Vividh Bharati

The Vividh Bharati (Hindi: विविध भारती, Telugu: వివిధ భారతి) Service of All India Radio was conceptualized to combat Radio Ceylon in 1957. Within no time it proved to be a popular channel of every household. Vividh Bharati radio channel was launched on October 2, 1957. The service provides entertainment for nearly 15 to 17 hours a day. It presents a mix of film music, skits, short plays and interactive programmes, Some of the old popular programmes of Vividh Bharati are 'Sangeet Sarita', 'Bhule Bisre Geet', Hawa Mahal, 'Jaimala', 'Inse Miliye', 'Chhaya Geet' etc., are still distinctly recognized by the listeners. From time to time new programmes were introduced like 'Biscope Ke Batein', 'Sargam Ke Sitare', 'Celluloid Ke Sitare', 'Sehatnama', &' Hello Farmaish'.

All these programmes are produced centrally at Vividh Bharati Service, Borivili, Mumbai and up-linked to the satellite. 40 Vividh Bharati stations across the country down-linked these programmes through captive earth stations provided at each of these AIR stations. Some local programme windows are also provided at these stations to give regional flavour to the listeners. These 40 Vividh Bharati stations are known as Commercial Broadcasting Service Stations and are located at all major and commercially vibrant cities covering 97% of the Indian population.

Over the years a number prominent people from Hindi cinema have lent their voice to the channel, including, Lata Mangeshkar and actors Raaj Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, who worked as a radio broadcaster in his early career, many celebrities take part in the popular show Vishesh Jaimala to encourage Indian Army and BSF soldiers. Today its archives which started the record of film, Yehudi Ki Beti in 1933, has 22,000 ghazals, geets and Hindi film songs. The station celebrated its golden anniversary on October 2, 2007.