Music and Youth
Archive of Indian Music to digitise and preserve old and rare gramophone records
NEW DELHI: An ‘Archive of Indian Music’ (AIM) has been established in the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in a unique first-of-its kind effort to digitise and preserve old and rare gramophone records.
This is because many of these rare records are on the verge of destruction and would be lost forever without timely action.
The Archive was launched by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in the presence of renowned classical dance exponent and AIM Advisory board member Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, historian and archivist Dr. Boria Majumdar, IGNCA Member Secretary Dipali Khanna, and renowned author/historian and founder-trustee of AIM Vikram Sampath.
AIM is the brain-child of Bangalore based author/historian and Sahitya Academy winner, Vikram Sampath and has been established with the generous help of T V Mohandas Pai, chairman of Manipal Global Education.
The main objective of AIM is to create the first digital sound archive of India and disseminate the content freely among all music lovers through an online portal and through innovative ways like audio exhibitions, listening kiosks, guided listening sessions etc. and by taking it to the youth in schools and colleges and giving them a new perspective of looking at Indian history – through sound.
The range of gramophone records that will be restored include Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, Folk music, Early Cinema, Theatre, Speeches of great leaders of the country and voices of common Indians that were recorded starting 1902.
Pai believes that ‘AIM is a brilliant initiative to refurbish the rich musical tradition left behind by our ancestors, it is a unique concept that provides us with an opportunity to access the rich audio records that we have inherited and we are extremely proud of. In this day where only material gains matter to people, I am delighted to see a young man like Sampath who has worked on this with unparalleled passion and zeal and hence I came forward readily to support his dream and help it materialize.”
Sampath added, “India’s musical inheritance is a larger aspect of its identity in the world of music. AIM is an intellectual property created to save these vintage recordings for the future generations to know and be proud of the work created by the musical geniuses of our country. It breaks my heart to see this valuable cultural inheritance rot in the most despicable manner in flea markets and Kabadi shops across India. On a war-footing, we hope to reverse this trend and have set ambitious targets for ourselves – including restoration of 100,000 records within the next five years and construction of a National Sound Archive of India in Bangalore, with parallel centers in other parts of India. Equally important is disseminating this archived material for the public at large as it is the treasure that every Indian has inherited and has a rightful access to”
Established in 2011, the Trust has set up an office in association with the Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities in Bangalore and imported state-of-the-art machinery to digitise old gramophone records.
The website of AIM www.archiveofindianmusic.org features around 200 artistes and nearly 1000 tracks at present – all of which can be accessed completely freely and sitting at home. Rare tracks including Gandhiji’s Spiritual Message that he recorded in 1931 in England, the country’s first recording by Gauhar Jaan in 1902, Tagore reciting his Bengali poetry, the first recording of the National Anthem by the Viswa Bharati Chorus, the first recording of M S Subbulakshmi as a child of nine years are just a few of the valuable gems in the website. The Archive has already collected nearly 10,000 old and vintage gramophone shellac and vinyl plates from various parts of India for purposes of restoration.
AIM has trustees from all over India and is guided by an advisory board comprising of some of the most eminent artistes of the country – filmmaker Shyam Benegal, danseuse Sonal Man Singh, Chinmaya Gharekhan of IGNCA, Bombay Jayashri, Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, Pt. Vijay Kichlu, VAK Ranga Rao, Alarmel Valli, Dr. Shyamala G Bhave, Lalith Rao, Nandini Ramani, VAK Ranga Rao, Arundhati Ghosh of IFA, and Bhaskar Mitra of Sangeet Ashram Kolkata.
Music and Youth
Mumbai gears up for the ultimate Global Youth Festival this December
MUMBAI: Mumbai is about to witness something it has never seen before. The Global Youth Festival arrives on 6-7 December at Jio World Garden with 15,000 attendees and 60-plus experiences sprawled across six sprawling arenas. On its sixth edition, this is no ordinary jamboree—it is a carefully orchestrated collision of wellness, adventure, arts, music, yoga and social change.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis will throw open the proceedings with a landmark ceremony, signalling the state’s backing for a movement that has already mobilised youth across 20-plus countries and 170-plus cities. The sheer scale is staggering: 500-plus volunteers powering the machine, 600,000-plus volunteer hours logged across previous editions, and millions of lives touched annually.
