Binaca Geetmala () was a weekly countdown show of top filmi songs from Hindi cinema. It 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,Back on air with Geetmala. Bella Jaisinghani. The Financial Express (India), Sunday, 11 March 2001. Transcript available online at , accessed online on 29 July 2006 and has been quoted as being the most popular radio programme in India during its run. Its name reflects its sponsorship by oral hygiene brand 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.
Annual List by Year 1977
Most No of songs by singer Singer Number of songs Years Lata Mangeshkar 19 1953, 1957, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 1985, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1995, 2000 Mohammed Rafi 8 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1980 Kishore Kumar 6 1959, 1971, 1974, 1979, 1982, 1983 Mukesh 6 1955, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1975, 1976 Alka Yagnik 5 1981, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999 Udit narayan 4 1988, 1996, 1999, 2000 Anuradha Paudwal 3 1984, 1989, 1992 Asha Bhosle 3 1959, 1971, 1972 Talat Mehmood 1 1954 Hemant Kumar 1 1958
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 programme did not rank songs, but rather played seven contemporary songs in no particular order. Later, the programme 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 or 'listeners clubs'. Each week, the 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.Reliving the Geetmala lore. S.K. Screen, Friday, 22 September 2000, transcript available online at , accessed online on 29 July 2006
Lists of top songs per year
Year Song Film Music director Lyricist Singer(s) 1953 Ye Zindagi Usi ki Hai Anarkali (film) C. Ramachandra Rajinder Krishan Lata Mangeshkar 1954 Jayen To Jayen Kahan Taxi Driver S.D. Burman Sahir Ludhianvi Talat Mahmood 1955 Mera Joota Hai Japani Shri 420 Shankar Jaikishan Shailendra Mukesh 1956 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yaha C.I.D. O. P. Nayyar Majrooh Sultanpuri Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt 1957 Zara Saamne Toh Aao Chhaliye Janam Janam Ke Phere S. N. Tripathi Bharat Vyas Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi 1958 Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara Solva Saal S. D. Burman Majrooh Sultanpuri Hemant Kumar 1959 Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi S. D. Burman Majrooh Sultanpuri Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle 1960 Zindagi Bhar Nai Bhoolegi Wo Barsaat Ki Raat Barsaat Ki Raat Roshan Sahir Ludhianvi Mohammed Rafi 1961 Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko Sasural Shankar Jaikishan Hasrat Jaipuri Mohammed Rafi 1962 Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par Junglee Shankar Jaikishan Hasrat Jaipuri Mohammed Rafi 1963 Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Taj Mahal Roshan Sahir Ludhianvi Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi 1964 Mere Man ki Ganga aur tere man ki Jamuna ka Sangam Shankar Jaikishan Shailendra Mukesh, Vyjayanthimala 1965 Jis dil mein basa tha pyaar tera Saheli Kalyanji Anandji Indeevar Mukesh 1966 Baharon phool barsao mera mehboob aaya hai Suraj Shankar Jaikishan Hasrat Jaipuri Mohammed Rafi 1967 Saawan ka mahina pawan kare sor Milan Laxmikant–Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh 1968 Dil wil pyar vyar main kya jaanu re Shagird Laxmikant-Pyarelal Majrooh Sultanpuri Lata Mangeshkar 1969 Kaise rahoon chup ki meine pee hi kya hai Inteqam Laxmikant-Pyarelal Rajendra Krishna Lata Mangeshkar 1970 Bindiya chamkegi choodi khankegi Do Raaste Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Lata Mangeshkar 1971 Zindagi ek safar hai suhana Andaz Shankar Jaikishan Hasrat Jaipuri Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle 1972 Dum Maro Dum Hare Raama Hare Krishna R. D. Burman Anand Bakshi Asha Bhosle, Usha Iyer 1973 Yaari hai imaan mera Zanjeer Kalyanji Anandji Gulshan Bawra Manna Dey 1974 Mera jeewan koraa kaagaz Kora Kagaz Kalyanji Anandji M. G. Hashmat Kishore Kumar 1975 Baaki kuchh bacha to mahangaai maar gayee Roti Kapada Aur Makaan Laxmikant-Pyarelal Varma Malik Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Jaani Babu Qawwal, Narendra 1976 Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein Kabhi Kabhi Khayyam Sahir Ludhianvi Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh 1977 Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki sazaa paane ko Lailaa Majnu Madan Mohan Sahir Ludhianvi Lata Mangeshkar 1978 Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se, mainen dekha jo Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se Ravindra Jain Ravindra Jain Hemlata 1979 O Saathi Re Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Kalyanji Anandji Anjaan Kishore Kumar 1980 Dafli Wale Dafli Baja Sargam Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi 1981 Mere Angane Mein Laawaris Kalyanji Anandji Anjaan Amitabh Bachchan, Alka Yagnik 1982 Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain Khud-Daar Rajesh Roshan Majrooh Sultanpuri Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar 1983 Shayad Meri Shaadi Souten Usha Khanna Saawan Kumar Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar 1984 Tu Mera Hero Hai Hero Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Anuradha Paudwal, Manhar Udhas 1985 Sun Sahiba Sun Ram Teri Ganga Maili Ravindra Jain Hasrat Jaipuri Lata Mangeshkar 1986 Yashoda Ka Nandlala Sanjog Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anjaan Lata Mangeshkar 1987 Chitthi Aayi Hai Naam Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Pankaj Udhas 1988 Papa Kehte Hain Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Anand–Milind Majrooh Sultanpuri Udit Narayan 1989 My Name Is Lakhan Ram Lakhan Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Mohammed Aziz, Anuradha Paudwal, Nitin Mukesh 1990 Gori Hai Kalaiyaan Aaj Ka Arjun Bappi Lahiri Anjaan Lata Mangeshkar, Shabbir Kumar 1991 Dekha Hai Pehli Baar Saajan Nadeem-Shravan Sameer Alka Yagnik, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1992 Maine Pyar Tumhi Se Phool Aur Kaante Nadeem-Shravan Sameer Kumar Sanu, Anuradha Paudwal 1993 Choli Ke Peechhe Khalnayak Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun 1994 Didi Tera Devar Deewana Hum Apke Hain Kon Raamlaxman Dev Kohli Lata Mangeshkar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1995 Tujhe Dekha Toh Dilwale Dulhaniya Lejainge Jatin–Lalit Anand Bakshi Lata Mangeshkar, Kumar Sanu 1996 Pardesi Jana nahin Raja Hindustani Nadeem-Shravan Sameer Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan 1997 Sandese Aate Hai Border Anu Malik Javed Akhtar Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod 1998 Chaiyya Chaiyya Dil Se AR Rahman Gulzar Sukhwinder Singh, Sapna Awasthi 1999 Taal Se Taal Taal AR Rahman Anand Bakshi Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 2000 Humko Hame Sey Churra Lo Mohabbatein Jatin–Lalit Anand Bakshi Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan
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.
See also Ameen Sayani Bollywood songs Radio Ceylon
References 8 Binaca Geetmala 1964 Songs List