“I worked till 1982 in an electronics shop. Play that funky musicĪ native of Kannur in Kerala, K Ramachandran, now 60 years old, landed in Bangalore at the age of 20 in 1978, hoping to join the Indian Air Force. Seetaphone Company is at 519, AVM Chambers, Avenue Road (opposite Balaji Temple). Prices start at 50 for an EP and 250 for an LP. Once you digitise, that depth is missing.”Īs for the records they sell, he says it is mostly Hindi classical, Carnatic, and Hindi film music. When it comes to the perceived superior quality of LPs, Venkatesh, who is an engineering graduate, says: Though it is not proven scientifically, people believe that there is a depth in record. To see the LPs and EP records, one has to step outside and walk up to the second floor, which is where the repairs are also done. In 1996, Venkatesh started a handicrafts store on the ground floor, which became the main business. In 1991, the building was demolished and a new one was constructed. Of course, over the years, there have been some changes. So, we used to sell gramophones and all related items.”
At that time, we were the dealers for Odeon and Columbia gramophones and my grand-uncle was the authorised HMV dealer. Talking about its history, Venkatesh says, “Actually, even my great-grandfather was in the business. Not only does the shop sell LP and EP records, Venkatesh says it may the only place in the city that does gramophone repairs. His son DS Srinivasa Murthy took over in 1963 and his son DS Venkatesh Babu (48) runs it now.
It was in 1924 that DN Seetharam Setty set up the store. After all, it has been standing amidst the cacophony of Avenue Road for close to 100 years now. Seetaphone Company is a familiar name to many Bengalureans. Antique Palace is at BF 3, B Block, First Floor, Unity Building, JC Road. A person who has heard analog sound deeply will never go to digital.” If you hear a disco song, it will make you jump up and dance! That’s the feeling with analog. His personal favourites include Kishore Kumar, Talat Mahmood, Boney M, and ABBA.Īs for what he enjoys most about listening to a record, he says, “You get deeply engrossed in the music. If you need something, you just have to ask,” says Ramesh.Ĭhoose from the large collection that ranges from Hindustani classical, and Hindi film music to The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. After retiring from the business in 1992, he converted the tiny room that served as a service centre into Antique Palace as it stands today.Įnter the narrow space and you are greeted by HMT watches, Raja Ravi Varma reprints, cassettes, CDs and of course, LP and EP records.
We would have a party every Saturday at what was then called Hotel Stay Longer in Shivajinagar and I would play music by Boney M, The Carpenters, and disco numbers.” In 1971, Ramesh set up an electronics appliances store on the ground floor in Unity Building. A records collector from a young age, he, somewhat bashfully, confesses, “I used to DJ when I was in studying in RV College of Engineering. Ramesh Kukreja (73) has a mischievous glint in his eye as he starts talking.
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