My favourite radio show – Binaca Geet Mala

What TV shows did you watch as a kid?

There was no TV in Indian households during my childhood. I grew up in chawl and my focus during childhood was mainly on Traditional Indian games, like Marbles, Spinning Toys or Gilli Danda. This was our childhood pass time.

I faintly remember that there was TV in the house of one family in our chawl. All the residents of our chawl used to gather for the famous serial of Ramayan and Mahabharat and Chitrahaar. But I preferred to be outdoors with my friends.

I would like to write here about most Iconic radio show Bianca Geet Mala and the unforgettable voice of Radio announcer Shri Ameen Sayani. This show was telecasted by Radio Ceylon. Every household in India was fan of this show.

Binaca Geetmala was a weekly countdown show of top filmi songs from Hindi cinema. It was broadcast on Radio Ceylon from 1952 to 1988 and then shifted to the Vividh Bharati Service of All India Radio network in 1989 where it ran until 1994.

Ameen Sayani was an Indian radio announcer. He achieved fame and popularity across the Indian subcontinent when he presented his Binaca Geetmala programme of top hit songs from Hindi cinema over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon. He was one of the most imitated announcers. I still remember him starting the program with his typical style “भाइयों और बहनों” that means Brothers & Sisters. This program was so popular in our times that Wednesday evening we used to be glued to radio.

We got a chance to listen to Bollywood hits only through Binaca Geetmaala with spice of Ameen Sayani’s voice.

Such a beautiful memory of our childhood.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay happy and keep smiling 😊