His collection is on record

Bengaluru based retired banker M Purushothaman talks about has an extensive collection of vinyls and amplifiers

Vinyl was dead, erased from stores and homes to be replaced by tapes, CDs and finally went digital. In the late 2000s, however, vinyl saw a resurgence finding space with collectors, who valued the aesthetics and performance and M Purushothaman is one such. The retired Reserve Bank of India (RBI) employee is a music buff. “I enjoy everything from Blues and Country to pop and Indian classical music.”

Purushothaman transitioned from listening to music on vinyl to cassettes and then CD. “When the switch to digital happened, I decided not to venture down that path. I started collecting vinyl records.”

Describing himself as a blue-blooded Bangalorean, Purushothaman graduated from St Joseph’s College in 1969. A walk through his home in Indiranagar reveals his passion for music, with the first floor transformed into a music studio. Purushothaman designed the house, which is a reflection of the past kept alive in the present.

While LPs occupy the main room of this floor, the small bedroom is converted into a museum housing rare and vintage cassette players, tape decks, and walkmans including Nachamichi and Techniques players.

Purushothaman says he travelled to Colombo to buy the Techniques player. He is one of few to own Wharfedale speakers. “They suddenly went off the market. I wanted it and so got it.” Purushotaman uses all the speakers (a collection of 10) to listen to music.

“These are Japanese makes and I have had them for almost 20 years,” Purushothaman says, pointing at a stereo system connected to a tape recorder. Amazingly, every piece of equipment is in working condition as Purushothaman shows by playing music on almost every machine. We listen to Bob Marley on the tape deck and head back to the vinyl section.

“It has taken me years to collect these and it is also a huge investment.” Purushothaman has more than 1,500 vinyl plates, over 600 cassettes, and 800 CDs, all of which are in playable condition. “Cassettes are mainly pop, and I have Indian classical to jazz, rock and country music on vinyl.”