Mumbai, Jan 3 - Well-known radio announcer Ameen Sayani, whose name is synonymous with the hit show "Binaca Geet Mala", has dug into his archives to come out with a CD of songs from the earlier days when music "touched the heart".

Sayani feels that in the music of today rhythm has taken precedence and melody is left behind.

"The music of that (earlier) time touched the heart, but the music of today touches the body. That is also a good thing because when I hear the music of today, even at 78 it sometimes makes me dance," Sayani told IANS in an interview.

"So the music of today helps the youngsters remain fit and active," added Amin, the most imitated radio announcer even today.

"Everything changes. So did the music. Today's music is more about rhythm where it's not always important to understand what is being said. Rhythm matters more now and melody is fading away," he added.

The Padma Shri awardee has launched a series of best songs from various eras in audio format so that people can enjoy the melodies of yesteryears.

Called "Geetmala ki Chhaon Mein", the CDs contain not only a great repertoire of songs but also interviews of famous film stars from Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan and others.

"These are recordings from very high quality LP (long-playing) records and sound tracks. Not just songs, the album contains interesting anecdotes about people who created those songs and sang them and interviews, all culled out from my archives," he said.

"I have a volume dedicated to my own love story too, because I met my wife in the radio station and we fell in love. All this linked with the songs of that era," the radio announcer said.

Sayani, who has also been a part of movies like "Bhoot Bungla", "Teen Devian", "Boxer" and "Qatl" in the role of an announcer, said this project has been one of his greatest venture.

"This is one of my life's greatest ventures. The (songs of the) series will get finished around the 1980s because after that almost all the greats faded away or passed away," he said.

The volumes are under Saregama. (IANS)