Today the world is observing the Death Anniversary of Rahul Dev Burman (27 June 1939 – 4 January 1994) popularly known as Pancham Da.
Music was his life, he use to be always thinking about music, even in his dreams. He could create music out of anything at hand, right from a bunch of keys, Combs, Sand Paper, bamboo, or even physically playing a beat on the back of a shirtless and bewildered session percussionist etc.
Three times winner of Film fare awards,1983 – Best Music Director – Sanam Teri Kasam1984 – Best Music Director – Masoom, 1995 – Best Music Director – 1942: A Love Story and he was nominated for 19 times.
In 1995, Filmfare Awards constituted the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent in his memory. The award is given to upcoming music talent in Hindi cinema. In 2009, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation named a public squarein Santa Cruz after Burman.
Burman’s first hit film as a film music director was Teesri Manzil (1966) and after this super hit Hussain signed Burman and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri for six of his films including Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) and Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973). Burman’s score for Padosan (1968) was well received.
He filled the world with his joyful music between 1960s to the 1990s, and composed musical scores for 331 films. He was mainly active in the Hindi film industry as a composer, and also provided vocals for a few compositions. Burman did major work with Asha Bhosle (his wife) and Kishore Kumar and scored many of the songs that made these singers famous. He also scored many songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar. He served as an influence to the next generation of Indian music directors and his songs continue to be popular in India even today. A whole bunch of musicians today make a career and living out of remixing his old tracks
Burman received his early education in West Bengal. His father S. D. Burman was a noted music director in Bollywood, the Mumbai-based Hindi film industry. When he was nine years old, R. D. Burman composed his first song, Aye meri topi palat ke aa, which his father used in the film Funtoosh (1956).
Burman’s first released film as an independent music director was Chhote Nawab (1961). When the noted Bollywood comedian Mehmood decided to produce Chhote Nawab.
Some of the notable films in which Burman is credited as the music assistant include Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Bandini (1963), Ziddi (1964), Guide (1965) and Teen Devian (1965). Burman also played mouth organ for his father’s hit composition “Hai Apna Dil To Aawara”, which was featured in the film Solva Saal, and sung by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay.[7]
He revolutionized Bollywood music by bringing wide range of influences from several genres in his scores. Burman’s career coincided with the rise of Rajesh Khanna-starrer youth love stories. He made electronic rock popular in these popular love stories, mixed disco and rock elements with Bengali folk music, used jazz elements, which had been introduced to him by the studio pianist Kersi Lord.
According to Biswarup Sen his popular music can be characterised as one featuring multicultural influences, and characterized by “frenetic pacing, youthful exuberance and upbeat rhythms”.
R D Burman was influenced by Western, Latin, Oriental and Arabic music, and incorporated elements from these in his own music. He also experimented with different musical sounds produced from methods such as rubbing sandpaper and knocking bamboo sticks together.He blew into beer bottles to produce the opening beats of “Mehbooba, Mehbooba”. Similarly, he used cups and saucers to create the tinkling sound for the song “Churaliya Hai” from the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973). For Satte Pe Satta (1982), he made the singer Annette Pinto gargle to produce a background sound. He also rubbed a comb on a rough surface to produce a whooshing sound in the song “Meri Samne Wali Khidki Main” from the film Padosan (1968)
Burman continues to inspire many Bollywood music composers and will continue to inspire them in future also. The magic of Pancham da lives on.
R. D. Burman filmography
1960s
1961: Chhote Nawaab, 1965: Bhoot Bungla, 1965: Teesra Kaun, 1966: Teesri Manzil, 1966: Pati Patni, 1967: Chandan Ka Palna, 1967: Baharon Ke Sapne, 1968: Padosan, 1968: Abhilasha, 1969: Pyar Ka Mausam, 1969: Waris.
