What the hell is this Binaca Geel Mala? The first question that raised in your mind after reading the title of this post. Actually people of our generation do not know much about this one of the most popular radio shows of its times. Yeah I am right. Binaca Geetmala was a popular weekly radio countdown show of top filmy songs from Indian cinema listened to by millions of Hindi music lovers, that was broadcast on Radio Ceylon from 1953 to 1993.
It is considered as the first radio countdown show of Indian film songs, and has been quoted as being the most popular radio program in India during the its broadcast. The show was hosted by Ameen Sayani. The program used to start with the most famous quotes "Bhaiyo aur Bahano..... Amin Sayani ka Namaskar!!!". He was the most popular radio anchor in India. Sayani ran the programme to record-smashing success for nearly 45 years, earning a place among the world’s top broadcasters. He was the man with the gravelly voice and stylized drawl, through this show became a household name in India.
Mr. Amin Sayani said “For all of Rs. 25, I was required to select the songs, produce, script and compare the programme, and also sort the mail. The programme involved a competition and we expected 40-50 letters. The first episode brought 9,000. Within a year, that number touched 60,000. We had to shelve the competition and introduce a countdown show.”
Lists of top songs per year :-
| Year | Song | Film | Music Director | Lyricist | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Ye Zindagi Usi ki Hai | Anarkali (film) | C. Ramachandra | Rajendra Kishen | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1954 | Jayen To Jayen Kahan | Taxi Driver | Sachin Dev Burman | Sahir Ludhianvi | Lata Mangeshkar/Talat Mahmood |
| 1955 | Mera Joota Hai Japani | Shri 420 | Shankar Jaikishan | Shailendra | Mukesh |
| 1956 | Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yaha | CID | O. P. Nayyar | Majrooh Sultanpuri | Mohd. Rafi, Geeta Dutt |
| 1957 | Zara Saamne Toh Aao Chhaliye | Janam Janam Ke Phere | S. N. Tripathi | Bharat Vyas | Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 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 | Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1961 | Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko | Sasural | Shankar Jaikishan | Hasrat Jaipuri | Mohd. Rafi |
| 1962 | Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par | Junglee | Shankar Jaikishan | Hasrat Jaipuri | Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1963 | Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana | Taj Mahal | Roshan | Sahir Ludhianvi | Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 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, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1966 | Baharon phool barsao mera mehboob aaya hai | Suraj | Shankar Jaikishan | Hasrat Jaipuri | Mohd. Rafi |
| 1967 | Saawan ka mahina pawan kare sor | Milan | Laxmikant-Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 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 | Andaaz | 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 yaar meri zindagi | Zanjeer | Kalyanji Anandji | Gulshan Bawra | Manna Dey |
| 1974 | Mera jeewan koraa kaagaz koraa hi rah gaya | 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 kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aataa hai | 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 | Khaike Paan Banaras Wala | Don | Kalyanji Anandji | Anjaan | Kishore Kumar |
| 1980 | Dafli Wale Dafli Baja | Sargam | Laxmikant-Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi |
| 1981 | Mere Angane Mein | Laawaris | Kalyanji Anandji | Anjaan | Amitabh Bachchan, Alka Yagnik |
| 1982 | Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain | Khuddar | Rajesh Roshan | Majrooh Sultanpuri | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1983 | Shayad Meri Shaadi | Souten | Usha Khanna | Saawan Kumar | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1984 | Tu Mera Hero Hai | Hero | Laxmikant-Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Anuradha Paudwal, Manhar Udhas |
| 1985 | Sun Sahiba Sun | Ram Teri Ganga Maili | Ravindra Jain | Ravindra Jain | 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 | Mohd. Aziz |
| 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 Balasubramaniam |
| 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 Dewar Deewana | Hum Aapke Hain Kaun | Raam-Laxman | Dev Kohli,Ravinder Rawal | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1995 | Tujhe Dekha To Ye Jana Sanam | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | Jatin-Lalit | Anand Bakshi | Lata Mangeshkar,Kumar Sanu |
Here are the Youtube links for all the yearly top rated songs... you can watch these songs.
1953: Ye Jindagi Usi Ki Hai
