Jimmy Bharucha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jimmy Bharucha, called a 'colossus in Sri Lanka's broadcasting world' died in Colombo in June 2005.
Bharucha who was educated at St.Peter's College, Colombo, had a career in broadcasting spanning 46 years. He was a pioneer of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and his velvet voice was popular not only in Sri Lanka but across the Indian sub-continent.
He joined the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon on September 17, 1951, the station (the oldest in South Asia) was only a year old. Bharucha joined the Commercial Service under the stewardship of Clifford Dodd, who arrived in Ceylon to become the Director of the Commercial Service — Dodd was seconded to Ceylon under the Colombo Plan. Jimmy Bharucha joined the great announcers of Radio Ceylon playing western music. The entire radio station consisted of 45 members of staff including announcers in 1951. He presented some popular programmes including 'Crookes Hit Parade, Film Magazine, Take It Or Leave It, Melodies and Memories' among them.
Jimmy Bharucha was appointed to senior management positions — as Director, News, and Director, Foreign Relations— he was also Director/Secretary to the Board with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
