Today is World Radio Day as well as Global Movie Day. And I love the radio and of course the movies too. This is my attempt to honor both with a listing of 35 movies featuring the radio; and my personal ode (not a poetic one though) to them.

Thinking about the radio brings back fond memories of childhood.

My Ode to The Radio and the Movies

The Radio

When the radio was almost the only source of entertainment on a daily basis.; and listening to the famed radio anchor Ameen Sayani never failed to bring a smile on our faces (it still does today).

When the only sounds were of that familiar signature tune of All India Radio or Akashvani (“Voice from the Sky”) filling the silence, and I listened long into the night as I sat in our darkened balcony to songs that I memorized over the years. For the television only made its appearance in our tiny town when I was almost ten. So of course the radio along with the trusty cassette player were our primary sources of entertainment.

The Movies

And yes, of course movies. We had one movie screened each week in our town’s single theater; we would all trudge along with friends and family.

While there were tickets to purchase, we could choose to sit down on a carpeted area right in the front, or on rows of foldable steel chairs that were placed behind those choosing to sit down. And finally, for those who purchased a slightly higher priced ticket, they could sit on the more comfortable seats in the upper balcony area.

It was fun then, and today it is pure nostalgia. In the early years, when we were little, we went with family and sat on the carpeted area. That way, little ones could fall asleep comfortably and parents would carry them back home. Later, we went with our besties and picked a row where we could watch while we chatted to our heart’s content.

Sometimes, for an additional treat, my parents would take us to the neighboring town which had three movie theaters, and we could pick and choose!! One of the movies I recall watching as a treat was Disney’s The Jungle Book.

The End (Well, Intermission for This Post!)

So yes, both the radio and movies bring back nostalgic memories of my early childhood; even more so than the TV.

What about you? What are your favorite memories around the radio or movies?

Here are some movies I found that feature the radio in one way or the other. Note I have not watched many of these movies.

So here is my list of

35 Movies Featuring the Radio

• Alan Partridge (2013)
• The Big Broadcast (1932)
• Born in Flames (1983)
• Contact (1997)
• Corporate FM (2012)
• Dil Se.. (1998)
• A Face in the Crowd (1957)
• Falling for You (2018 TV Movie)
• The First Grader (2010)
• The Fisher King (1991)
• FM (1978)
• Frequency (2000)
• Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) – I watched and loved this years ago.
• The Great American Broadcast (1941)
• High Frequency (1988)
• Jacob the Liar (1999)
• Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) – A heartwarming comedy.
• Love on the Air(2015)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – The radio makes a brief appearance in this delightfully quirky movie I watched with my teen a few days ago! And it has got Clooney…
• Pirate Radio (2009)
• Play Misty For Me (1971)
• A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
• Pump Up the Volume (1990)
• Radio Days (1987)
• Radio Rebel (2012 TV Movie) – A movie I watched
• Radioland Murders (1994)
• Salaam Namaste (2005) – A Hindi movie that is a lighthearted romance.
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – A classic, need I say more?
• Sometimes in April (2005 TV Movie)
• Talk Radio (1988)
• Talk to Me (2007)
• The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) – A cute watch!
• Tumhari Sulu (2017) – A Hindi movie that is a refreshingly fresh breath of air and heartwarming.
• Tune in Tomorrow (1990)
• The Vast of Night (2019)

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And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you watched any of these movies? Your thoughts on them? Any specific ones I should watch first (among those I am yet to watch)? Any other recommendations?