Radio

 Even after TV and digital media came around, radio remains a favourite of mine. Starting from around 1970, the radio was always on in our house, and KL Saigal had the last word in Purane filmon ke geet on Radio Ceylon (later, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp.). The same channel used to broadcast Aap hi ke Geet from 8 am to 9 am, and Binaca Geet Mala, hosted by Ameen Sayani, on Wednesday nights. This was everybody's favourite, and we made it a point to listen in. It was a weekly countdown of top songs. My taste in Hindi film songs was shaped during the 70s, listening to Kishore, Rafi, and others-Hemant Kumar for instance-Bees Saal Baad had two great songs sung by him. 

Also a lot of SD Burman, RD Burman and lyricists like Neeraj, Sahir and Majrooh. The songs of Mere Jeevan Sathi and Kati Patang were a rage in the years they released, and are remembered to this day. Also Jewel Thief, Teesri Manzil, Jawani Diwani, Prem Pujari, Gambler and Hare Rama Hare Krishna..we grew up adoring Nasir Husain romcoms and his stage songs in Yaadon ki Baarat and Hum Kisise Kum Nahin. The theatres were grand too, and I remember watching Sholay in 70 mm at Hyderabad. (Also Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare).

Anyway, I switched to Vividh Bharati later, and they have great archives from that Golden Era of music. I continue to listen to the radio to this day.

Golden Voice and More

Once upon a time, there was a golden voice on radio. It was that of Ameen Sayani, who was a host of a countdown of the week's hit songs-usually film songs. Starting with sales figures for records (LP or EP), those old-fashioned things, he moved on to using opinions of fan clubs around the country also. The program began as Binaca Geet Mala after the toothpaste brand, from Radio Ceylon, and morphed into Cibaca Geet Mala after a rebranding exercise. The country was also 'rebranded' so it was Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation which broadcast the show. Anyway, this popular hit parade had countless fans including me. Now, I am listening to some CDs by him (Ameen Sayani) called Geetmala ki chhaon mein that recount the glory days. Makes for fantastic listening. It is interwoven with interviews with various luminaries, and comes in yearwise volumes. One of the gems was listening to RD Burman talk about his inspiration- jazz, brass instruments and the cabaret format- for his songs from Teesri Manzil.

I am also listening to/viewing a show on Mastii channel called Golden Era, hosted by Annu Kapoor, of Antakshari fame. It is also similar, and pertains to the songs of my times. Very enjoyable!