Ameen Sayani was a renowned radio presenter in India, best known for hosting the iconic show “Binaca Geetmala” on Radio Ceylon (now Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) from 1952 to 1994.
He was born in Mumbai on December 21, 1932, into a multilingual family.
Sayani began writing for his mother’s fortnightly journal “Rehbar” at the age of 13 and became a proficient broadcaster in English, participating in children’s programs on All India Radio Bombay.
His signature introduction, “Namaste behno aur bhaiyon, main aapka dost Ameen Sayani bol raha hoon” (Hello sisters and brothers, this is your friend Ameen Sayani speaking), became instantly recognizable and widely imitated.
“Binaca Geetmala” turned into a cultural phenomenon in the 1950s, running for 42 years and becoming popular among audiences across South Asia.
When the then Minister for Information and Broadcasting, B V Keskar, banned Hindi songs from All India Radio, Radio Ceylon’s popularity boomed.
Sayani holds the record for hosting and comparing over 54,000 radio programs and contributing to approximately 19,000 jingles as a voiceover artist, as recorded in the Limca Book of Records.
He also appeared in several movies over the years, often playing the role of an announcer, in films like “Bhoot Bungla”, “Teen Devian”, “Boxer”, and “Qatl”.
Sayani assisted his mother in editing, publishing, and printing a fortnightly journal for new literates, under Mahatma Gandhi’s guidance.
He passed away on February 21, 2024, at the age of 91, in Mumbai, after suffering a heart attack.
