Radio icon Ameen Sayani, famed for Geetmala, passes at 91. His legacy spans over fifty thousand shows, jingles, and roles in iconic films. A loss to the golden era of radio
Renowned radio personality Ameen Sayani, celebrated for his iconic show Geetmala, has passed away at the age of 91 due to heart failure. His son, Rajil Sayani, confirmed the unfortunate news. Ameen Sayani, a household name during radio's golden era, breathed his last on Tuesday night while receiving treatment at a hospital.
"He was at the hospital and passed away last night; we will be issuing a statement on the last rites very soon. The doctors at the hospital attended him but couldn’t save him, and he was declared dead," Rajil stated.
The final rites and funeral are expected to occur on Thursday following the arrival of some close relatives of Sayani in the city.
Born on December 21, 1932, in Mumbai to the popular English broadcaster Hamid Sayani and his wife, who ran a newsletter, Ameen Sayani's journey in radio commenced in 1952 with Radio Ceylon. From then on, he became an integral part of the radio landscape.
His program Binaca Geetmala propelled him to instantaneous fame, and his trademark way of addressing the audience as "Behno aur bhaiyo" (Sisters and brothers) became immensely popular.
Throughout his illustrious career, Sayani produced and hosted over 54,000 radio programs and 19,000 jingles. Additionally, he also showcased his talents in the film industry, portraying the role of an announcer or compere in several films including Bhoot Bungla, Teen Devian, Boxer, and Qatl.
In acknowledgment of his contributions to the world of Hindi radio, Sayani was honored with the "Hindi Ratna Puraskaar" by the prestigious Hindi Bhavan of New Delhi in 2007.
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