New Delhi: One of India’s most well known voices – radio announcer Ameen Sayani – has died. He was 91.Sayani was identifiable across the Indian subcontinent as the voice that hosted the iconic ‘Binaca Geetmala’ show on Radio Ceylon.Writing in the book Radio for the Millions: Hindi-Urdu Broadcasting Across Borders, scholar Isabel Huacuja Alonso noted that, “Language was a key aspect of Radio Ceylon and Ameen Sayani’s appeal.”While Radio Ceylon broadcasters hailed from India and, for the most part, called the language they spoke on the airwaves Hindi, they strove to speak a language free of religious affiliations that could connect speakers of other regional languages, without threatening regional identities.Coincidentally, the day of Sayani’s passing – February 21 – is International Mother Language Day.Sayani was a veteran of the All India Radio’s Vividh Bharati broadcast as well. His telltale greeting, ‘behno aur bhaiyon,’ or ‘sisters and brothers’ has been remembered in countless tributes across social media.“Behno aur Bhaiyon” 💔The legendary radio personality #AmeenSayani, the voice behind the iconic Binaca/Cibaca Geetmala on Radio Ceylon/Vividh Bharati, passes away at the age of 91.Rest In Peace, Sir. Thank you for the music and memories 🙏 pic.twitter.com/zGyCiA9Zom— CinemaRare (@CinemaRareIN) February 21, 2024#AmeenSayani man behind radio’s golden era passes away at age 91.#RIPAmeenSayani #RIP Ameen Sayani | #AmeenSayani | Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/9Rjvd1YuL6— Neha Bisht (@neha_bisht12) February 21, 2024One of the most iconic radio voices from India is no more. Ameen Sayani passed away today at 91 in a Mumbai hospital where he was shifted after a heart attack.#RestInPeace #AmeenSayani pic.twitter.com/oPe8Qnv34d— Shabir Hussain (@Hussainesque) February 21, 2024Sayani had produced and compered over 54,000 radio programmes and 19,000 spots or jingles since 1951, according to the Limca Book Of Records 2005.In 2009, he was conferred the Padma Shri.