SAYANI'S BARITONE

              During my school days when TV , computers and smart phones were beyond our wildest imagination transistor radio was the only source of entertainment for us. Every family owned a radio then. Besides our daily dose of news aired by the All India Radio, New Delhi, we children would stay tuned to the Akash Vani , Bibhidh  Bharati on Saturday evening to listen to the Jayamala ,a one hour film songs programme specially broadcast for the army jawans of India with a matinee idol as the special  guest. It was really enjoyable. However, more enjoyable was the Binaca Geet Mala programme of hit Hindi movie songs, broadcast by Radio Ceylon ( later on Radio Sri Lanka ) .We children never missed this weekly programme hosted by Amin Sayani whose baritone and style of anchoring had mesmerised millions of radio listeners.

                Sayani's way of addressing to the listeners : " Beheno aur Bhaiyon ( Sisters and brothers ) became immensely popular among the people in the sub-continent who were avid admirers and listeners of the Binaca Geet Mala. We would wait impatiently for 8 P.M on Monday to enjoy this musical radio programme. Amin Sayani's magical voice continued to keep people under a spell for about two decades and endeared him to the people. The repertoire of  hit Hindi songs he selected for people's enjoyment were ever-green in their sweetness. But everything paled before  Sayani's voice . No one could match his charisma and his resonating voice which I feel still rings in my ears.

( Writer - Dr, Pradeep Kumar Nayak )