Ameen Sayani Biography
Ameen Sayani was a legendary radio presenter from India, who passed away recently at the age of 91. He was famous for his show ‘Geetmala’, which featured the most popular songs of the week for over 50 years.
He had a distinctive voice and style of addressing the listeners as ‘Behno aur Bhaiyo’ (sisters and brothers). He was also a Gandhian and a freedom fighter’s son. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of radio broadcasting in India.
Here In this post, I’ll uncover everything you need to know about Ameen Sayani, his early life, career, wife, children, net worth and more.
Ameen Sayani Age
Ameen Sayani was 91 years old when he died.
Ameen Sayani Early Life and Education
Ameen Sayani was born on 21 December 1932 in Mumbai, India, into a Gujarati Muslim family. His parents were Kulsoom and Jan Mohammad Sayani, who were both freedom fighters and followers of Mahatma Gandhi. His mother was also a social activist and a journalist, who edited and published a fortnightly journal for neo-literates called Rehbar.
From a young age, Ameen Sayani showed a flair for writing and communication. He helped his mother with the editing, printing, and publishing of Rehbar, which was simultaneously published in Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati scripts. He also learned to speak fluent English, Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati, and developed a keen interest in music and radio.
When he was eight years old, his elder brother, Hamid Sayani, introduced him to the world of radio broadcasting. He started participating in children’s programmes on the English service of All India Radio (AIR) Bombay. He impressed the listeners with his clear and melodious voice, and his ability to engage the audience with his witty and charming style.
He later moved to Gwalior to pursue his education at the Scindia School, where he continued to hone his radio skills. He also joined the school’s drama club and acted in several plays.
He graduated from the school in 1950 and returned to Mumbai to enroll in St. Xavier’s College. He completed his bachelor’s degree in 1954 and joined the marketing department of Tata Oil Mills as a brand executive.
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Ameen Sayani Career
Ameen Sayani’s career as a radio presenter began in 1951, when he joined the English service of All India Radio (AIR) Bombay. He participated in various children’s and youth programmes, and also hosted quiz shows and musical programmes. He soon became popular for his clear and melodious voice, and his witty and charming style of addressing the listeners as ‘Behno aur Bhaiyo’ (sisters and brothers).
In 1952, he got the opportunity to present a new show called ‘Binaca Geetmala’, which was sponsored by a toothpaste company and aired on Radio Ceylon. The show featured the most popular songs of the week, based on the sales of records and listener requests.
It became a huge hit across the Indian subcontinent, and made Sayani a household name. He continued to host the show for over 42 years, until 1994, and witnessed the evolution of Hindi film music and its stars.
Apart from ‘Binaca Geetmala’, Sayani also produced and compered many other radio shows, mainly for consumer product clients. Some of the better known ones were ‘Bournvita Quiz Contest’, ‘Saridon Ke Saathi’, ‘S. Kumars Ka Filmi Muqaddama’, and ‘Swanaash’. He also lent his voice to many documentaries, advertisements, and films. He was one of the most imitated announcers in the radio industry.
Sayani was also a pioneer of commercial broadcasting in India, and helped popularise AIR’s Vividh Bharati service, which was launched in 1957. He also worked with various foreign radio stations, such as BBC, Voice of America, Radio Netherlands, and Deutsche Welle. He was instrumental in promoting Indian culture and music to the global audience.
Sayani was also a Gandhian and a social activist, who used his radio platform to spread awareness and education on various issues, such as health, hygiene, family planning, national integration, and communal harmony. He also supported many charitable causes and organisations, such as the Cancer Patients Aid Association, the Spastics Society of India, and the National Association for the Blind.
Ameen Sayani Awards
Sayani received many awards and honours for his outstanding contribution to radio broadcasting and Indian culture. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009, the fourth highest civilian honour in India.
He was also conferred the Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in 2006, and the Hindi Ratna Puraskaar by the Hindi Bhavan of New Delhi in 2007. He was also featured in the Limca Book of Records for producing and compering the highest number of radio programmes and spots.
Ameen Sayani Wife and Son
Ameen Sayani’s wife was Rama Mattoo, a Kashmiri Pandit. They got married in 1963 and had one son, Rajil Sayani, who is also a radio presenter and a voice-over artist.
Ameen Sayani’s Death
Ameen Sayani, the iconic radio presenter and the voice of ‘Geetmala’, died on 20 February 2024 at the age of 91. He suffered a heart attack at his residence in South Mumbai and was rushed to the hospital, where he breathed his last. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.
Ameen Sayani Net Worth
Ameen Sayani has an estimated net worth of Rs 3 Crore INR.
