Introduction: When Music Became Mobile
Before Spotify and Bluetooth speakers, before smartphones and data packs—India had a different soundtrack. It came from the portable radios tucked into kitchen corners, and from the boomboxes that blared Kishore Kumar on Sunday mornings. In the 1980s and early ’90s, portable radios and boomboxes weren’t just electronic devices; they were a family’s heartbeat, a source of joy, news, and sometimes… cricket commentary that could make or break someone’s day.
The All India Radio (AIR) era was more than just background sound. For most families, especially in semi-urban and rural India, the day began with bhajans on Vividh Bharati, followed by news in regional languages. Radios were considered prized possessions. In fact, gifting a Murphy or Philips radio to newlyweds was once considered the hallmark of a "modern" household. In places like Uttar Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, radios found homes in both upper-class drawing rooms and farmer’s verandas. Antennas stretched like arms toward the sky, hoping for better reception during crucial moments of India’s cricket matches.
By the late 1980s, radios got a stylish upgrade—the boombox. These big, flashy, cassette-playing machines became a statement of cool. Brands like National Panasonic, Sharp, and Sanyo boomed (literally and figuratively) into Indian markets via Gulf-returning relatives or expensive local electronic stores. Unlike the earlier transistor radios, boomboxes allowed teenagers to blast Bollywood hits, mixtapes, or even record their own audio diaries. The dual cassette deck became legendary among school kids who would swap tapes of Kumar Sanu and Alisha Chinai during recess. In urban centers like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, the boombox became a marker of aspiration. Playing "Made in India" on a Philips deck in front of your friends? Certified status symbol.
Whether it was a family trip to Vaishno Devi or a long journey on the Howrah Express, a portable radio was always part of the luggage. Small, battery-powered models like the Murphy Usha or Bush Pocket Radio provided crackly, endearing company through countless journeys. Older uncles often held them close to their ears while sipping chai at railway platforms. It was common to hear a crackling commentary on AIR’s Urdu Service describing Kapil Dev’s heroics while trains chugged by.
India’s jugaad culture ensured that portable radios and boomboxes were never truly dead. In every city, from Lamington Road in Mumbai to Ritchie Street in Chennai, thousands of small repair shops kept these machines alive. Tuning knobs were replaced, belts restrung, and speakers rewired—each repair job a testament to Indian ingenuity and our emotional connection to audio tech. Even today, vintage audio restorers in cities like Pune and Kochi can revive an old Philips radio to full working glory.
For many, the memory of hearing Lata Mangeshkar’s voice while Amma cooked sambhar, or waiting for Ameen Sayani’s “Binaca Geet Mala” to begin, is as vivid as any photograph. These devices were part of family rituals, generational bonds, and even personal grief or celebration. In Kashmir, radios broadcasted poetry. In Punjab, they sang bhangra beats. In Bengal, they carried Rabindra Sangeet on misty mornings.
Though most homes today prefer Alexa or Spotify, the nostalgia around portable radios and boomboxes is seeing a quiet revival. Collectors, audio lovers, and even Gen Z creators are now scouring OLX, thrift markets, and grandparents’ attics for these timeless machines.
Portable radios and boomboxes didn’t just play music. They played emotion, connection, and identity. As we rush forward into a world of 3D audio and voice assistants, let’s not forget the humble transistor that once told an entire nation: "This is All India Radio…"
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