‘How many voices from that point have stood the check of time?’
‘There have been RJs earlier than him and after him, however nobody has loved his recognition and longevity.’
IMAGE: Ameen Sayani. Photograph: Kind courtesy Ameen Sayani/Facebook
On February 20, the voice that had captivated generations turned silent endlessly.
Legendary radio host Ameen Sayani, on the age of 91, lastly bid his behno aur bhaiyo alvida.
He reportedly lent his voice to 54,000 radio programmes and 19,000 jingles, nevertheless it was his hit parade on Radio Ceylon, Binanca Geetmala, that made him a family identify in India.
Speaking to Rediff.com Senior Contributor, Roshmila Bhattacharya, Joy Roy, legendary film-maker Bimal Roy’s son, remembers the person whose voice he heard for the primary time in a classroom after which recording a present with Sarita Sethi for HMV the place he labored then.
Describing HMV Ke Sitare as pleasant tea events, Joy remembers, “I feel privileged to have interacted with this gentleman who embodied the grace and graciousness of the world he and my father belonged to.”
Behano aur bhaiyo…
IMAGE: Ameen Sayani, Ashok Kumar Kumar and Pran. Photograph: Kind courtesy Ameen Sayani/Facebook
Even although Baba (producer-director Bimal Roy) was working within the Hindi movie business, he had a really eclectic style in music and would deliver again albums from the completely different international locations he travelled to.
So, after I was round six or seven years outdated, I used to be listening to Fairuz, the equal of Lata Mangeshkar in Lebanon, and one of the celebrated Arab singers of the twentieth century.
Even my sisters grew up on Western music, like Nat King Cole.
Rather stunning for a filmi household, however there was actually no Hindi movie music at house, aside from the 78 RPMs, scratch data for need of a greater phrase, with unobtrusive, handwritten, white labels figuring out them as songs from Baba’s movies.
My introduction to Hindi movie music occurred fairly by probability after I was in class, Bombay Scottish, in Mumbai.
Most afternoons, songs taking part in in a neighbouring home would waff throughout the wall into our classroom.
One of my classmates, Anup Kataria, was a die-hard Bollywood movie buff and a strolling encyclopedia.
He caught each new launch on the primary weekend itself and would establish the songs for me as he hummed alongside.
I do not know if it was his well-known Radio Ceylon hit parade, Binaca Geetmala, however that is after I first heard Ameen Sayani’s well-known voice and his distinctive catchphrase, ‘Behno aur bhaiyo…‘
A job supply from HMV
IMAGE: Joy Bimal Roy. Photograph: Kind courtesy Joy Bimal Roy/Instagram
When I used to be 27, I joined Shyam Benegal and assisted him for 3 years.
At 30, I used to be again to doing nothing, a lot to the dismay of my brother-in-law, Pradeep Sinha, for whom work was worship.
It was at his place in Kolkata that I met Pradeep Chanda, the pinnacle honcho of the music retailing big HMV (now Sa RE Ga Ma).
Shortly thereafter, my brother-in-law known as to fortunately inform me that I had been supplied a job at HMV.
I laughed it off, which upset him, and my mute guru too.
Mauni Baba wrote, ‘Tumhari ghadi bandh ho gayi hai (Time has stopped for you),’ and insisted I take up the supply, if just for a 12 months.
That’s how I joined HMV in 1990, as artist and repertoire supervisor.
From listening to and loving music, I used to be plunged into a complete new world of dealing in and promoting skilled Hindi music.
I shocked everybody, together with myself, by staying on for 5 years regardless of my informal Hawaiian print shirts and my unpunctuality.
Delightful tea events within the studio
IMAGE: Farooque Shaikh with Ameen Sayani. Photograph: Kind courtesy Ameen Sayani/Facebook
It was on the HMV workplace at Ferozeshah Mehta Road that I met the person behind the voice I had heard in class.
HMV had tied up with Sarita Sethi and Ameen Sayani for a radio programme, HMV Ke Sitare.
The duo would chat about simply launched movie songs which had been then performed on the present.
It was a scripted programme, however they might meet in my room, which simply occurred to be the biggest room.
They would talk about between themselves earlier than going into the small studio which was within the workplace itself, including impromptu thrives in the course of the recordings.
I used to be not aware of their conversations, however I sat via the recordings which had been like pleasant tea events.
They would banter over cups of tea, and after they left, the recordist would punch within the songs to intersperse their chats.
Charmed by Ameen Sayani
IMAGE: Ameen Sayani with Amitabh Bachchan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Ameen Sayani/Facebook
By then HMV’s monopoly over Bollywood had been damaged by rising music labels like T-Series, Tips and Venus who lured away the large movie producers, even those that had been loyal for many years, with tempting advances over the royalties we supplied.
Our as soon as overflowing kitty of songs was drying up.
But these two veterans ensured that HMV’s Ke Sitare sparkled shiny.
Apart from his well-known voice, I used to be charmed by Ameen Sayani’s prepared smile, his twinkling eyes and his genial character.
He got here from a world the place everybody was all the time spruced up.
For that matter, Sarita Sethi attire very tastefully.
Watching them collectively remained a pleasing interlude for me, from a time when the entire music scene was altering.
But regardless of the rising give attention to commerce, they by no means recorded multiple episode at a time which remained pleasant tea events.
Setting a benchmark in communication
IMAGE: Manna Dey with Ameen Sayani. Photograph: Kind courtesy Ameen Sayani/Facebook
What can I say a few man who was the forerunner of all radio jockeys that hasn’t been stated already?
Ameen Sayani left us when he was 91, but so many individuals from completely different generations keep in mind him at the moment.
That’s wonderful at a time when the visible medium guidelines and faces are extra related than voices.
I’d say it is as a result of he set a benchmark in communication that is still unparalleled.
To capitalise on a voice which he himself did not suppose was extraordinary, flip it right into a profession and make such an influence with it’s some achievement!
He created a distinct segment for himself that was distinctive.
How many voices from that point have stood the check of time?
There have been RJs earlier than him, and after him, however nobody has loved his recognition and longevity.
I really feel privileged to have interacted with this gentleman, who embodied the grace and graciousness of the world he and my father belonged to, even when it was for a really quick time.
I consider your previous shapes the individual you develop into, so I think about it my success that I used to be round individuals who had been such an inspiration of their disciple and dedication.
It could not have been straightforward reaching out to folks with simply your voice, day after day, understanding they could not see you, could not even conjure a picture of you.
Yet, he did it efficiently for many years and at the moment, nobody associates that voice with anybody aside from Ameen Sayani.
After leaving HMV, I moved to tv and Home TV, and by no means bought one other alternative to work with these legends once more.
I meet Sarita Sethi on and off as she is a member of Otter’s Club (Bandra, north west Mumbai) too.
I ran into Ameen Sayani just a few occasions at social gatherings like the marriage of (Madan Mohan’s son, former senior HMV supervisor, later Yash Raj Films CEO) Sanjeev Kohli’s son.
Those conferences are only a blur.
What nonetheless resonates is that voice… his grasp’s voice.
