Joe Cocker, The Who, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Santana and Ten Years After — this record, The Songs from Woodstock 1969, had all my favourites. As I picked it out from among a bunch of other records, I couldn’t help but marvel at the collection of Western pop music at this shop, aptly named Western Pop Music. Tucked away on 18, Mirza Ghalib Street (or Free School Street), the little store is run by Tarakeshwar Rao, fondly known as Munna, who is an avid record collector and has been working here since 1993.
Free School Street is but a small part of Kolkata’s musical fabric. The City of Joy has had a close association with music from time immemorial and the few lovely vinyl shops tucked away in the city are a melting pot of musical genres, and Munna’s shops offer you a chance to dive headfirst into that heady mix.
Free School Street is but a small part of Kolkata’s musical fabric and a haunt for people looking for old records Amit Datta
A hidden gem
Munna lives right above the shop and his little record store is his home, and his life. He runs two shops on this stretch of Free School Street — Western Pop Music, which belongs to his uncle, and Vinyl Street Store, which is his own. Munna’s uncle is too old to come to the record store anymore, so his trusty nephew does his bit for him, managing both stores every day from 10am to 9pm without any extra help.
The eldest child of the family, Munna was born at The Lady Dufferin Victoria Hospital in central Kolkata’s Bowbazar area in 1978. As the eldest brother in a traditional Indian family of modest means, he took on the duty of getting his younger siblings settled in life. With sibling grown up, and most of his family duties fulfilled, he invests all his time in his two record stores. And he is very proud of his veritable collection.
Munna lives right above the shop and his little record store is his home, and his life Amit Datta, Rayomand Engineer
“I have everything. Mohammed Rafi, Kishor Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, RD Burman, and more” he said beaming. The enviable collection at both Western Pop Music and Vinyl Street Store has almost every conceivable LP you could think of. From iconic Bengali artistes like Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar, Bhupen Hazarika, Sandhya Mukherjee, Firoza Begum, Kanika Banerjee and Runa Laila — to name a few — to Western music legends. Lovers of Western pop will be spoilt for choice at Munna’s store. He has all the favourites, from Elvis, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd, to Metallica, AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Led Zeppelin.
Some of the LPs in Munna's collection Amit Datta
When asked where he sources the records from, he reveals his various sources — from people’s homes to social media. “I source them from people who don’t use them anymore. Then there are WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups of enthusiasts as well.”
Record lovers unite
Munna’s clientele is not limited to Kolkatans alone. “My customers come from Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata, and some from Delhi,” he said, adding that while people buy all sorts of music, there are certain favourites that are always requested. His shop has attracted a fair share of celebrities as well including singers Anup Ghoshal, Ajoy Chakrabarty, Jojo and Anjan Dutta.
Munna’s clientele is not limited to Kolkatans alone, but come from Bengaluru, Mumbai and many other cities Rayomand Engineer
While the growing culture of streaming and downloading thanks to the Internet brought an initial slump, there’s an air of positivity when Munna mentioned that “things are better now.” As someone who loves records, this was a comforting statement to hear in this digital age, when almost everything is available. However, time is coming full circle for the LP and it remains in demand by two kinds of people. Those who play the records and those who collect them, putting them up for display in their sleeves
A tradition lives on
Today, Munna sells anywhere between 100 to 200 vinyls a month, worth Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000. While the shop doesn’t see a line of customers on a day-to-day basis, people come seeking LPs of their favourite artistes. People also Google the shop and make appointments to come buy vinyl here.
Vinyl is seeing a resurgence of sorts, and while the shop doesn’t see a line of customers on a day-to-day basis, people return seeking LPs of their favourite artistes Amit Datta
Few things match the feeling of holding a physical record. What’s more, acquiring a vinyl is almost impossible nowadays, because only a couple of companies still manufacture records in India. Having said that, vinyl is seeing a resurgence of sorts. Reportedly, in 2023, the sales of records globally surpassed the sales of CDs for the first time in 17 years. Yet, vinyl remains extremely difficult to find and when you do find the record you’re looking for, it is often expensive since it is imported. Shops like Munna’s Western Pop Music are a gem for music lovers, and for Munna his work is his sole focus.
Estranged from his wife since 2019, and his familial duties behind him, Munna’s sole focus are his two stores, and his love of music and records. “Music is my life. If not for music, I wouldn’t be around.”
Acquiring a vinyl is almost impossible nowadays, because only a couple of companies still manufacture records in India
Next time you’re exploring the treasure of old books and eclectic fashion in this central Kolkata neighbourhood, remember to soak in the atmosphere and buy a few records at Western Pop Music and Vinyl Street Store.
What: Western Pop Music
Where: 18, Mirza Ghalib St, Fire Brigade Head Quarter, Esplanade, Dharmatala, Taltala
Timings: Every day, 10am - 9pm
