Radio Charminar completes a decade in Hyderabad

“Hello, Salaam, Namaste Hyderabad… This is RJ Asim aur aap sun rahe hain Hyderabad Express mere saath, main aapka dost. Baatein hogi kaheen saari, aur bahut saare gaane aap sunne ke liye…. (This is RJ Asim and you are listening to Hyderabad Express with me, your friend)‘” That is how radio jockey Asim Abedi, who took over as RJ eight years ago greets his listeners from the recording studio at Radio Charminar — Dil Se Hyderabadi, a community radio station tucked away in the heart of the city.

On the second floor of the Ahle Bait Institute in Yakutpura, this modest yet lively station was launched in October 2015 by Hasan Rehmatullah and his son Zain. Sharing space with the bustling campus of Ahle Bait School and Junior College, Radio Charminar will celebrate its 10th anniversary this October.

Raising awareness

Broadcasting equipment
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Operating at 107.8 MHz, Radio Charminar broadcasts programmes that educate, inform, entertain and raise awareness — all within a seven-kilometre radius. “Our focus is on topics like health, women’s empowerment, and preserving Hyderabad’s history and food culture,” says Shaik Irfan Ahmed, system administrator and scheduling head, who has been with the station since its inception.

Over the years, the station has tackled everything from child marriage awareness to reviving fading folk traditions. One of their standout shows, Dholak ke Geet, spotlighted wedding folk songs and found a wider audience on their YouTube channel.

The platform gives voice to diverse local communities. Whether it is live sessions in community halls or expert-led studio recordings, the goal is to “discuss and disseminate,” says RJ Asim, station manager and programming head. Their talk shows, often sponsored by UNICEF to mark days like World Health Day or World Water Day, are interactive and community-led.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, their call-in show became a lifeline. “Our former RJ Nazaakat lived on-site and anchored the shows,” Irfan recalls. “People would say, ‘Chidiya bhi par nahin maar sakti thi, magar aapne humein zinda rakha’ — even birds couldn’t fly freely, but you kept us alive through entertainment.”

RJ Saaniya
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

While the radio tower’s transmitter has a 200-watt capacity, they are licensed for 50 watts, reaching listeners across Talabkatta, Riyasat Nagar, Malakpet, Chaderghat, DRDL, Saidabad, and even as far as Shamshabad in car radios.

One popular morning show, Salaam Hyderabad by RJ Saaniya, blends health, lifestyle, and personal reflections. “We have talked about everything — from breaking the habit of overthinking to why kids don’t respect parents anymore. Even something like nail-biting gets people calling in,” says Saaniya, who joined after a 16-year stint with ETV Urdu

Screenshot of Radio Charminar station director Allama Aijaz Farrukh from the show Guzishta Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Two of their RJs — Neetu from Sikkim and Dolly from Jaipur — host weekly shows remotely. Both army wives, they joined the station while posted in Hyderabad and stayed on even after relocating.

Finances remain tight, with only government ads and limited funding. But as Radio Charminar approaches its 10-year milestone, the team remains hopeful. One plan includes reviving Guzishta Hyderabad, a beloved show by station director Allama Aijaz Farrukh, with a nostalgic focus on Hyderabad.