The National Programme of Drama
The National Programme of Plays is an important programmme of Radio. The first NPP “PRAFULLA” a Bangla stage play by Girish Chandra Ghosh was broadcast in July 1956. Since then, the NPP is broadcast on every 4th Thursday of every month at 9:30 P.M from all stations of AIR. The broadcast is in Hindi and its translation in all regional languages as well on the same day, date and time. Through this NPP, the national integrity, harmony and colours of unity in diversity are presented to our listeners.
CENTRAL HINDI FEATURE UNIT
National Programme of Feature (Hindi)
“Roopakon Ka Akhil Bharatiya Karyakram”
Central Hindi Feature Unit produces features for National Hook-up called “Roopakon Ka Akhil Bharatiya Karyakram”.
This programme broadcast every 2nd and 5th Thursday of the month at 9:30 p.m. on Indraprasth Channel. This Programme is repeated next morning at 7:00 a.m. on Rajdhani Channel.
Every 3rd Thursday at 10:00 p.m, CHFU broadcast “Vishesh Roopak”. This programme is repeated next Friday at 7:00 a.m. on the Rajdhani Channel.
MAGAZINE PROGRAMMES
Besides Hindi features, Central Hindi Feature Unit is also liable to broadcast five national magazine programmes titled:
1. Sahitya Bharati (1st Wednesday)
2. Sanskriti Bharati (2nd Wednesday)
3. Chitra Bharati (3rd Wednesday)
4. Vigyan Bharati (4th Wednesday)
5. Yuva Bharati (5th Wednesday)
All magazine programmes are broadcast on National Hook-up at 10:00 p.m. on Indraprasth Channel (366.6 meters, 819 kHz).
Sahitya Bharati is a radio literary magazine programme covering all 23 Indian languages and includes literature’s modern trends, contemporary issues along with their creative writings and criticism too.
Sanskriti Bharati is a cultural magazine programme devoted to Indian composite culture. This programme is broadcast every second Wednesday of the month.
Chitra Bharati programme is devoted to Indian cinema, its trends in art, and creativity and modern issues in Indian cinema industry. This programme is produced by Vivith Bharati Service AIR, Mumbai.
Vigyan Bharati science magazine programme is broadcast every 4th Wednesday. This programme is devoted to science related subject to create scientific temperament among Society.
Yuva Bharati contains Youth related issues, their achievements, aspirations and needs. This programme is broadcast every 5th Wednesday of the month.
NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF FEATURE (ENGLISH)
The National Programme of Feature (English) is broadcast on the forth Friday of every month at 10.00 PM from the Rajdhani Channel of AIR Delhi and additional frequencies for the National hook-up. It is repeated at 7.00 AM on the following Sunday from the Rajdhani Channel of AIR Delhi only as a local broadcast.
As a national programme, it is, broadcast from Delhi and predominantly English knowing areas of the country in the East, North-East and South.
The programme is in the format of a 30 minute feature on documentary in the English language on a nationally relevant topic, covering a wide spectrum of selects serial, environmental, biographical, historical even musical. Sometimes the focus may shift to a specific corner of the nation as well, such as a feature to highlight the rich musical heritage of Meghalaya.
National Programme of Music
With the initiative taken by the then I&B Minister, B.V. Keskar, National Programme of Music, a 90 mts. feast of Classical Music was started in 1952 for broadcast over All India Radio on Saturdays from 9.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and presently, it is broadcast on Sundays also. On the similar lines National Programme of Regional Light & Folk Music is broadcast on every 1st Thursday of the Month from 9.30 pm to 10.30 pm.
All India Radio has been playing a very important role in the propagation & preservation of Music in General and the rich Classical Music and Folk Music Traditions in particular. Many eminent artistes have been associated with this organization like Pt. Ravishankar, Pt. Pannalal Ghosh, Acharya Brahaspathi Madhuri Mattoo Veena Dooraswamy Iyengar, Dr. Shemangudi Srinivas Iyer, G. N. Balasubramanyan, Emani Shankar Shastri, Dr. Sumati Mutatkar, Voleti Venkateshwarlu, S. Gopalakrishnan, M. Y. Kamashastri, T.K. Jayarama Iyer, Satish Bhatia, Hafiz Ahmed Khan, T. K. Govinda Rao, Dr. R. K. Srikanthan, Dr. Bala Muralikrishna to mention a few, who have contributed immensely towards achieving the goal of All India Radio in this direction.