An antique dealer's tryst with history

D S Sreenivasa Murthy, who runs Seethaphone on the Avenue Road, is one of the best known antique dealers in Bengaluru. He has an exciting private collection which he says is not for sale. On the eve of the Republic Day, Deccan Herald visited him to explore his precious collection, most of which pertain to the Independence era. 

One of Murthy’s most prized collection is a speech made by Gandhiji just after his first visit to Mysore state. It was recorded in Madras and processed in London. 

He also has a few patriotic songs recorded by the Indian National Army. There is a recording of the INA’s national anthem sung by an unidentified male singer. There is also a song Subhashji, Subhashji sung by S N Saraswathi. 

Both of these were possibly recorded in Japan. 

Murthy is very emotional about a Mohammad Rafi song, Suno Suno Yeh Duniya Walho from the film Bapu ki Amar Kahani. Sung to celebrate Gandhiji’s life, the song moves him to tears even today.

Murthy inherited these records from his father Seetharama Shetty, who set up Seethaphone in 1924. He dropped out of school to be part of the antique business, a passion which still keeps him going.

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