NIneta-old R. Sundaravadanan fell in love not with music, but with a mechanism that brought music to the table during his teenage days. In the early 1960s in Thiruvananthapuram with Sundaravadanan, who had access to the library next to the University of Keral campus, he attached to technical books on sound electronics and engineering behind them.
A quick move forward to 2025, Sundaravadanan, known as the “Stylus Mani” among antique collectors, is one of the only audio -electrical repair experts in these parts who can repair the damaged stylus and reconstruct parts of the vintage record. Mani spends his days in a small seminar in his house in Paruthippara, Thiruvananthapurama, surrounded by a pile of vintage record players, spare parts and tools stacked over others.
“It started like a hobby – deconstruction of electrical equipment, radio and recording players. Since childhood, my interest has always been in a screwdriver, winding wires, etc. As a teenager, everything I ever wanted to do was working on the rotary tables, making radios and other sound devices,” says Mani. It became a career for Mani without even realizing it. He founded a radio and electronics repair shop called Audio Electronics. Gradually, the recorders from the mainstream tables took over and took over the writers. Mani has also adapted for a moment of progress in technology.
Later, when the television became common, Mani turned to build amplifiers and speakers in his home workshop, where he works today. Over the years, Mani’s craft had more customers because Vintage turntable and turntable were grew. Orally he soon became known as “stylus mani”, with a gift of work with the complexity of the stylus.
During COVID-19 locked, Mani discovered Internet options. He began to advertise his service on the web that opened the door questions from all over the country.
Nationwide glory
Today, antique collectors from different countries send their equipment to repair. Mani, who is a typical old school man, still prefers and trusts the post of India for all his expeditions.
When one enters the narrow passage around the gates to the old mani residence in Thiruvananthapurama, Time feels frozen songs from the 1950 Hinde film, which Dastan plays loudly.
Mani works quietly in his workshop, without over time.
What began as a hobby became a career and in his old age returned to the hobby, similar to the cyclic nature of life.
Keen Eye: Mani checks the stylus of the turntable.
Hands On: R. Sundaravanan Aka Stylus Mani working on a turntable in his workshop in Thiruvananthapuram.
Trade tools: Some of the tools that Mani uses in his workshop.
On the table: A collection of styluses is waiting to be repaired
Melodies Restoring: Mani tests a renossed turntable in its home workshop.
Mining Master: Mani works on a turntable.
Old Is Gold: Mani plays his favorite old music record at work.
Complicated work: Mani checks the turntable stylus.
Music in Movement: The amplified note of the stylus smoothly follows the grooves of the recording.
Published – August 24, 2025 09:33 IS
