Iconic radio personality, voice of ‘Geetmala’ Ameen Sayani dies at 91

Iconic radio personality Ameen Sayani passed away late on Tuesday due to a heart attack, confirmed by his son Rajil Sayani on Wednesday. Sayani, who was 91, suffered the heart attack on Tuesday night and was rushed to HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai, where he passed away despite the efforts of the medical staff.

“The doctors at the hospital attended him but couldn’t save him and he was declared dead,” Rajil said. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday, as the family is awaiting the arrival of some relatives in Mumbai today.

Born on December 21, 1932, in Mumbai, Ameen Sayani gained fame over the years for his melodious voice and captivating style. Initially starting as an English-language broadcaster, he later switched to Hindi.

Sayani became widely recognized for his immensely popular radio show ‘Binaca Geetmala,’ which played a pivotal role in popularizing radio listening in India. His distinctive introduction, “Namaskar bhaiyon aur behno, main aapka dost Ameen Sayani bol raha hoon,” became instantly recognizable and iconic.

Throughout his career, Sayani produced, compered, or provided voice-overs for over 54,000 radio programs and 19,000 jingles since 1951. Introduced to All India Radio by his brother Hamid Sayani, Ameen Sayani began his radio journey with Radio Ceylon in 1952. He also made appearances in several movies, including ‘Bhoot Bungla,’ ‘Teen Devian,’ ‘Boxer,’ and ‘Qatl.’

His passing has created a void that can never be filled, and his voice will continue to echo through the generations.