Pradeep Dadar and his LP Collection

I first met Pradeep Dadar, in search of an audiocassette of the film "Sholay." This was one month ago at Music World, sort of like India's little HMV. That evening I got to talking with Pradeep about music. Our chatting turned into a dj session as he started pulling cd's off the shelves and playing some of his favorite tracks. As our heads began to bob, I asked Pradeep if he was married. Yes already, he replied, I'm married to music.

1992 was the last year that records were regularly manufactured in India. In 1996, one record/LP was made that entire year. It was the soundtrack to Shah Rukh Khan's movie, "Dil Tu Pagal Hai." ("Your Heart is Crazy.") In 2004, the soundtrack to the film "Veer Zaara" was released on LP in the UK as a special promotional copy. Pradeep bought this record via a friend in England. The album cost him 3500 rupees. One and a half month's salary. $87.50 in today's currency.

I spent this afternoon with Pradeep, his family and his LP collection. He has about 1000 records and even more audiocassettes that he gifts to friends.

"My mother loves music too," Pradeep told me, "But sometimes my family wonders why I waste money on records. My answer is, 'It is my life.' My two pillars in life are my girlfriend and music."

"What does your girlfriend think?" I asked.

"Never any comment. Actually, she likes it," he replied.

We spent the rest of the afternoon listening to records. Pradeep has a turntable hooked up to his computer. We spent the afternoon recording some songs from albums he had recently bought in Delhi, onto his computer. There he would play with the sound levels and remove scratches.

EMI records, CBS and the Gramaphone Company of India Limited, throughout the afternoon we listened to a variety of different albums from numerous eras. Even some 72s from the 1930s and 1940s that were pressed in England. We were interrupted by a wonderful lunch that Pradeep's mother cooked- Eggplant, Chana Masala and Puri. After lunch we headed back to the turntable, in fact a different turntable his brother made from spare parts.

Pradeep talked to me about his favorite musical director in Indian recording history, RD Burman. Pradeep has every RD Burman track ever produced, in all languages- Hindi, Tamil, Telegu, Marathi- you name it, Rd Burman produced it. Pradeep spends his evenings from 12-2am digitizing records. It's quiet then, he told me, all of India is sleeping. As he was telling me this Pradeep suddenly ducked beneath his desk and came up with a gem

"Oh listen to this man! No one has this in the world. Only here man, EMI records, they haven't made anything on cassette or CD. This is my favorite song of all time- "Aayega Mere Sapnonka Raja" (My Dream King Will Come). From the film 'Kaun? Kaisey?' Sung by Asha Bhosle, RD is the musical director. This is ultimate quality, man! Ultimate! Only here! Listen Brother, listen!"



a note on the side: this post is the beginning of a new tributary for ben's lenz. in the coming days, months, years and centuries the lens will start to profile wonderful, positive people, places, things, galaxies, flowers and clouds on this here spinning globe of diverse beauty, shapes, sizes, colors, songs and thunderstorms... keep on checking in...

love and health to all...