Bollywood and Indian Radio: Hindi Film Music, Ghazals and Regional Stations Online
October 13, 2026 · Updated November 02, 2026
India has one of the largest and most varied radio cultures in the world. Music from films, devotional songs, classical and folk traditions and regional pop all reach listeners through a mix of public broadcasting, private FM stations and, more recently, online streams. If you want to hear Hindi film songs or music in another Indian language, online radio is a convenient way to do it from anywhere. This guide explains how Indian radio developed and how to find the sounds you want.
A short history of radio in India
Regular radio in India began in the late 1920s. The Indian Broadcasting Company started stations in Bombay (now Mumbai) and Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1927. The service was taken over by the government and, in 1936, became All India Radio, also known by the Hindi name Akashvani. For many years All India Radio was the main radio broadcaster across the country, with programmes in many languages and dialects.
Vividh Bharati and the popularity of film songs
Film music has been central to Indian popular culture for decades. Vividh Bharati, an entertainment service of All India Radio that began broadcasting in October 1957, played a large part in bringing film songs into homes across the country. It offered requests, interviews and themed programmes, and its mix of songs and spoken segments became a model for later stations. For many listeners, music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s is still strongly associated with it.
The arrival of private FM
For a long time, radio in India was almost entirely government run. Private FM stations began broadcasting in the early 2000s, and they brought a different style: faster-paced presenters, shorter songs, call-ins and a focus on current film hits. Private networks now operate in many cities, with a mix of music, humour and local information. Public broadcasters continue to run national and regional services, including news bulletins, cultural programmes and music in many languages.
What is Bollywood music?
The term Bollywood usually refers to the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai. Most of the songs in these films are recorded by "playback" singers, who sing for actors on screen, and film soundtracks are often released before the films themselves. Styles range from romantic ballads and dance numbers to devotional songs and modern pop and electronic fusion. On Eiwim you can find these under Bollywood, and you can browse stations in Hindi for general listening.
Beyond film songs
- Ghazals are poetic songs with roots in Urdu verse, usually sung to gentle accompaniment and valued for their lyrics.
- Qawwali is devotional music with powerful group vocals and rhythmic clapping, associated with Sufi traditions.
- Bhajans and devotional songs are widely played in the morning and at religious festivals.
- Classical music, both Hindustani and Carnatic, has a loyal audience and is often broadcast on public radio.
- Folk and regional music varies across states, from Punjabi bhangra to Bengali songs and Rajasthani folk tunes.
Regional languages
India has many languages, and radio reflects that. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and others all have their own film industries and radio audiences. You can find Tamil film songs under Tamil, and you can explore the languages page to see what is available. Even if you do not speak the language, listening to a different regional style is a good way to hear how varied Indian music is.
How to find Indian stations on Eiwim
- Start with the Bollywood category for Hindi film music.
- Browse stations by language, such as Hindi or Tamil, to find talk, devotional and regional content.
- Use the countries page to look at stations from India and from countries with large Indian communities.
- Save your favourites so you can return quickly. The number of Indian stations on the directory can change over time, so check back occasionally for new ones.
Listening for language practice
Film songs are a popular way to learn Hindi and other Indian languages, because the lyrics are simple, repeated and sung clearly. For speech practice, news bulletins and talk programmes are a good choice, as they use everyday vocabulary. Our guide to learning a language with online radio explains a simple method.
Radio for the Indian diaspora
Online radio has been a great help for people living outside India. A student in Europe, a worker in the Gulf or a family in North America can tune in to a Mumbai or Delhi station as easily as someone at home. It keeps listeners in touch with music, news and festivals, and many diaspora communities also run their own stations, serving a local audience in Hindi, Punjabi or other languages.
Tips for a better experience
- Time zones matter. A morning show in India is the middle of the night in many other places, so check when your favourite programme runs.
- Many Indian stations stream at modest bitrates, which is fine for speech and acceptable for music. See our guide to bitrate and stream quality.
- If a stream stops, refresh the page and try again, or consult 8 fixes for a stream that will not play.
Who makes a film song?
Understanding how a film song is credited helps you follow what presenters say on air. A Hindi film song usually has three main creative roles. The music director composes the tune and arranges it. The lyricist writes the words, and in Hindi film history many lyricists are celebrated for their poetry. The playback singer records the vocals that an actor lip-syncs on screen. Radio presenters often mention all three, and requests programmes are a good way to learn which names appear most often in the songs you love.
Festival seasons
Indian radio changes mood with the calendar. In festival seasons, stations add devotional songs, themed film music and special shows with listener greetings, so the same station can sound quite different from one week to the next. If you are listening from abroad, tuning in during a festival is a good way to feel connected to home.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vividh Bharati?
It is an entertainment service of All India Radio that began in 1957 and is known for playing film songs and light programmes.
When did private FM radio start in India?
Private FM stations began broadcasting in the early 2000s, after years in which radio was run mostly by the government.
Can I listen to Indian radio from outside India?
Yes, in most cases. Many stations stream online, although a few restrict some content by region for rights reasons.
Where can I find old Hindi songs?
Look at the Bollywood category and at stations that mention classics, retro or old gold in their names or descriptions.
Explore more styles on the genres page.