My regular travel via the privatised modes of public transport is almost the only time that I ever listen to the radio anymore. The fact that this is almost entirely against my will and at ear-splitting volume only means that I either complain and earn the ire of my fellow travellers, or resign myself to total deafness. And Monday evening entertainment on the radio seems to pander to some very strange tastes…
Recently in keeping with the election aura permeating Sri Lankan society, two radio stations began a poster campaign - each claiming to be “The No. 1″ station as per the public’s manape. Since the private bus operators of the country are my only link to these stations, I’m not able to verify the claim.
Anyway, here I am on Monday evening on my way home at around 7pm. I have the misfortune to get a seat directly under a speaker in the private bus I got into. The station being tuned into is one of the two aforesaid ones, playing some pretty catchy tunes. So no complaints, except for the incredible volume that is threatening my ear-drums.
A female voice earnestly (in Sinhala) welcomes the listener to a “show” - a show about the cruel twists of fate, about the wicked ways of real life - all the way upto 10pm. Hmmm….
Then, to my utter shock, everyone listening in (or able to discern anything from the loud volume) is subjected to the story - acted out with dialogue and sound effects - of a young, possibly underaged female in some remote part of the country being drugged and raped by two men.
Why my shock? The “show” is a radio drama “based on a true story” that relates this sordid tale in 3-4 minute bursts. To liven up the otherwise dreary and cruel story, the 3-4 minute bursts are separated by lively songs, which judging from the number of times they’re played - are quite popular.
Somehow, “Rape of an underaged girl, to the accompaniment of Sri Lanka’s hit music” doesn’t sound like the most appealing of radio shows to listen to. Fine, so the sound effects were not exactly very graphic, but still??
Needless to say, I’m very disturbed by this.
As I got off the bus, I wasn’t so much consumed by a curiosity to know what the rest of the story was about, but a sense of bewilderment at the things people will do…
November 15th, 2005 at 9:55 am
wait till you hear american talk radio.
anyway buy a mp3 player.