Diagnosed with a grave illness, Gaurav is recuperating at home. Though his body shows signs of recovery, his mind is unable to grapple with the situation and he is on the verge of depression. A loving wife and a few good friends take it upon themselves to cheer him up by diverting his attention to things he likes. A big lover of old Hindi songs, they start dedicating songs for him with the local radio station in a particular show that plays old Hindi songs. Soon they forge a bond with the RJ of the show who is curious to know about the sudden interest shown by these repeated callers. When the RJ is touched about Gaurav and his condition and about the efforts taken by the group to cheer him up, she too joins in, contributing with her vast knowledge of the genre. How does this therapy with music culminate? And what happens when the RJ who had succeeded in taking Gaurav’s mind away from his situation leaves her job one day and goes off the air?
‘Radio’ is a short directed by ‘Ameeya Mehta’. Ameeya builds this inspiring tale around the theme of the power of music to heal. Choosing a particular genre to work with, he creates a story in which music plays the lead role. Like O Henry’s ‘the last leaf’, Gaurav is oblivious to the fact that his loved ones have propped up his last leaf in the form of a radio show that belts out his favourite numbers. But as he immerses himself deeper into the music, they work harder to make sure that even the RJ joins them in their efforts to cheer him up. The writer keeps the positive nature of the story flowing throughout, without unnecessary distractions or conflicts to take attention away from the central theme. The surprise ending is a nice touch that further reinforces the message of hope and a new beginning.
Every dark cloud has a silver lining, even the darkest of them. This is what ‘Radio’ conveys to its listeners. A positive and uplifting film, ‘Radio’ also provides a good opportunity to enjoy the beauty of old Hindi song.
