Chapter 16 : Palikindi “Aakasavaani “ (All India Radio Speaks)
But to reach there, first I needed to take a rickshaw, then catch a bus. After almost three hours of travel, I had to walk a little distance. Only then that house would appear.
During the summer holidays, if I wanted to go from Mangalagiri to my Chinnammamma’s house (grandmother’s sister) near the old bus stand in Nandigama - this entire journey was compulsory. I must have been eight or nine years old then.
Even today, that house is very special to me. So special that a single object I saw there gave me an identity in life — a motivation that helped me reach the recognition of a National Level Talent Award. What was that object? How did it change my life? I will try to explain.
There, a small wooden plank was fixed high on the wall, near the switchboard — far above the reach of children like me. A box was placed on that plank. Sometimes my Chinna Thaatha(grandfather’s younger brother) or one of his children would press a switch on the box.
To my surprise — lights would glow in it!
There was a thin slit on it — like a narrow window. Unless the switch was pressed, no one noticed it. But once the switch was on, a green light appeared through the slit.
In the middle, there was something like a scale with numbers printed on it,
and a red needle moved left and right on that scale when a round knob was turned left or right. And suddenly…
at one point — voices came out from that box!
For the first time in my life, I heard these words:
“Aakashavaani, Vijayawada Kendram, the time is six o’clock.” Voices… voices… Songs… songs… I was completely shocked! Who was speaking from inside that box?My little brain could not understand.
There was a small gap between the box and the wall. So I stood on tiptoes, stretched my neck, and peeped inside that gap. I thought I saw small round balls shining inside — Were those shining balls speaking? I didn’t know.
While I was thinking all this, suddenly a song started playing.
Again I tried peeping — No use!
There was no one inside as I imagined. But I kept hearing:“Aakashavaani Vijayawada Kendram…” So I named that speaking box — “Aakashavaani Box.”
My Chinna Thaatha laughed and corrected me: “Arey! Don’t call it like that! It is called Radio!” From then on, my interest in the speaking box kept growing. I learnt that radio is a device with many stations broadcasting a wide range ofprogrammes. When I was in high school, I not only heard the name Radio Ceylon, we used to listen to its programmes too!
The announcer Meenakshi Ponnudorai spoke Telugu so beautifully! There were Telugu broadcasts even from Radio Moscow!
Inspired by a Friend
After I joined Andhra Prabha, I came to know that there are hundreds of radio stations worldwide. My journalist friend Krishnam Raju used to write articles in our paper about radio stations of different countries. His knowledge amazed me. He lived in a tiled house, but it was full of books! Some of them contained details about radio programmes around the world.He always took good care of his books.
Love for books
I too have that habit.
Some books I bought during college days are still with me.Later, when I was working in “Taranga” Radio Station,finding my interest, our CEO Sri Rao garu sanctioned a small budget to me every month to buy books. When that organization shut down, they handed over hundreds of books to me. Today, I have nearly 500 books with me — about cinema, Telugu language and culture, and even books that show the greatness of other languages. Most of them are safely kept in my home at Nandigama.
Now at the age of 68, I sometimes feel — how long can I carry this load of books?
Moreover, with internet everywhere, books are now available in PDF form on mobile phones.
Though the love for reading hasn’t reduced, people don’t physically hold books as much these days.
But again and again I realised in my career — for a good radio programme, or TV show, or a special article, we have to refer to books. That is the strength of references.
Krishnam Raju had that quality more than anyone. Looking at him, I too wanted to improve that habit further. He told me many details about world radio stations and increased my interest in radio.
A Dream Fulfilled
That first experience of seeing the radio in my Chinnammamma’s house was strongly imprinted in my mind.So much that — I wished to work in such a radio station one day!
I wanted to sit in a radio studio and say: “Aakashavaani Vijayawada Kendram …” And listen to my favourite songs.God fulfilled that strong desire. Sitting in front of a microphone inside the Aakashavaani Vijayawada Station studio, looking at the clock in front of me, I began reading the news: “Aakashavaani Regional News, being read by —Turlapati Nagabhushana Rao.”
My first Visit to the Radio Station
My first visit to the radio station felt magical – like I had entered that childhood radio box! Later for a programmeme called “Nadusthunna Charitra” I recorded my script. The sound engineer appreciated it a lot. After that I got more opportunities in AIR, Vijayawada
Opportunities in “Aakashavaani” — Then and Now
When I first listened to a radio drama as a child, I was completely amazed. I did not wonder how all the actors were fitting into that little box, but I could not understand from where they were speaking. My radio feature “Adigo Harivillu”( Look there, Rainbow) won the National TalentAward.
