Wherever he went, he made history — and for RJ Santosh Rao (SR), that statement is no exaggeration. A celebrated name in India’s radio fra...
Wherever he went, he made history — and for RJ
Santosh Rao (SR), that statement is no exaggeration. A celebrated name in
India’s radio fraternity, FM Rainbow’s Santosh Rao is not only remembered for
his golden voice and captivating shows, but also revered as a social reformer
who turned prison walls into classrooms of hope and creativity.
In 2010, Bollywood’s megastar Amitabh Bachchan
invited Santosh Rao for a one-on-one radio interview — a rare honour for any
broadcaster. The 20-minute special episode of “On Air Mehmaan” went on to
become a landmark moment in All India Radio’s history.
From the Mic to the Mission
Driven by compassion since childhood, Santosh Rao
founded his NGO “Lakshya” in the year 2000. The organization’s aim was simple
yet powerful — to fight social evils, support people living with HIV/AIDS, and
bring out the hidden talents of inmates inside Tihar Jail.
Through “Lakshya”, Santosh began training inmates
in singing, dance, and acting, helping them rediscover their identity beyond
prison bars. Under his mentorship, musical groups like “Flying Soul” and “Rock
the Band” were formed. In 2014, these inmate bands made history by performing
outside prison at the India Habitat Centre and Air Force Auditorium, Subroto
Park — a first in Indian prison history.
Birth of FM-TJ: India’s First Prison Radio
In 2013, following Santosh Rao’s proposal, then
Director General of Prisons (IPS) Vimla Mehra launched FM-TJ (FM Tihar Jail) to
give inmates a creative voice and purpose. The entire project — from studio
setup to RJ training — was entrusted to Santosh Rao and his NGO “Lakshya”.
Since then, Santosh Rao has trained over 1,800
inmates across Tihar and Mandoli jails. In 2025 alone, he continues to train
around 250 inmates across 10 Tihar and 6 Mandoli prisons, keeping alive his
mission of transforming prisoners into broadcasters of hope.
Songs of Change
Under his guidance, inmate singers have recorded
moving anthems like “Tinka Tinka Tihar”, “Jee Le Zara” (an 8-track album), and
“Yeh Tiranga”, songs that echo freedom, resilience, and redemption.
From spinning records to reforming lives, RJ
Santosh Rao has proved that one voice, when used with purpose, can spark a
revolution — even behind bars.
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