71 years if Binaca Geet Mala (03/12/1952)

71 years if Binaca Geet Mala (03/12/1952)

The Binaca Geetmala, hosted by the iconic #AmeenSayani, holds a special place in the history of Indian radio. Premiering on 3rd December 1952, this program aired for over four decades, capturing the hearts of millions of listeners​​. Initially a 30-minute broadcast on Radio Ceylon, it later shifted to AIR’s Vividh Bharati network, spanning from 1952 to 1994​​.

The program initially played seven contemporary songs without a specific order but later evolved to rank them based on popularity and audience feedback. This approach significantly boosted its listenership, from 900,000 to 2 million​​. A unique aspect of the show was the use of the term ‘paidan’ by Sayani, referring to each rank as a step in a staircase, leading to the top of the Binaca Geetmala charts. Being number one on this list was a matter of pride for music producers and directors.