In this episode of Guftugu, Syed Mohd Irfan sits down with RJ Sayema, the voice listeners associate with Purani Jeans on Radio Mirchi.
Sayema speaks about growing up across worlds, being born in Nigeria and studying in India at Guru Harkrishan Public School, and how those early experiences shaped her ear for people and language. She reflects on her formative years at All India Radio, the shift to private FM, and what it takes to hold attention with nothing but voice, timing, and trust.
The conversation also explores the line between being widely heard and staying privately grounded, the responsibility that comes with influence, and why zaban matters when you speak to millions. Towards the end, poetry takes center stage with recitations of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Bashir Badr, and a special ghazal written by her father.
