'Behnon Aur Bhaiyon...': Radio Ceylon Turns 100 And Celebrates A Shared South Asian Legacy

As Sri Lanka marks 100 years of Radio Ceylon, the editorial revisits its global wartime role and its deep cultural bond with India-especially through Hindi film music and Binaca Geetmala-highlighting a shared broadcasting legacy that shaped South Asian popular culture.

, and Administrator

2025 December 23 . 10:16 AM

1 min read

In this picture we can see some people standing in the front wearing black t-shirt and white shirt,... — In this picture we can see some people standing in the front wearing black t-shirt and white shirt, discussing something. Behind we can "Yamaha" written on the white banner and a television hanged on it. On both sides we can see the rolling banners.

'Behnon Aur Bhaiyon...': Radio Ceylon Turns 100 And Celebrates A Shared South Asian Legacy

Radio Ceylon, the world’s second-oldest radio station, began broadcasting on December 16, 1925. Over the decades, it became a key voice in South Asia, covering major historical events and shaping the region’s musical culture. Its influence stretched from wartime news to iconic Hindi music programmes like Binaca Geetmala.

During World War II, the station served as a vital information hub under Allied control. Announcers like David Jacobs, who worked there from 1941 to 1946, and Desmond Carrington, who joined after leaving the BBC Overseas Service, delivered news to listeners across South Asia.

In the 1950s, Radio Ceylon’s Hindi music station, *Binaca Geetmala*, gained massive popularity in India. The show, hosted by Amin Sayani, filled a gap after All India Radio banned film music in 1952. It documented Bollywood’s golden era until Vividh Bharati launched in 1957. The station’s All Asia English service covered landmark moments from the 1930s to the 1960s. Listeners heard updates on British rule, wars, the first ascent of Mount Everest, and even the moon landing. Today, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) preserves this legacy with over 70,000 records, including rare 78 rpm discs and lost Indian classics like 85 recordings of KL Saigal—considered Asia’s finest music archive.

Radio Ceylon’s history spans wartime broadcasts, cultural milestones, and an unmatched music collection. Its programmes, like Binaca Geetmala, left a lasting mark on South Asian entertainment. The SLBC’s archive now safeguards decades of audio heritage for future generations.