Kannadigas in Bangalore have always felt that the ‘outsiders’ are more dominant in Bangalore. Non-Kannadigas can live in Bangalore without feeling the need to learn the local language. I know people who have lived in Bangalore for a decade and yet don’t know a single word of Kannada. Maybe it sheer laziness or a not feeling the need. If people from outside the State move to Chennai or Kolkata, they make an effort to learn the local language (except for a few who don’t have to since they deal only with the upper echelons). But contrast that with Bangaloe – some friends of mine automatically switch to Tamil or Hindi while talking to people who they think will not know English – you know, cab drivers, shop owners and the like. And very often they will get a reply back in the same lingo! The Kannadigas by nature are the adjusting type (we invented ‘adjust maadi‘ after all) and its not uncommon to find them learning Tamil or Hindi simply by hanging out with people who speak that language. The average Bangalorean would be familiar with at least 2 languages and is not averse to speaking in Hindi. They would be fans of Hindi or Tamil films & music. But Kannada films & music have remained popular only with the locals. There has been always an undercurrent of resentment with all this.
The advent of FM radio helped change this feeling. I think it was Radio Mirchi that started the trend with the Sakkath Hot Magaa campaign. It was the first time that I recall a Kannada-ethos being given a cool quotient. Radio One and other channels followed suit with lots more Kannada music and RJ’s mouthing Kanglish. Big FM was the first to unabashedly focus on the local flavour. For most others, the skew was mostly towards Hindi film music. Playing Kannada music and Kannada-speaking RJs were seen as recipe for being ‘uncool’ by them.
The trend has reversed completely now. Market forces have caught up and almost all of them have resorted to playing Ka
nnada music by and large. Radio Indigo has chosen to focus on a niche audience, playing only English music.
In this milieu, Radio City has released a new campaign, trying to equate their offering with the ‘ethos’ of Bangalore, i.e. ‘Lots of Kannada, little Hindi’. The rendition is interesting – old film poster style hoardings depicting Kannada heroes with what look like Bollywood heroines. Nice.
Anyway, this reinforces the need for brands to connect with their audience at a local level. There was a time when regional advertising was referred to as ‘vernacular’ advertising, almost derogatorily. It also meant a simple translation of a concept originally thought in English or Hindi. It is heartening to see people who think in regional languages being given the opportunity to independently create ideas.
4 Comments
Hi.. u’r article is absolutely spot on… Dunno where this trend will head though in the next few months. Should be interesting times for listeners in the city
Very cool campaign – made me learn the meaning of “Sikkaapatte”. I think the RJ brand of Kanglish will soon become the Banglore-kannada. May or may not be a good thing.
Thanks Brian. I think this trend is here to stay. Given the way the Chennai FM market is (totally devoted to Tamil music) it was about time the Bangalore channels took that route.
Totally correct. I listen to the radio at least 2 hrs a day and i prefer Mirchi ’cause they play only Kananda Music. Fever 104 is the best in terms of programming as they have a good mix of Kannada and hindi songs. Remember a year back when “KARAVE” – Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Save Karnataka Forum) bursted the Radio City office for not playing Kannada songs! Its nice to see Radio City inclining itself towards playing Kannada music too because they know thats what people listen to in Bangalore. By the way I love the radio in Bangalore…kudos to the Radio Jockeys of Bangalore.