1970s
1970: Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, 1970: Raaton Ka Raja, 1970: Puraskar, 1970: Kati Patang, 1970: The Train, 1971: Paraya Dhan, 1971: Mela, 1971: Lakhon Mein Ek, 1971: Hulchul, 1971: Caravan, 1971: Buddha Mil Gaya, 1971: Adhikar, 1971: Pyar Ki Kahani, 1971: Hungama, 1971: Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1972: Sanjog, 1972: Shehzada, 1972: Seeta Aur Geeta, 1972: Savera, 1972: Samadhi, 1972: Rakhi Aur Hathkadi, 1972: Parchhaiyan, 1972: Mere Jeevan Saathi, 1972: Garam Masala, 1972: Double Cross, 1972: Rani Mera Naam, 1972: Do Chor, 1972: Dil Ka Raja, 1972: Apna Desh, 1972: Amar Prem, 1972: Bombay To Goa, 1972: Jawani Diwani, 1972: Raampur Ka Lakshman, 1972: Parichay, 1972: Gomti Ke Kinare, 1973: Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973: Shareef Budmaash, 1973: Bada Kabutar, 1973: Khote Sikkay, 1973: Heera Panna, 1973: Bandhe Haath, 1973: Anamika, 1973: Raja Rani, 1973: Jheel Ke Us Paar, 1973: Joshila, 1973: Aa Gale Lag Jaa, 1973: Namak Haraam, 1973: Rickshawala, 1974: Zehreela Insaan, 1974: Ishq Ishq Ishq, 1974: Imaan, 1974: Humshakal_(1974_film), 1974: Goonj, 1974: Charitraheen, 1974: Manoranjan, 1974: Do Phool, 1974: Aap Ki Kasam, 1974: Doosri Sita, 1974: Dil Diwana, 1974: Ajnabee, 1974: Benaam, 1974: Shaitaan, 1975: Raaja, 1975: Mazaaq, 1975: Khel Khel Mein, 1975: Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja, 1975: Deewaar, 1975: Warrant, 1975: Aandhi, 1975: Khushboo, 1975: Kala Sona, 1975: Sholay, 1975: Dharam Karam, 1976: Nehle Pe Dehla, 1976: Maha Chor, 1976: Bundal Baaz, 1976: Balika Badhu, 1976: Mehbooba, 1976: Bullet, 1976: Khalifa, 1977: Karm, 1977: Darling Darling, 1977: Chandi Sona, 1977: Chalta Purza, 1977: Mukti, 1977: Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, 1977: Chala Murari Hero Banne, 1977: Kitaab, 1977: Kinara, 1978: Heeralal Pannalal, 1978: Ghar, 1978: Kasme Vaade, 1978: Bhola Bhala, 1978: Naukri, 1978: Azaad, 1978: Phandebaaz, 1978: Devata, 1978: Shalimar, 1979: Salaam Memsaab, 1979: Hamare Tumhare, 1979: Jhoota Kahin Ka, 1979: Gol Maal, 1979: Jurmana, 1979: Dhongee, 1979: Manzil, 1979: The Burning Train, 1979: Nauker, 1979: The Great Gambler.
1980s
1980: Khubsoorat, 1980: Bulandi, 1980: Abdullah, 1980: Dhan Daulat, 1980: Red Rose, 1980: Phir Wohi Raat, 1980: Sitara, 1980: Aanchal, 1980: Shaan, 1981: Love Story, 1981: Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, 1981: Naram Garam, 1981: Kudrat, 1981: Rocky, 1981: Harjaee, 1981: Baseraa, 1981: Daulat, 1981: Ghungroo Ki Awaaz, 1981: Kaalia, 1981: Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, 1982: Namkeen, 1982: Angoor, 1982: Satte Pe Satta, 1982: Bemisal, 1982: Yeh Vaada Raha, 1982: Teri Kasam, 1982: Aamne Samne, 1982: Sanam Teri Kasam, 1982: Ashanti, 1982: Shakti, 1982: Swami Dada, 1983: Lovers, 1983: Pukar, 1983: Masoom, 1983: Rang Birangi, 1983: Mahaan, 1983: Betaab, 1983: Bade Dil Wala, 1983: Mazdoor, 1983: Nikamma, 1983: Qayamat, 1983: Romance, 1983: Jaane Jaan, 1983: Agar Tum Na Hote, 1984: Anand Aur Anand, 1984: Boxer, 1984: Sunny, 1984: Andar Baahar, 1984: Yeh Desh, 1984: Maati Maangey Khoon, 1984: Duniya, 1984: Manzil Manzil, 1984: Awaaz, 1984: Jawani, 1984: Jhutha Sach, 1984: Jeeva, 1984: Karishma, 1984: Zameen Aasmaan, 1985: Rahi Badal Gaye, 1985: Ram Tere Kitne Naam, 1985: Hum Dono, 1985: Ek Se Bhale Do, 1985: Lava, 1985: Zabardast, 1985: Sitamgar, 1985: Saagar, 1985: Alag Alag, 1985: Oonche Log, 1985: Awara Baap, 1985: Arjun, 1985: Hum Naujawan, 1985: Shiva Ka Insaaf, 1986: Ek Main aur Ek tu, 1986: Shatru, 1986: Anokha Rishta, 1986: Palay Khan, 1986: Samundar, 1986: Saveray Wali Gaadi, 1987: Inaam Dus Hazaar, 1987: Ijaazat, 1987: Dacait, 1987: Apne Apne, 1988: Zalzala, 1988: Rama O Rama, 1988: Namumkin, 1989: Joshilaay, 1989: Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe, 1989: Dost, 1989: Aag Se Khelenge, 1989: Parinda, 1989: Bahurani.
1990-1993
1990: Jeene Do, 1990: Jai Shiv Shankar, 1990: Dushman, 1990: Antham (Telugu cinema), 1990: Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga (Tamil cinema), 1991: Indrajeet, 1991: Jhoothi Shaan, 1992: Siyasat, 1992: Purushottam, 1992: Sarphira, 1992: Khule-Aam, 1992: Drohi, 1993: Anupama, 1993: Gurudev, 1993: Gardish, 1993: Deyshat, 1993: Libaas, 1993: Professor Ki Padosan, 1993: Tum Karo Vaada
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