ameensayani

A BRIEF LOOK AT AMEEN SAYANI’S LIFE, WORK AND INPUTS

EARLY INFLUENCES

Born in 1932, in a family deeply involved with India’s Independence Movement.

Fine-tuned his national pride and inter-cultural integration in two wonderful schools : NEW ERA (Bombay) and SCINDIA SCHOOL (Gwalior). His eminent college, ST. XAVIER’S (Bombay) nourished his talent in the performing arts – and turned him into a keen student with a romantic touch of endless optimism.

Assisted his mother (Mrs KULSUM SAYANI) from 1945 to 1960 in editing a fortnightly journal called “RAHBER” for neo-literates, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. It was simultaneously published in the Devnagri (Hindi), Urdu and Gujarati scripts – but all in the simple Hindustani language promoted by Gandhiji. This was Ameen’s basic grounding in clear and credible communications in Hindustani.

His multi-talented brother, HAMID (an eminent broadcaster in English) nudged him at an early age into stage acting and direction, compering, writing and even a little bit of “magic”. Then introduced him to All-India Radio, Bombay, where he participated in English programmes for ten years.

COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING

Helped on by big brother HAMID, he joined the Indian agency of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon – switching from English to Hindustani. Through the same agency, he began to create and participate in radio shows and commercials – also for All-India Radio when its Commercial Service commenced on its “Vividh Bharati” network.

Popular national radio shows:

“CIBACA (formerly BINACA) GEETMALA”: broadcast since 1952, mainly over Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and later over Vividh Bharati (AIR), for a combined total of over 42 years. It was again revived after a gap of 7 years - and was, till August 2003, aired over the National Network of Vividh Bharati as “COLGATE CIBACA GEETMALA”.
“S. KUMARS KA FILMI MUQADDAMA” and “FILMI MULAQAAT”: over SLBC and Vividh Bharati for 7 years. Re-commenced, after a decade, on Vividh Bharati for a year.
“SARIDON KE SAATHI”: 4 years. (AIR’s first sponsored show.)
“BOURNVITA QUIZ CONTEST”: 8 years. (Took over from his brother and guru, Hamid Sayani, after his death in 1975.)
“SHALIMAR SUPERLAC JODI”: 7 years.
“JOHAR KE JAWAAB” (for GEEP): 3 years.
MARATHA DARBAR shows: “SITARON KI PASAND”, “CHAMAKTAY SITARAY”, “MEHEKTI BAATEN”, etc. : 14 years.
“COLGATE SANGEET SITARAY”: 2 years.
“SANGEET KAY SITARON KI MEHFIL”: Over an FM radio company’s stations in Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta : 2 years. (THIS FORMAT IS NOW BEING OFFERED FOR WORLDWIDE SYNDICATION – ALREADY COMMENCED IN NEW ZEALAND AND DUBAI.)

Successful international radio shows :

“MINI INSERTIONS of FILMSTAR INTERVIEWS” : Over the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Ethnic Network in the U.K. : 35 instalments.
“MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS” : For the BBC’s World Service Radio : 6 episodes.
“VEETEE KA HUNGAMA” : Over Sunrise Radio, London : 4 ½ years.
“GEETMALA KI YAADEN”:Over Radio Ummul Quwain, UAE : 4 years.
“YE BHI CHANGA WO BHI KHOOB” : Over Radio Asia, UAE : 8 months.
“HANGAMAY” : Over ethnic radio stations in Toronto, Washington, Houston, Los Angeles, San Fransisco and Boston : 2 ½ years.
“SANGEET PAHELI” : Over Radio Truro, Swaziland : 1 year.

AUDIO AND VISUAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT through various Organisations and Committees

RADIO & TV ADVERTISING PRACTITIONERS’ ASSOCIATION : Founder member. Also, President from 1984 to 1987.
ADVERTISING STANDARDS COUNCIL OF INDIA : Founder member of the Board and ASCI’s Consumer Complaints Council. Chairman in 1989-90.
COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNICATION (affiliated to All-India Radio and Doordarshan) : Member since its inception.
INDIAN SOCIETY OF ADVERTISERS : Spoke at several seminars. Won ISA’s GOLD MEDAL for CONTRIBUTION TO ADVERTISING in 1991.
ADVERTISING CLUB, BOMBAY : Member of its Radio/TV Committee for many years. Awarded Ad Club’s “GOLDEN ABBY”, for his programme GEETMALA, adjudged the MOST OUTSTANDING RADIO CAMPAIGN OF THE CENTURY.
INDIAN JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, North Bombay Chapter : Organised “War on Waste” campaigns in many chapters as IJC’s Food Project Manager. Also initiated (in 1969) an Annual Inter-Collegiate Folk Dance Contest, which is still continuing.
Participated in many other projects and committees set up by ALL-INDIA RADIO & DOORDARSHAN, and also conducted a 6-day Radio Workshop for MAURITIUS BROADCASTING CORPORATION.

TELECASTING

Handled the commercial liaison for two sponsored TV serials : “Khari Khari” (directed by Rajendra Bhatia) & "Hum Hindustani" (directed by Hrishikesh Mukherji).
Presented “Cibaca Geetmala” (31 episodes retrospective) on Doordarshan’s Metro Channels. (Co-Produced by Rajil Sayani.)

AUDIO VISUAL SHOWS

Designed and Presented two A/V shows, created for small private audiences. (Produced by Rajil Sayani)