Bollywood Retrospect: RD Burman- The immortal musical soul

Rahul Dev Burman, fondly called Pancham Da passed away in 1994. June 27 is his 76th birth anniversary and here is a tribute to the legendary musician.

Contribution to S.D. Burman’s music and giving it new life

R.D. Burman’s influence is visible in many S.D. Burman songs (and vice versa). A young Pancham was crestfallen when he found out that S.D. Burman had taken his tune and used it for “Ae Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa” without informing him. Disagreements aside (this was just one), father and son brought out the best in each other. R.D. Burman would go on to assist his father in many films including “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” (1958), “Kagaz Ke Phool” (1959), “Baat Ek Raat Ki” (1962), “Bandini” (1963), “Meri Surat Teri Aankhen” (1963), “Guide” (1965), “Jewel Thief” (1967) and “Talash” (1969). He is also said to have contributed directly to the tunes of a few S.D. Burman songs, including classics like “Sar Jo Tera Chakraye” (“Pyaasa”, 1957), “Gaata Rahe Mera Dil” (“Guide”, 1965) and “Mere Sapnon Ki Rani” and “Roop Tera Mastana” (“Aradhana”, 1969). The two Burmans came together for the last time in tragic circumstances. When Dada Burman passed away after composing three songs for “Mili” (1975), it was R.D. Burman who arranged and recorded the songs. R.D. Burman interpreted, extended and sometimes blatantly borrowed S.D. Burman’s tunes for his songs and gave them life beyond Dada Burman’s lifetime. Even in R.D. Burman’s last offering, the lovely flute played in “Kuchh Naa Kaho” (“1942 – A Love Story”) was a tune he had heard S.D. Burman sing - “Rongila Rongila Rongila Re” – and later adapt into “Aan Milo Shyam Saanware” (“Devdas”, 1955). (Rongila itself was a Bhatiyali composition by the poet and songwriter Jasimuddin - a great example of how music travels.) Presenting – the song that started it all “Ae Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa” (“Funtoosh”, 1956):

Pancham the instrumentalist

R.D. Burman could play many musical instruments. He learnt playing the tabla from Brajen Biswas and sarod from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. A brief glimpse of his sarod playing skills can be seen in the opening of the Bengali song “Ghum Bhulechhi Nijhum E Nishithe” which was composed and sung by S.D. Burman. S.D. Burman would later use this tune for “Hum Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare Chale Gaye” (“Kala Pani”, 1958). However, the instrument that R.D. Burman came to be most closely associated with was the harmonica (mouth organ). “Hai Apna Dil To Awara” is probably the best example of his harmonica skills. Such was his reputation with the harmonica, that even other (non-Burman) composers sought him out to play for their songs. R.D. Burman played the harmonica for Laxmikant – Pyarelel’s “Dosti” (1964), most notably in the songs “Raahi Manwa Dukh Ki Chinta” and “Janewalo Zara Mud Ke Dekho Mujhe”. He also played the harmonica for the Kishore Kumar’s background score for “Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein” (1964). Pancham playing the harmonica in “Hai Apna Dil To Awara” (“Solva Saal”, 1958):

Influence on peers

R.D. Burman had significant influence on the music of the 1970s and 1980s. His assistants ventured out on their own and the music they created could very easily be mistaken for his own. Basu – Manohari’s “Sabse Bada Rupaiya” (1976) and Sapan Chakraborty’s “Zameer” (1975) were particularly good albums and successful too. Pancham’s sounds can also be heard in Jatin – Lalit’s music thanks to Babloo Chakraborty who went on from assisting R.D. Burman to assisting Jatin – Lalit. R.D. Burman’s influence extended to his peers’ music as well. For example, his influence can be heard in many Sapan – Jagmohan songs. Based on Subhash Ghai’s brief, even Laxmikant – Payrelal created a Pancham-like score for “Karz” (1980). My pick is “Jaane Aaj Kya Hua” (“36 Ghante”, 1974), a lesser heard, beauty of a Kishore-Asha duet by Sapan Chakraborty:

Pancham after his death

R.D. Burman’s influence transcended generations. Kids who grew up on his music went on to become film directors and music directors and paid tribute to him through their films and songs. Anant Mahadevan’s “Dil Vil Pyar Vyar” (2002) had a soundtrack consisting of R.D. Burman’s compositions re-created by his one-time assistant Babloo Chakraborty. Director Sujoy Ghosh’s “Jhankaar Beats” was a tribute to R.D. Burman. The film had characters who were R.D. Burman fans and its background score was adapted from various Pancham songs. It even had a song dedicated to R.D. Burman – “Boss Kaun Tha”. Covers of R.D. Burman songs have also been featured in films. One of my favorites is Vishal – Shekhar’s title song for “Bachna Ae Haseeno” (2008) – part cover, part remix (the song sampled Kishore Kumar’s voice from the original), part inspired: