Binaca Geetmala

• 1977

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.^{[citation needed]} It greatly increased the popularity of Radio Ceylon, making it the primary source of popular film music on radio for the Indian subcontinent.^[5] After 1998, the show aired on Vividh Bharati and was on for half an hour on Monday nights.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

• Ameen Sayani
• Bollywood songs
• Radio Ceylon

8 Binaca Geetmala 1964 Songs List