The speaker roster is formidable. Diipa Büller-Khosla and Dipali Goenka, chief executive of Welspun India, will share the stage with Malaika Arora in conversations spanning leadership, creativity and culture. Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukhbhai Mandaviya will also attend, reinforcing GYF’s reach into the corridors of power.
But this is not mere talk. The Solaris Mainstage promises concerts from renowned Indian artists. Innerverse delivers a 360-degree LED spectacle of art, technology and sound. The Love and Care Arena houses hands-on projects spanning women’s empowerment, child education, rural upliftment and animal welfare. India’s largest outdoor sound-healing experience awaits. An inflatable obstacle course, neon drifter karts and open-sky bouldering cater to thrill-seekers.
Some have branded GYF the “Coachella of Consciousness.” Others call it “India’s Largest Sober Festival.” Spiritual visionary Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, who inspired the festival, will deliver the Wisdom Masterclass. Every rupee goes to charity.
After Mumbai comes Kolkata on 14 December. New York looms next year. For one weekend in December, Mumbai becomes the epicentre of youth-driven change—and nothing will be quite the same after.
Tickets available on BookMyShow. Visit youthfestival.srmd.org or follow @globalyouthfestival on Instagram.
Music and Youth
Reality Ranis swap jungle for shore as Season 2 drama washes ashore
MUMBAI: The Ranis are back and this time, they’re trading leaves for waves. Warner Bros. Discovery has dropped the trailer for Reality Ranis of the Jungle Season 2, and the all-female survival show is moving from dense forests to sandy shores. The first look teases a stormy mix of crashing waves, sizzling rivalries and survival drama as 12 contestants battle for the ultimate crown.
Season 1 set the tone with fierce jungle clashes, but the sequel looks double the size and twice the fun. The fresh lineup features Samyukta Hegde, Irena Rudakova, Archana Gautam, Sara Gurpal and more all ready to swap comfort zones for chaos. Adding extra spice, Rakhi Sawant storms into the mix, promising unpredictability that only she can deliver. Guiding the spectacle once again is host Varun Sood, whose return ensures fans a familiar yet amped-up ride through the survival saga.
The timing couldn’t be more symbolic. As Discovery celebrates 40 years globally and 30 in India, the series mirrors its DNA of bold, edge-of-seat storytelling. Reality Ranis Season 2 isn’t just about endurance, it’s about power plays, transformations, and testing limits under the scorching sun. With beach brawls, surprise twists, and a crown on the line, these Ranis are set to prove that survival, like the tide, waits for no one.
Music and Youth
Tips Music acquires Studio Radha’s Cultural music of Gujarati and Kutchi
MUMBAI: Tips Music Ltd acquired Studio Radha’s complete music catalogue expanding its footprint into Gujarat’s rich cultural music heritage. The acquisition reflects Tips Music’s strategic expansion into regional markets, delivering authentic folk traditions with contemporary reach to Indian and global audiences.
Studio Radha, known for its extensive collection of 4,000+ traditional songs spanning devotional music, folk music, and cultural storytelling, adds a dynamic, heritage-rich catalogue to Tips Music’s diverse portfolio, strengthening its position in regional Indian music while exploring new digital streaming and global publishing opportunities.
Commenting on the acquisition, Tips Music Ltd managing director Kumar Taurani said, ” This acquisition, which has a authentic voice of our culture, is a strategic move to deepen our presence in India’s vibrant regional music markets. Beyond preserving this incredible legacy, our goal is to leverage our modern distribution infrastructure and introduce these timeless songs to a new generation of listeners globally. This aligns perfectly with our business strategy of investing in high-quality, diverse content that holds timeless appeal.”
The Studio Radha catalogue will be made available across all major streaming platforms and digital services under the Tips Music banner, ensuring these cultural gems reach music lovers worldwide.
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