Akashvani

Akashvani (All India Radio) has been the soundtrack to Indian life for over 80 years. You'll hear everything from Lata Mangeshkar's golden-era film songs to morning ragas that make you slow down. The programming is predictable but dependable - which for many listeners is exactly the point. The morning slot drags with public service announcements, but stick around for the afternoon when the music picks up. It's not trying to be hip or discover underground artists. That's not its job. Instead, Akashvani serves as India's audio backbone, connecting rural villages and urban homes with the same fre…