Radio Sargam

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Radio Sargam (www.radiosargam.com) is an Internet website running from the United Kingdom since May 1997. Its main audience is fans and lovers of Bollywood (Indian) movies and music.

The website has been running for nearly a decade, and is regarded as pioneers of Bollywood entertainment on the net in the late 90s. Currently it receives over 3 million page impressions per day and more than 50,000 registered users.

RS Bollywood Online (RS) is one of the leading portals for Indian film enthusiasts on the Internet. It is currently amongst the top 20,000 sites in the world and is continuing to grow on a rapid scale. RS has remained a loyal base for all movie fans, who have continued to visit the site, for genuine ‘to the point’ stories. RS began its online presence in May 1997 and will soon reach 10 years of Internet presence, always remaining on the top and ahead of its rivals!

RS was in 1999 given the accolade of being the 9th best site amongst Non-Resident-Indians, by leading news organisation BBC. RS is currently ranked amongst the top 300 websites in the UK, ahead of popular websites such as ITN and Friends Reunited.

RS is used as the main website used as research and resource by many in the UK media, be it Radio or Television. Radio presenters from the BBC regularly use RS as a base for its Asian programming content. RS stories have been carried on television by many leading Asian television channels. RS content is also syndicated on many other websites on the Internet.

After the formation of RS, its sister sites have also caused quite a stir among Asians. IndiaHits.Com (IH) was launched in 1998 to accommodate the sudden interest in Indian music. IH has become the most visited Indian music site with more than 12,000 songs online to listen to for free. All songs are in Real Media 28.8k quality and therefore are not able to be downloaded, giving the listener reason to buy the music from record stores. IndiaHits.Com is updated every day with new music, and it is the first place, to find new Indian film music. IndiaHits.Com has lead the way in online music premieres, including the premier of A. R. Rahman’s Lagaan movie soundtrack, 10 days before its general audio release. It still continues to premiere many soundtracks first and foremost on the Internet.

TalkBollywood.Com was devised and launched in 1999. The primary purpose of the site was as a forum, where Bollywood movie enthusiasts could meet and discuss. The forum has proved to be such a success, that it is now regarded as the greatest Indian film forum on the net. The forum has over 14,000 members, with over 3000 active per day.

RS was initially devised as an online information site for Radio Sargam, a local Asian radio channel broadcasting in Leeds, UK. Radio Sargam, and RS, were the brain-childs of its founder Mr. Imran Khan. Mr. Imran Khan began the website as a programme guide for the radio channel. However, it became so popular for its Bollywood content that its primary purpose for staying alive became Indian movies and music. Mr. Imran Khan began Radio Sargam as a local channel for young Asians in Leeds. It proved so popular amongst the young that it was given the tag of ‘The Choice of a New Generation’. Radio Sargam still continues to broadcast occasionally in and around Leeds.

Mr. Imran Khan has been at the forefront of new media, working on many radio channels. Mr. Imran Khan has taken a back seat from RS, but continues to work on devising new websites. He can be contacted through his website DJImran.com.

Mr. Qamar Zaman, a Computer Science graduate from Leeds, was in 1997 working for Mr. Imran Khan as a Disc Jockey on his radio channel. Mr. Imran Khan asked him to work on RS, and he duly obliged, being computer minded. When Mr. Imran Khan took a back seat from RS, so he could concentrate on many of his other projects, Mr. Qamar Zaman took over as the main person behind RS. He is currently the Senior Chief Executive at RS, and works vigorously in the final outcome of any stories published. Mr. Qamar Zaman was the main founder of IndiaHits.Com and TalkBollywood.Com forum. He currently is the main Administrator of the forum. He can be contacted via email at radiosargam@hotmail.com.

Mr. Sarvesh Nagpal, from Delhi, India, started working for RS in late 1999 as the Technical Head. He has been the main reason behind the success of the TalkBollywood forum, actively working on its appeal among the youngsters. Mr. Sarvesh Nagpal is currently studying for his Masters degree in New York and can be contacted via email at s@rvesh.com.

Mr. Robeel Haq, a media journalist from Bristol, UK, began associated with RS from 2001, and has worked as a Senior Content Editor. He has been responsible for the success of RS through its written content over the past few years. His daily news inputs have been vastly appreciated, and movie reviews have been a joy to read. Mr. Robeel Haq has been working in UK Asian media as a journalist, but is currently in Dubai working for a large media organisation. Mr. Robeel Haq has taken a leave of absence from RS, due to his other commitments, but hopes to be back working for the site in due course. He can be contacted at robeelh@hotmail.com.

Mr. Goher Iqbal Punn is an experienced Bollywood Analyst. He contributes his writings to the coveted Bollywood and showbiz publications across the world. He scribbles down his dexterous mind on the big canvas of Hindi filmdom by dashing off movie reviews, music reviews, movie previews, columns, news, articles, cover stories, features and profiles of stars. Getting laced with the vast contacts within the Bollywood fraternity, he interviews and chews up the talks with the Celebes of Bollywood as well. In addition to his analysis on Bollywood, Goher also analyzes the celluloid of small screen. He pens in the write-ups on daily soaps of all Indian channels, articles, features, news, columns and churns out interviews with the stars of small screen. Being experienced in this line of entertainment, Goher has a good rapport with the Bollywood and Indian TV fraternities. Mammoth experience, tour de force style, expertise and whopping research go into his writings. He has been working with RS for over 3 years now, contributing highly interesting articles, which have been appreciated. You may have a word with Goher by writing an e-mail at goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk or at goher.punn@yahoo.com.

Tony is a prime-most critic at RS. Not much is known about this person, only that he is male and works from all over the world. Tony was asked to write for RS after Mr. Qamar Zaman read some of his articles in a local newspaper. Tony has since been writing for RS, and his articles have been very provocative and have had negative and positive feedbacks. Tony writes what is in his heart and never eyes away from the truth. Tony has no email as he prefers not to be contacted and wants to remain in secret. You can however send emails to him via the RS main email address.