Diary of a Radio Documentary
by Arun Venogopal, reporter, India Abroad
Sunday, November 21
My first radio recording event ever: Vidur Kapur’s standup comedy routine at an ASHA benefit dinner, held at Shaan of India restaurant downtown. The headphones and microphone make me feel a bit conspicuous, nothing like the back of an envelope I’m usually writing on, but Mentor Jocelyn leads the way. An unusual event, more conservative crowd than Vidur’s other shows - more straight – which is interesting in itself. Jocelyn and I eat well, for free.
Friday, December 10
Arrive at 11. Just a few people standing on the dance floor. By and by more people start coming in and we pull out the gear – Jocelyn way faster than me. I’m sitting there for something like 10 minutes, getting my act together, straining in the half-light to see what exactly I’m doing. Where exactly does this headphone wire go? I briefly consider winging it without headphones. Why is this so hard – there are no more than 2 inputs on this tiny machine and I can’t even figure out where the headphones go. But it’s dark, so maybe no one will know how just how pathetic I am – the genius of club culture. The radio gear serves as armor and I’m not getting hit on, as is the case on previous visits. Worst is the persistent older Indian guy in the wifebeater, who’s positive he’s met me before. Actually, worst was the man in the gladiator suit who, laughing, wouldn’t buy that I was straight. By one o’clock, when it’s packed, the queens emerge and begin to get down. Later, uber-queen Zina Divani tells me I’m gorgeous then makes me promise I won’t interview any other queens. ‘They’re all bitches,’ he says.
January 28
Script trouble. Some like it, but John Rudolph says I need to completely re-work. I’m sad. John Rudolph calls me days later and coaxes a new structure out of me, which is actually the original structure that didn’t happen. I’m much happier.
February 18
We re-tracked my voice and completed a new mix. We tend to do this late in the day, when my slurring is greatest.
March 13
The mix is moving along. It’s painful to see some of my favorite bits being cut, especially the more nuanced aspects of queer desi life: Aatif and Aamir’s domestic life, sliced from an hour plus of tape to one 20-second quote; the feisty-funny partygoer Anisha; and some of Vidur’s more illuminating, and offensive, comedy bits.
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