MEHBOOB BAWA
THE LOVE DR
As I embark on my first solo venture bringing my Love Songs show to you, On the Air, I am reminded of my humble beginnings and how far I have come in this industry with the support of so many.
Always aspire to live your best life and in so doing inspire others to do the same. That’s always been a Bawa family motto. My late paternal grandfather, Ebrahim Ahmed Bawa and my late father, Noor Mohamed Bawa, both excellent public speakers, lived this way. It has extended successfully to my career in the radio industry as well.
My forays into radio started in 1995 when I joined the community radio station, The Voice of the Cape, as a senior presenter and Operations Manager. I had trained and worked as a TV presenter at the South African Broadcasting Corporation in Auckland Park, Johannesburg in 1989 when I started my professional career as an actor and presenter.
My interest in broadcasting was sparked from my childhood years. I recall the many hours spent in front of our vintage radio and gramophone player listening to the Indian music station Radio Truro, Springbok Radio and Radio 5. The Indian music shows were listened to in the company of my late paternal grandfather and often my late paternal grandmother, Habiba, as well. The interest extended to our whole family. I enjoy listening to my mother, Maryam, singing along to her favourite Indian songs. My sisters Najma, Sayeeda and I, and in later years my two younger brothers, Ahmed and Ridwaan, also enjoyed English pop music as well which was belted out on the transistor radio in our corner cafe.
I was named Mehboob by my paternal grandfather, after the famous Indian film director, Mehboob Khan, who made the film Mother India, nominated for an Oscar in 1958. It was quite apt that, true to my name, I ended up following a career in the film industry, but more importantly, as my name means beloved, I became known as the Love Doctor on commercial radio.
After leaving the Voice of the Cape in 1998, I started a company with my wife, Razia, offering marketing and radio advert production services to community-based companies. We developed many successful campaigns over the years.
In the same year commercial radio came calling and I joined P4, now Heart FM. I moved from a Saturday breakfast show to a nightly show. A feature that I developed was titled the Romantic Rendezvous, essentially playing love songs, but also sharing inspirational advice and reading romantic poems.
Around that time retail radio started gaining traction and I was offered a position at Fresh FM, Pick ‘n Pay’s in house station. It was on these platforms that KFM program manager, Clive Ridgway, heard me and made contact. Ridgway, incidentally, was my history teacher at Livingstone High School. He offered me a weekend show with the promise that a daily slot was in the offing.
The manager at P4, Neil Johnson, arguably the best manager I’ve ever had, said he would hate to see me go, but it was a great opportunity for me. I joined KFM in 2000.
Soon after I was offered a nightly Love Songs show as they felt I was the right fit. I readily agreed. I mean with a name which means beloved, it was a no brainer.
Sam Roy, who was on in the time slot before me, announced, off the cuff, that Doctor Love was coming up next. The Love Doctor moniker stuck, and I’ve developed it into a personal brand. Every station that came knocking on my door subsequently wanted that brand association.
The Love Doctor shows have been immensely successful with a 9-year stint at KFM, the longest running specialist show on air. Listener response to the music and my guests was phenomenal. I had a psychic, life coaches, a numbers guy and expanded the range of guests when I joined Smile Radio.
During one period of my broadcast career The Love Doctor was on air with Magic 828 and Fine Music Radio. Then on FMR and the online station Catch the Wave simultaneously.
The show has touched many, including someone on the verge of suicide who did not act on the impulse after hearing advice dispensed on the show, and inspired others as well.
I value the listener and encourage their interaction via social media. Many have made great friendships through the FB page, which they dub “the Lounge”, while enjoying the music.
Management at various stations say the listener response is unprecedented.
The show on FMR was nominated in the Best Night Time Show category at the South African Radio Awards after only 3 months on air.
The show reflects my life’s journey. I share words of motivation that have helped me and
encourage others to share theirs. I also read poetry written by the listener and send
dedications to loved ones.