Our First Home Radio
After seeing the radio at my aunt’s house, I desperately wanted one. Finally, a Philips radio was purchased by my Nanna when we were at Guntur . My excitement was indescribable. Friends came to see it. We fixed a long aerial wire – without it, only buzzing sounds came. We even renewed a radio licence every year at the post-office.
I loved listening to radio dramas – Ganapathi, Sakkubai, and comedies by Nanduri Subbarao and Puccha Purnanandam.(who attended my wedding)
Vishnu — The Magician
During my college days at Nandigama, my curiosity about radio increased even more. One day I casually asked my friend Vishnu: “Hey! Hey! How would it be if we start a radio station?”
That one question drilled straight into his brain! He loved technology. Even though he was studying Bi.P.C., his brain worked like that of an engineer. I am not exaggerating —even during college days he used to build different electronic devices.
So how would my suggestion go waste in such a mind?
My grandmother used to say: “Tathaasthu Devathalu (angels who grant ‘so be it’ ) are above us… They always approve good wishes!” Those divine blessings seemed to work here too! Whenever Vishnu went to Vijayawada, he would bring something new — especially gramophone records.
Seeing them in his hands gave me immense excitement.Though I had watched gramophone scenes in movies, I always thought such items were found only in rich people’s homes.
Now those very records had come into my hands — how could I not feel happy? On the record, in the centre, were details like movie name, singers, music director, record company etc. While reading them, I used to wish silently:“One day… may be my voice will also be recorded like this!”Sometimes our smart friends would joke: “Is the dog in the HMV logo male or female?”
Later we came to know HMV meant His Master’s Voice — so there was no doubt left!
Vishnu collected many records — small ones, big ones.
Once, my mother saw them and said:
“What are these?
They look like lids for big and small vessels! Are these?”
Even I felt the same then — some were like big dish covers,some like lids for milk vessels! All had a hole in the centre.Before grandma finished asking: “Why is there a hole in the middle, ra?”
Vishnu already jumped… literally!
Our houses were separated only by a common backyard wall.Just stepping on bricks placed as steps he would jump into our house in seconds. He came back like a rocket with a gramophone player in his hands! No surprise — he had already told me about it before.
Grandma stared at the box in shock. It looked like a small wooden suitcase,
with a handle fixed for carrying. He didn’t buy it from Vijayawada — he got it custom-made by a carpenter.
And it worked perfectly!
He proudly said so. He placed one record on the spindle,inserted the central hole properly,
and with a click of the button put down the needle — Sound started playing!
Vishnu had a huge collection of gramophone records of those times.
The Radio Dream Moves Forward…
Why these gramophone stories in the middle of radio talk?
Because it is all connected!
One day Vishnu brought Ghantasala (a very popular playback singer) Master’s Bhagavad Gita record.
Listening to that music,
I again shared my wish:
“Why can’t we set up a radio station?”
After a few days,
Vishnu happily said:
“We actually can start our own radio station!”
I was shocked and thrilled — as if I was riding an elephant!
He had already set up a personal phone line between our houses — with his knowledge of electronics from the books he studied. He even built the wooden receiver himself.
Though elders in his house didn’t like it, they tolerated him — poor fellow!
He stretched thin wires between our houses, supported by the backyard clothesline poles.
His mother used to cut them saying: “What nonsense is this blocking the way?”
As soon as she left, we used to connect them again! If Vishnu rang the bell from his room, the receiver in our house made a sound. I would lift the handle and hear his voice clearly —and he heard mine too. Success!
Even college lecturers asked him: “Did you build an intercom telephone system?”
Yes — both our houses were technically connected now. I felt all the raw material required for a radio station was now ready.
So I asked: “Can we set up a radio station at Nandigama?”
He studied all about wireless sets and drew diagrams on paper. Soon, he built a radio transmitter
capable of working in a kilometer range at a very low cost!
In those times,
Vividh Bharati programmes were very popular. Vishnu cleverly tuned our transmitter to operate right after those programmes ended.
I was the announcer. The small room near our verandah became the studio. All our family watched as if it was a magic show! I would announce from our house… and Vishnu played songs from his house in perfect sync! It was a wonderful experiment!
We didn’t know that running a radio station required a license.Some people at Nandigama
said they heard our broadcasts! The news spread like wildfire.
Meanwhile, the elders told us it was illegal without permission. So we stopped it.
Right or wrong — our creativity and love for radio became the talk of the town!
Later, Vishnu became a successful and popular Homeopathy doctor and I became a journalist. Our paths changed, but our friendship remains the same even today.
