KUALA LUMPUR: Radio presenter, Gina Dhaliwal, has made a return to broadcasting after a 13-year hiatus with the launch of ‘Sama Sama Oye!’, Malaysia’s first digital radio platform dedicated exclusively to Bollywood and Punjabi entertainment.
Gina, the founder and RJ of ‘Sama Sama Oye!’, fondly known as the Ratu Bollywood, explained that the initiative was born out of the lack of a dedicated Bollywood radio platform in Malaysia.
She said her return was motivated by ongoing listener demand, with many remembering the segment fondly and seeking a more engaging, interactive radio experience focused on Bollywood music and culture.
“Every time I meet fans, they ask why there is no Bollywood radio in Malaysia like the segment I used to host. Online music platforms provide access to songs, but they cannot replace the engagement and human connection that radio offers,” she told BERNAMA.
Gina previously hosted the popular Hindi Power segment on THR, which later continued on Astro, before being discontinued to allow THR Raaga to transition into a full 24-hour Tamil-language radio station.
The digital radio platform, which launched on March 16, was developed following research involving over 2,000 Malaysians aged 18 to 50, who expressed strong interest in Bollywood content alongside a growing demand for Punjabi music.
Operating from a simple but state-of-the-art studio in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Sama Sama Oye! currently comprises a core team of five staff members and five radio presenters.
The platform plans to expand through initiatives such as the ‘RJ Search Contest Oye!’, aimed at discovering new talent, including Malay-speaking presenters with a passion for Bollywood entertainment.
Gina said podcasts form a key pillar of the platform’s content strategy, featuring both audio and video formats with Malaysian experts to broaden listeners’ experience beyond entertainment.
She has also launched The Punjabi Room podcast, conducted in Punjabi and featuring Malaysian Punjabi guests who explore the challenges, culture and accomplishments of this minority yet influential community in Malaysia.
Looking ahead, she said the platform aims to strengthen local collaborations, support brand engagement, and organise community-based initiatives such as career fairs and networking sessions to benefit its audience.
Positioned as Malaysia’s first Bollywood and Punjabi digital radio streaming service, Sama Sama Oye! is accessible via mobile app and web browser at samasamaoye.com, with updates also shared across its official social media channels.- By V. Sankara/BERNAMA
