India’s Vinyl Revival Finds Its Groove

AFP/APP

Mumbai: After decades of silence, vinyl records are spinning their way back into the Indian music industry. Saji Pillai, a veteran of Mumbai’s entertainment scene, has launched what he claims is the first vinyl pressing plant in India in decades.

The plant melts plastic pellets into records, bringing back the warm, nostalgic crackle of classic Bollywood tunes. Pillai, 58, said his decision to invest in the plant came after observing a “growing interest” in vinyl among Indian music fans. While the revival mirrors global trends in countries like the United States, Britain, and Brazil, the Indian market remains smaller due to lower disposable incomes.

However, younger audiences are embracing the format, joining global fans of vinyl records. Pillai, who began pressing records in August, said the local plant helps cut down on shipping times and import taxes, enabling a focus on Indian artists from Bollywood to indie pop.

Globally, vinyl has seen a resurgence, with retailers like Walmart stocking records and megastars such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish fueling demand. While Pillai acknowledges the challenges of the industry, he remains optimistic, describing the market as “slowly growing.”