Ameen Sayani, the iconic radio presenter of the popular show “Binaka Geet Mala”, died of a heart attack on Tuesday (20th Feb, 2024). He was 91 years old. Sayani’s son Rajil Sayani confirmed the news of his father’s death. He said his father suffered a heart attack on Tuesday night after which he took him to HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai, where he breathed his last. “Doctors at the hospital treated him but could not save him and he was declared dead,” Rajil said.
Family Background
Born in 1932, Amin Sayani belonged to a family where literature and language were of utmost importance. He used to assist his mother Kulsoom Sayani in editing a fortnightly magazine called “Rahber”, which was started by Mahatma Gandhi. It was published simultaneously in Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati, while his brother was the noted English broadcaster Hamid Sayani. Amin Sayani started his career in 1951 with Radio Ceylon.
Professional Life
“नमस्कार भाईयों और बहनो, मैं आपका दोस्त अमीन सयानी बोल रहा हूँ,” the voice coming from the radio set, which at that time looked like a large wooden box, enthralled audiences in recently independent India. He eschewed the serious tone of radio presenters and used a style and language that was both accessible and informative. His presentation and show became an instant hit when All India Radio banned the broadcast of any Bollywood numbers. It also became a medium to promote Saral Hindustani, which connected with people across the country.
His show, Binaka Geetmala, which began as a 30-minute program on Radio Ceylon, became popular in the 1950s. It went through many name changes but never lost its essence – Binaka Geetmala, Hit Parade and Cibaaka Geetmala. It ran from 1952 to 1994, and was revived in the early Zero Hour; It also moved stations and was later broadcast on Vividh Bharati of All India Radio.
As a voiceover artist, he holds the record of hosting and transcribing more than 54,000 radio programs. He also has a record in his name in the Limca Book of Records for his contribution to around 19,000 jingles as a voiceover artist.
He also had fans for his interactions with the stars of the golden era – like when he asked Lata Mangeshkar tough questions about royalty issues with Mohammed Rafi and difficult questions related to marriage when Kishore Kumar interviewed himself on his show or His interview with Raj Kapoor.
Bottom Line
Tributes are being paid to Amin Sayani on social media, who helped popularize All India Radio in India. A fan tweeted, “Binaka Geetmala will always remain eternal. Thank you for the music and memories. RIP, Ameen Sayani Saab.” Another wrote, “Have very fond memories of Binaka Geetmala during my childhood… Amin Sayani was a legend at that time… Rest in peace, sir.”
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