GOLDEN VOICE OF MURPHY RADIO ERA - AMEEN SAYANI - THE RADIO SUPERSTAR

 

  

                                        

  

 

GOLDEN VOICE OF MURPHY RADIO ERA  -  AMEEN SAYANI  -  THE RADIO SUPERSTAR

 

The voice behind "Binaca Geetmala" and "Bournvita Quiz Contest" mesmerized us with sheer vocal quality on the Radio.

There was a time when "Radio" ruled the roost with the audience and there was a dominant figure in "All India Radio", namely Ameen Sayani.   The golden voice is no more with AIR and its loyal listeners.  The 91-year-old First Radio Super Star passed away a couple of days ago (Born: 21st December 1932 - Died: 20th February 2024) in Mumbai due to a heart attack.  

 

Many have commented how his cheery trademark greeting "Namaskar behno aur bhaiyon mein aap ka dost Ameen Sayani bol rahan hoon" went viral long before we knew what "going viral" meant.   

His voice helped stitch a nation together one song, one farmaaish, one quiz question at a time.  

 

We used to glue to the radio when his programs were broadcast by All India Radio.  Ameen Sayani became the the host of "Binaca Geetmala", a show featuring film songs, every Wednesday at 8 pm and an entire nation listened to his countdown.  

 

Sayani had a stint with Radio Ceylon as well.

 

Sayani's interviews with singers, actors, and music directors are the stuff of legend.  

                         

                                     

 

The Limca Book of Records claims he hosted over 54,000 radio programs and recorded over 19,000 jingles.

Quizmaster and MP Derek O'Brien told the media if 'Binaca Geetmala' was his gold medal, the 'Bournvita Quiz', which Sayani took over after his brother Hamid died, was Sayani's silver medal.  We did not realize at that time that both were more than radio programs.  They were quietly embodying unity in diversity without the usual moralistic lectures.  Sayani made it seem fun. 

 

One of the participants of the "Bournvita Quiz" show fondly remembers that Sayani treated every contestant with unfailing grace and kindness, and a dollop of gentle humor.

 

He married a Kashmiri Pandit Rama Mattu and was fluent in several languages.  Ameen Sayani has a son namely Rajil Sayani.

 

Sayani assisted his mother Kulsum Sayani in editing, printing, and publishing a fortnightly journal under the instructions of Mahatma Gandhi.  His mother was close to Mahatma Gandhi. Both his parents were freedom fighters.  Sayani's grandfather served as the President of the Indian National Congress.  Sayani called himself a Gandhian.

 

Sayani was an alumnus of the prestigious St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

Ameen Sayani helped popularize All India Radio in India.  Sayani was also a part of various movies in which he appeared as an announcer in some events a la Bollywood Director and Filmmaker Shri Subhash Ghai who used to appear briefly somewhere in the movies he directed.

 

Sayani was a Radio Jockey unparalleled.  The iconic Radio presenter was famous not only in India but also abroad.

                        

One little-known fact about him was that he worked as a Brand Executive in Tata Oil Mills Limited mainly looking after their toilet soaps Hamam and Jai during 1960-1962.

In 2009, he was awarded with the coveted "Padma Shri" Award by the Government of India.

 

He produced and compered Radio shows S. KUMARS KA FILMI MUQUADDMA and FILMI MULAKKAT on All India Radio and Vividh Bharati for seven years.

He was also the recipient of numerous other awards.

 

Sayani compered over 2,000 stage functions of all sorts in India, including musical variety shows, beauty contests, fashion shows, award functions, film silver jubilee functions, the International Film Festival closing sessions (in Delhi), concerts, seminars, workshops, and trade presentations.  He also compered stage shows abroad in the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, the UAE, the Netherlands, and the West Indies.

 

As of 2014, Sayani was active (1951-2014) in Radio in India. 

 

He compered several shows directly for Radio Stations abroad.

 

The Limca Full Ad - 

https://youtu.be/NgT7ueACtxw?si=Vp4XoVS43ESkBSZm

 

Amin Sayani was radio's most recognized voice for millions of Indians.  Sayani, who was born in Mumbai in December 1932, compered, presented, and voiced over 50,000 shows in 42 years.