MUMBAI: Saregama India is hosting a music exhibition at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai (formerly, the Prince of Wales Museum). The exhibition aims to take visitors through the transformation of Indian music in the past 110 years. Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar inaugurated the exhibition on Friday. The exhibition will last till 30 September, 2008.

The month long exhibition will take music lovers through the past few decades of Indian music. Right from the first machine to record sound – the rare Edison's Phonograph to modern gadgets, the researched presentation is an era wise display of music, musicians and audio technology. Although, the mention of the words 'history' and 'museum' coming from a century old company brings out dull imagery, care has been exercised to design the entire exhibition with a highly engrossing feel.

There will be several 'listening stations' where visitors can listen to historic recordings like the first ever song to be recorded and sung by Gahaur Jan and also the original recordings of great speeches by Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Nehru and other national leaders. The exhibition will play nostalgic music from regional languages as well. Other connoisseur artefacts include early period record players, record cutting machines, earliest microphones, coloured records and many other artefacts will also be on display.

Commenting on this initiative, RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka said, "Saregama is extremely proud to be a driving force behind this exhibition- an effort to spread the immortal & rich music heritage that we house and we are happy to have the association of the city's museum which offers an ideal setting. No music lover should miss it".

The songs from Pasand Meri, Geet Sathiyon ke are handpicked by the nightingale herself and are her favourites. Commenting on this elaborate display of culture and the special occasion owing to the launch of the compilation album Pasand Meri, Geet Sathiyon ke Lata Mangeshkar said "I have always liked to hear some of my own colleagues like Manna Dey, Mohd. Rafi and also amongst the new generation singers I like to listen to Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy. I am delighted that Saregama India Ltd has thought of this unique concept by releasing an album of my favourite tracks sung by some of my favourite singers."

Karaoke and a recording studio will add flavour to the environment. It will enable the understanding of the recording experience where one can actually record and playback one's own voice through different eras in recording. . Workshops on various forms of music will also be conducted on weekends by distinguished musicologists in the field. Prominent singers like Suresh Wadkar, Bhupendra Singh, Sonu Nigam & Kavita Krishnamoorthy will also be a part of the exhibition in the form of special interactive public meetings.

To carry back memories of the exhibition, the music label will be offering special exhibition commemorative CDs for sale at the venue at a special price.