense person so I need something light and breezy to perk me up and the Tamil version of Gotcha aired on THR makes me start my day with a bounce in my step.

Another thing about this radio station that irks me big time are the playlists; they repeat the same songs day after day. As Indian movies from India have song sequences in them rather than having indie singles and albums and this radio station only plays one or two songs from numbered selected movies mostly from 90s to 80s which is really constricting variety and shows the apathy for gems of song compositions.

When I wrote about it on the radio station's Facebook page, my posts were deleted and I can no longer like or comment on the page. So much for constructive criticism.

I am not saying that advertisements on the radio should be cut down; it pays them to broadcast. I am only advocating for it to cut down on utter stupidity and scandalous wrong prioritisation of the ads. I am also suggesting good quality as per quantity be incorporated into such ads and cheapening dialogues averted. Be socially responsible and don't demean human values because it is well nigh nauseating.

As for the repeated songs, include variety or risk losing listeners. Yet there are listeners who mollycoddle THR Raaga either by calling up and grovel and ooh aah or write laud on its Facebook page. Eeeh, buat aku geram aje!

English radio stations like Mix FM and Hitz FM also repeat playlists to the point of cloying. So, I mix match my aural need for music. What to do?