Binaca Geetmala


Binaca Geetmala was a weekly countdown show of top filmi songs from Hindi cinema. It was popular and had millions of listeners. Binaca Geetmala was broadcast on Radio Ceylon from 1952 to 1988 and then shifted to the Vividh Bharati Service of All India Radio network in 1989 where it ran until 1994. It was the first radio countdown show of Indian film songs, and has been quoted as being the most popular radio program in India during its run. Its name reflects its sponsorship by Binaca.
Binaca Geetmala, and its subsequent incarnations named after Cibaca—Cibaca Sangeetmala, Cibaca Geetmala, and Colgate Cibaca Sangeetmala—ran from 1954 to 1994 on Radio Ceylon and then on Vividh Bharati. They also broadcast annual year-end lists from 1954 to 1993.

Ameen Sayani and Radio Ceylon

The show was hosted throughout its entire run by Ameen Sayani. It was very popular in India, with estimated listenership ranging from 900,000 to 2,000,000. It greatly increased the popularity of Radio Ceylon, making it the primary source of popular film music on radio for the Indian subcontinent. After 1998, the show aired on Vividh Bharati and was on for half an hour on Monday nights.

Popularity ratings method

At its onset in 1952, the program did not rank songs, but rather played seven contemporary songs in no particular order. Later, the program started ranking the most popular Hindi film songs.
The songs were initially ranked by a combination of the number of records sold in India and listener votes. Popularity was gauged by record sales, verdicts from record store owners, and popularity among the shrota-sanghs or 'listeners clubs'. Each week, the shrota-sanghs would send the radio station their list of popular songs. The clubs were formed because it was possible for a record to be sold out at stores and although there was interest to buy more, the interest would not show up in record sales.
The year-end lists were compiled based on points earned by songs through the year. Between 1966 and 1970 there would sometimes be no points on the weekly broadcast, but the year-end show would be based on point system.

Lists of [|top songs] per year

YearSongFilmMusic DirectorLyricistSinger
1953Ye Zindagi Usi ki HaiAnarkali C. RamachandraRajinder KrishanLata Mangeshkar
1954Jayen To Jayen KahanTaxi DriverS.D. BurmanSahir LudhianviTalat Mahmood
1955Mera Joota Hai JapaniShri 420Shankar JaikishanShailendraMukesh
1956Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena YahaC.I.D.O. P. NayyarMajrooh SultanpuriMohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt
1957Zara Saamne Toh Aao ChhaliyeJanam Janam Ke PhereS. N. TripathiBharat VyasLata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
1958Hai Apna Dil Toh AwaraSolva SaalS. D. BurmanMajrooh SultanpuriHemant Kumar
1959Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab KaChalti Ka Naam GaadiS. D. BurmanMajrooh SultanpuriKishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
1960Zindagi Bhar Nai Bhoolegi Wo Barsaat Ki RaatBarsaat Ki RaatRoshanSahir LudhianviMohammed Rafi
1961Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat KoSasuralShankar JaikishanHasrat JaipuriMohammed Rafi
1962Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh ParJungleeShankar JaikishanHasrat JaipuriMohammed Rafi
1963Jo Wada Kiya Woh NibhanaTaj MahalRoshanSahir LudhianviLata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
1964Mere Man ki Ganga aur tere man ki Jamuna kaSangamShankar JaikishanShailendraMukesh, Vyjayanthimala
1965Jis dil mein basa tha pyaar teraSaheliKalyanji AnandjiIndeevarMukesh
1966Baharon phool barsao mera mehboob aaya haiSurajShankar JaikishanHasrat JaipuriMohammed Rafi
1967Saawan ka mahina pawan kare sorMilanLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiLata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
1968Dil wil pyar vyar main kya jaanu reShagirdLaxmikant-PyarelalMajrooh SultanpuriLata Mangeshkar
1969Kaise rahoon chup ki meine pee hi kya haiInteqamLaxmikant-PyarelalRajendra KrishnaLata Mangeshkar
1970Bindiya chamkegi choodi khankegiDo RaasteLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiLata Mangeshkar
1971Zindagi ek safar hai suhanaAndazShankar JaikishanHasrat JaipuriKishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
1972Dum Maro DumHare Raama Hare KrishnaR. D. BurmanAnand BakshiAsha Bhosle, Usha Iyer
1973Yaari hai imaan mera yaar meri zindagiZanjeerKalyanji AnandjiGulshan BawraManna Dey
1974Mera jeewan koraa kaagaz koraa hi rah gayaKora KagazKalyanji AnandjiM. G. HashmatKishore Kumar
1975Baaki kuchh bacha to mahangaai maar gayeeRoti Kapada Aur MakaanLaxmikant-PyarelalVarma MalikLata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Jaani Babu Qawwal, Narendra
1976Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aataa haiKabhi KabhiKhayyamSahir LudhianviLata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
1977Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki sazaa paane koLailaa MajnuMadan MohanSahir LudhianviLata Mangeshkar
1978Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se, mainen dekha joAnkhiyon Ke Jharokhon SeRavindra JainRavindra JainHemlata
1979O Saathi ReMuqaddar Ka SikandarKalyanji AnandjiAnjaanKishore Kumar
1980Dafli Wale Dafli BajaSargamLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiLata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
1981Mere Angane MeinLaawarisKalyanji AnandjiAnjaanAmitabh Bachchan, Alka Yagnik
1982Angrezi Mein Kehte HainKhud-DaarRajesh RoshanMajrooh SultanpuriLata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
1983Shayad Meri ShaadiSoutenUsha KhannaSaawan KumarLata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
1984Tu Mera Hero HaiHeroLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiAnuradha Paudwal, Manhar Udhas
1985Sun Sahiba SunRam Teri Ganga MailiRavindra JainRavindra JainLata Mangeshkar
1986Yashoda Ka NandlalaSanjogLaxmikant-PyarelalAnjaanLata Mangeshkar
1987Chitthi Aayi HaiNaamLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiPankaj Udhas
1988Papa Kehte HainQayamat Se Qayamat TakAnand-MilindMajrooh SultanpuriUdit Narayan
1989My Name Is LakhanRam LakhanLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiMohammed Aziz
1990Gori Hai KalaiyaanAaj Ka ArjunBappi LahiriAnjaanLata Mangeshkar, Shabbir Kumar
1991Dekha Hai Pehli BaarSaajanNadeem-ShravanSameerAlka Yagnik, S P Balasubramaniam
1992Maine Pyar Tumhi SePhool Aur KaanteNadeem-ShravanSameerKumar Sanu, Anuradha Paudwal
1993Choli Ke PeechheKhalnayakLaxmikant-PyarelalAnand BakshiAlka Yagnik, Ila Arun

Silver jubilee and LP record

On 12 December 1977, Binaca Geetmala celebrated its 25-year anniversary in a social gathering organized in Bombay. Many well known composers, poets, and singers attended the show.
The top songs from 1953 to 1977 were compiled and released in a two record volume set. Volume 1 has songs from 1953 to 1964; volume 2 has songs from 1965 to 1977. Between the songs on the volume set, there is commentary by Ameen Sayani.