Ameen Sayani iconic voice behind ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ no more – he was 91
Ameen Sayani iconic voice behind ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ no more – he was 91
Acclaimed radio personality Ameen Sayani, the iconic voice behind ‘Binaca Geetmala’, breathed his last night (Tuesday 20 February) died at the age of 91. His son Rajil Sayani confirmed the sad news on Wednesday.
Rajil informs that on Tuesday night his father suffered a heart attack and was rushed to
H N Reliance hospital in South Mumbai around 6 pm, after he complained of chest pain. Though the doctors couldn’t be saved.
“He passed away last night of heart attack at H N Reliance hospital. He was rushed to the hospital last evening around 6:00pm after he complained of chest pain. The doctors tried
to revive him but he passed away around 7:00pm.
Sayani, whose introduction ‘Namaste behno aur bhaiyon, main aapka dost Ameen Sayani bol raha hoon’ on Radio Ceylon still evokes strong nostalgia amongst listeners.
He had a creative flair since childhood and when he was 13, he started writing for his mother’s fortnightly journal ‘Rehbar’ which was also the age when he became a proficient broadcaster in English and started participating in children’s programmes on the English service of All India Radio Bombay.
Sayani, however, was rejected when he auditioned to present in Hindustani because of a slight tinge of Gujarati accent in his voice.
When the then Minister for Information and Broadcasting, B V Keskar banned Hindi songs from AIR, Radio Ceylon started to become popular, which was then broadcasts from Colombo, started to boom.
Sayani got an opportunity to host ‘Binaca Geetmala’ on Radio Ceylon in December 1952 and never looked back.
A first of its kind show, the show ran from 1952 to 1994 to massive popularity for 42 long years.
With variations in its name, it continued to woo listeners in the early 2000s too.
PM Modi, condoling the passing away of Ameen Sayani, on his X (twitter) wrote that his golden voice on the airwaves had a charm and warmth that endeared him to people across generations. Through his work, he played an important role in revolutionising Indian broadcasting and nurtured a very special bond with his listeners. Saddened by his demise.
RIP Ameen Sayani.
News Edit K.V.Raman