From Experiment to Revolution
Once, radio stations were only under government control.Then private FM stations arrived —
a huge revolution in broadcasting! Then came the Internet era — social media became a fast communication platform.Anyone can now start an online audio station or podcast!Some have big studios and broadcast innovative programmesattracting thousands of listeners.
I worked as Programme Director (India) for an audio station run by NRIs named “Taranga”.
I was blessed to design hundreds of programmes. On the occasion of 100 years of Indian cinema,
we broadcast 100 programmes continuously for 100 hours from India and America — a huge sensation! It got a place in the Telugu Book of Records.
But my passion didn’t stop there.
Later, I launched Channel 5 Radio Station on Facebook —presenting many good programmes.
Why am I telling you all this? Because — Technology has changed everything.
Now with apps, we can listen to any radio station in the world.
Earlier: Radio was a separate unit ; Phone was a separate unit; TV was a separate unit. But now Smartphone/ mobile phone emerged as the “All-in-one.”
I never imagined my radio story would have so many twists!
Who knows how many more changes will come?
May be one day, Artificial Intelligence will host radio programmes!
Who knows?
***
********
But to reach there, first I needed to take a rickshaw, then catch a bus.
After almost three hours of travel, I had to walk a little distance.
Only then that house would appear.
During the summer holidays, if I wanted to go from Mangalagiri to my Chinnammamma’s house near the old bus stand in Nandigama—
this entire journey was compulsory.
I must have been eight or nine years old then.
Even today, that house is very special to me.
So special that a single object I saw there gave me an identity in life —
a motivation that helped me reach the recognition of a National Level Talent Award.
What was that object?
How did it change my life?
I will try to explain.
There, a small wooden plank was fixed high on the wall, near the switchboard —
far above the reach of children like me.
A box was placed on that plank.
Sometimes my Chinna Thaatha or one of his children would go near that box and press a switch.
To my surprise — lights would glow on that box!
There was a small long line on it — like a narrow window.
Unless the switch was pressed, no one noticed it.
But once the switch was on, a green light would shine from there.
In the middle, there was something like a ruler with numbers printed on it,
and a red needle fixed to move on that scale.
By turning a round knob like a wheel, that red needle went left and right.
And suddenly…
at one point —
voices came out from that box!
For the first time in my life, I heard these words:
“Aakashavaani, Vijayawada Kendra,
The time is six o’clock.”
Voices… voices…
Songs… songs…
I was completely shocked!
Who was speaking from inside that box?
My little brain could not understand.
There was a small gap between the box and the wall.
So I stood on tiptoes, stretched my neck and peeped inside that gap.
I thought I saw small round balls shining inside —
Were those shining balls speaking?
I didn’t know.
While I was thinking all this, suddenly a song started playing.
Again I tried peeping —
No use!
There was no one inside as I imagined.
But I kept hearing:
“Aakashavaani Vijayawada Kendra…”
So I named that speaking box —
“Aakashavaani Box.”
My Chinna Thaatha laughed and corrected me:
“Arey! Don’t call it like that!
It is called a Radio!”
From then on, my interest in the speaking box kept growing.
I learnt that radio is a device with many stations,
and they broadcast different programs.
When I was in high school, I not only heard the name Radio Ceylon,
we used to listen to its programs too!
The announcer Meenakshi Ponnudorai spoke Telugu so beautifully.
There were Telugu broadcasts even from Radio Moscow!
A Friend Who Inspired Me
After I joined Andhra Prabha,
I came to know that there are hundreds of radio stations worldwide.
My journalist friend Krishnam Raju used to write articles in our paper
about radio stations of different countries.
His knowledge amazed me.
He lived in a tiled house,
but it was full of books!
Some of them contained details about radio programs around the world.
He always took good care of his books.
Love for books — I too have that habit.
Some books I bought during college days are still with me.
Later, when I was working in “Taranga” Radio Station,
seeing my interest, our CEO Sri Rao garu sanctioned
a small budget every month for me to buy books.
When that organization shut down,
they handed over hundreds of books to me.
Today, I have nearly 500 books with me —
about cinema, Telugu language and culture,
and even books that show the greatness of other languages.
Most of them are safely kept in Nandigama.
Now at 67 years of age
I sometimes feel —
how long can I carry this load of books?
Moreover, with internet everywhere,
books are now available in PDF form on mobile phones.
Though the love for reading hasn’t reduced,
people don’t physically hold books as much these days.
But again and again I realised in my career —
for a good radio program, or TV show, or a special article,
we have to refer to books.
That is the strength of references.
Krishnam Raju had that quality more than anyone.
