Date:18/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2009/07/18/stories/2009071852850500.htm

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My friend Nikhil

Nikhil Chinnappa is always ready for a chat

PHOTO: K. Gopinathan

MULTIFACETED Nikhil Chinnappa

An MTV VJ, popular also as a DJ, Nikhil considers radio a wonderful medium. It was his long-standing desire to have his own radio station. Nikhil has not given up hope. “Radio stations don’t have identities of their own.

They are just following the herd.” He says radio will be far better in another 10 years. Nikhil is keen on a radio station that caters largely to an English-speaking section.

You can trust Nikhil to strive for perfection. The annual Sunburn Festival (of which he is festival director) in Goa, and Submerge (submerge.in), a music movement he is steam-powering, are evidence. Started seven years ago, Submerge (which promotes dance music) is doing here on a smaller scale what the Ministry of Sound does in the U.K. “Last year, we organised 74 events,” says Nikhil. Submerge has launched three CDs, including one by his wife DJ Pearl. One of the singles to come out of Submerge, ‘Defected In The House’ (released globally) is on the top-100 on iTunes.

Pearl has a hand in the success of his music initiatives.

“For the way she carries herself and plays music, she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.”

After all those things on his plate, Nikhil has added one more to it — “India’s Got Talent” on Colors.

And yes, he is doing a cameo in a Hindi film. But amazingly, Nikhil has all the time in the world.

For scuba diving and reporters.

PRINCE FREDERICK