# Binaca Geetmala

Binaca Geetmala (transl. Binaca Necklace of Songs) 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, and has been quoted as being the most popular radio programme 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.

## 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 |
| Asha Bhosle | 3 | 1959, 1971, 1972 |

## 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 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

| 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 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 | 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 |
| 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 dewar | Hum Apke Hain Kon | Raamlaxman | Dev Kohli | Lata Mangeshkar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| 1995 | Tujhe dekha tau ye jana sanam | 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 Aatay Hain | Border | Anu Malik | Javed Akhtar | Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod |
| 1998 | Chaiya Chaiya | 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.