Looking at him,
I too wanted to improve that habit further.
He told me many details about world radio stations
and increased my interest in radio.
⸻
A Dream Fulfilled
That first experience of seeing the radio
in my Chinnammamma’s house
was strongly imprinted in my mind.
So much that —
I wished to work in such a radio station one day!
I wanted to sit in a radio studio and say:
“Aakashavaani Vijayawada Kendra…”
And listen to my favourite songs.
God fulfilled that strong desire.
Sitting in front of a microphone
inside the Aakashavaani Vijayawada Station studio,
looking at the clock in front of me,
I began reading the news:
“Aakashavaani Regional News,
being read by —
Turlapati Nagabhushana Rao.”
*****
A Dream Fulfilled
That first experience of seeing the radio
in my Chinnammamma’s house
was strongly imprinted in my mind.
So much that —
I wished to work in such a radio station one day!
I wanted to sit in a radio studio and say:
“Vijayawada Kendra…”
And listen to my favourite songs.
God fulfilled that strong desire.
Sitting in front of a microphone
inside the Aakashavaani Vijayawada Station studio,
looking at the clock in front of me,
I began reading the news:
“Aakasavaaniopportunities — now and then. Here is the continued translation of Chapter 16 into simple Andhra-style English — same style, same flow
When I first listened to a radio drama as a child,
I was completely amazed.
I did not wonder how all the actors were fitting into that little box,
but I could not understand from where they were speaking.
Vishnu — The Magician
During my college days in Nandigama,
my curiosity about radio increased even more.
One day I casually asked my friend Vishnu:
“Hey! Hey! How would it be if we start a radio station?” How would it be if we start a radio station?”
That one question drilled straight into his brain!
He loved technology.
Even though he was studying Bi.P.C.,
his brain worked like an engineer’s.
I am not exaggerating —
even during college days
he used to build different electronic devices.
So how would my suggestion go waste in such a mind?
My grandmother used to say:
“Tathaasthu Devathalu are above us…
They always approve good wishes!”
Those divine blessings seemed to work here too!
Whenever Vishnu went to Vijayawada,
he would bring something new —
especially gramophone records.
Seeing them in his hands
gave me immense excitement.
Though I had watched gramophone scenes in movies,
I always thought such items belonged only in rich people’s homes.
Now those very records had come into my hands —
how could I not feel happy?
In the center of the record
were details like movie name,
singers,
music director,
record company etc.
While reading them, I used to wish silently:
“One day… maybe my voice will also be recorded like this!”
Sometimes our smart friends would joke:
“Is the dog in the HMV logo male or female?”
Later we came to know
HMV meant His Master’s Voice —
so there was no doubt left!
Vishnu collected many records —
small ones, big ones.
Once, my mother saw them and said:
“ “What are these?
They look like lids for big and small vessels!” are these?
They look like lids for big and small vessels!”
Even I felt the same then —
some were like big dish covers,
some like lids for milk vessels!
All had a hole in the center.
Before grandma finished asking:
“Why is there a hole in the middle, ra?”
Vishnu already jumped… literally!
Our houses were separated only by a common backyard wall.
Just stepping on bricks placed as steps
he would jump into our house in seconds.
He came back like a rocket
with a gramophone player in his hands!
No surprise — he had already told me about it before.
Grandma stared at the box in shock.
It looked like a small wooden suitcase,
with a handle fixed for carrying.
He didn’t buy it from Vijayawada —
he got it custom-made by a carpenter.
And it worked perfectly!
He proudly said so.
He placed one record on the spindle,
inserted the central hole properly,
and with a click of the button
put down the needle —
Sound started playing!
Vishnu had a huge record collection
for those times.
The Radio Dream Moves Forward…
Why these gramophone stories in the middle of radio talk?
Because it is all connected!
One day Vishnu brought Ghantasala Master’s Bhagavad Gita record.
Listening to that music,
I again shared my wish:
“Why can’t we set up a radio station?”
After a few days,
Vishnu happily said:
“We actually can start our own radio station!”
I was shocked and thrilled —
as if I climbed an elephant!
He had already set up a personal phone line
between our houses —
with his electronics knowledge
from the books he studied.
He even built the wooden receiver himself.
Though elders in his house didn’t like it,
they tolerated him — poor fellow!
He stretched thin wires between our houses,
supported by the backyard clothesline poles.
His mother used to cut them saying:
“What nonsense is this blocking the way?”
As soon as she left,
we used to connect them again!
If Vishnu rang the bell from his room,
the receiver in our house made a sound.
I would lift the handle
and hear his voice clearly —
and he heard mine too.
Success!
