System for Museums & Archives for Research and Access to Knowledge
| Place | Plassanal |
|---|---|
| State | Kerala |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 2015 |
| Museum Type | Cultural / Heritage / Audio Archive |
| National Importance Museum | No |
| Address | Ampara - Plassanal Rd, Plassanal, Kerala 686579 |
| Visiting Time | 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM (By Appointment Only Recommended to call at least 24 hours in advance.) |
| Entry Fee | Free Entry |
Opened to the public on January 25, 2015, this museum is the culmination of Sunny Mathew's 30-year passion for collecting audio technology. It is housed in a purpose-built two-storey building next to his residence and serves as a vital research center for the history of sound recording in India.
The archive contains over 100,000 gramophone records (shellac and vinyl) and more than 250 gramophones and phonographs. It also houses vintage cars, antique sewing machines, film projectors, and traditional household implements.
Oldest Indian Recording: Includes the first recorded music in India—a 1902 recording of 14-year-old Soshi Mukhi. Patriotic Speeches: Rare audio clips of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sarojini Naidu, and Jawaharlal Nehru. Cylinder Records: Rare phonograph cylinders dating back to the late 19th century.
| Video URL | https://youtu.be/WlTelat66sA?si=dKzkU1SEQmnch_Sm |
|---|---|
| Video Courtesy | HISTORY TV18 YT Channel |
| Archaeological Survey of India | No |
| Notes | Entry is strictly by prior appointment to ensure a personal guided tour by the founder himself. The museum also offers homestay facilities for serious researchers and music enthusiasts. |
| Artifacts | E. Berliner’s 7-inch single-side record (1898); Victorian external floral horn gramophones; Portable Decca suitcase gramophones; Webster Chicago Wire Recorder (1948); Antique Singer sewing machines. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details | +91 81370 20285 / +91 93874 73424 |
| Email ID | sunny@discsmachines.in |