Even college lecturers asked him:
“Did you build an intercom telephone system?”
Yes — both our houses were technically connected now.
I felt all the raw material required for a radio station
was now ready.
So I asked:
“Can we set up a radio station in Nandigama?”
He studied all about wireless sets
and drew diagrams on paper.
Soon, he built a radio transmitter
capable of working in a kilometer range
at a very low cost!
In those times,
Vividh Bharati programs were very popular.
Vishnu cleverly tuned our transmitter
to operate right after those programs ended.
I was the announcer.
The small room near our verandah
became the studio.
All our family watched
like it was a magic show!
I would announce from our house…
and Vishnu played songs from his house
in perfect sync!
It was a wonderful experiment!
We didn’t know that
running a radio station
required a license.
Some people in Nandigama
said they heard our broadcasts!
The news spread like wildfire.
Meanwhile, the elders told us
it was illegal without permission.
So we stopped it.
Right or wrong —
our creativity and love for radio
became the talk of the town!
Later, Vishnu became a Homeopathy doctor
and I became a journalist.
Our paths changed,
but our friendship remains the same even today.
From Experiment to Revolution
Once, radio stations were only under government control.
Then private FM stations arrived —
a huge revolution in broadcasting!
Then came the Internet era —
social media became a fast communication platform.
Anyone can now start
an online audio station or podcast!
Some have big studios
and broadcast innovative programs
attracting thousands of listeners.
I worked as Program Director (India)
for an audio station run by NRIs named “Taranga”.
I was blessed to design hundreds of programs.
On the occasion of
100 years of Indian cinema,
we broadcast 100 programs continuously
for 100 hours
from India and America —
a huge sensation!
It entered the Telugu Book of Records.
But my passion didn’t stop there.
Later, I launched
Channel 5 Radio Station on Facebook —
presenting many good programs.
Why am I saying all this?
Because —
ry easy.
Technology has changed everything.
Now with apps,
we can listen to any radio station in the world.
Earlier:
Radio = separate
Phone = separate
TV = separate
Now:
Smartphone = All-in-one
I never imagined
my radio story would have so many twists!
Who knows how many more changes will come?
Maybe one day
Artificial Intelligence
will host radio programs…
Who knows?
Later, I wrote a radio feature called “Adigo Harivillu”
which won the National Talent Award —
another sweet memory.
That feature was broadcast from the Hyderabad station.
(About radio features and drama scripts — I will tell you another time!)
⸻
A New Radio Entered Our Home…
Ever since I saw the radio at Chinnammamma’s house,
one doubt always crossed my mind —
“Why don’t we have such a box in our house?”
I told my elder brother,
he told my mother…
my mother told my father…
and after some time,
a radio finally arrived in our home!
By then, we had already moved
from Mangalagiri to a rented house in Guntur.
The moment I heard a radio was coming home,
my eyes were always waiting near the gate.
Whenever a rickshaw appeared at the end of the street,
I thought —
“Is it coming to our house?”
So much excitement!
And finally… that moment arrived.
They brought the radio carefully into the house.
Honestly,
it was even more beautiful than the one I saw at Nandigama.
It was a Philips radio.
Day by day,
my love for that cute radio kept growing.
Just touching it gave me a kind of vibration of joy.
My friends were tired of hearing me talk only about that radio!
Some friends even came home just to have a look at it.
Along with the radio,
there was a long ribbon-like structure made of copper wire mesh.
If we tied it from one corner of the house to another near the ceiling,
the radio would catch signals clearly
and speak sweetly!
They called it an Aerial.
If it wasn’t fixed properly,
even if you turned the tuning knob again and again,
all you would hear was:
“gharr… gurrr… thrrr….”
Not the devotional songs in the morning
or Harikathas at night!
In those days, you needed a license to keep a radio at home.
Once every year,
my brother and I used to go to the post office
to renew that license.
I don’t know if that system still exists today.
But anyway…
how many people are keeping a physical radio at home now?
The device may change,
but the love for radio still remains.
Listening to radio dramas on Sundays
became a big habit during my college days.
I still remember dramas like Ganapathi and Sakkubai.
I listened to many comedy dramas too.
Actors like Nanduri Subbarao and Puchcha Poornanandam
just made us laugh by speaking!
Poornanandam garu even acted in movies.
He also came as a guest for my wedding.
I still remember he gifted a steel tumbler as marriage present.
He was a close friend of my father-in-law,
Sri Mannava Giridhara Rao garu.
Listening to comedy dramas on radio
made the whole family burst into laughter.
But in those days,
I never imagined that I too would write
two or three comedy radio plays for
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