Why more importance 2 RD Burman, Kishore?

I know I will be bashed by many in this topic 😆 But i really want this hot discussion - just to prove something 😉

So, here is an overview of what do I want to prove and how is it related to RDB and Kishore...

There are many who claim that RD Burman is the best composer till date and Kishore is the best singer (Considering male voice)... There are so many fans for him.. Oops not fans, his devotees 😛 Now what made RD Burman and Kishore so popular leaving behind the composers like SD Burman, Madan Mohan, Salil Chowdhury, Naushad and singers like Mohd Rafi, Manna Dey and others who tried their luck in industry???

Following are my view points for discussion:

Firstly, I consider Salil Chowdhury, SD Burman, Madan Mohan, Naushad, C.Ramanachandra, to be much much better composers than RD Burman... Just look at the songs being composed... No Doubt, RDB tried with many new style of music... But was he versatile enough?? His songs were composed as if to cater to the style of Kishore... hardly you can find any semi-classical number composed by him and sung by Kishoreda... Kishoreda's voice definitely had the right emotions for each song, but as not being trained, he couldnt give out certain classic numbers like what Rafi or Manna Dey sahib did...

While one can find, different types of compositions in SD Burman or Salil Chowdhury collections... Rafi sahib was again class apart.. He has sung almost all genre songs starting from semi-classical, qawallis till romantic soft numbers...

In this younger generation - if one asks for SD Burman or Salil Chowdhury or Naushad, very few percentage of people will know... But RD Burman and Kishore are known to huge percentage of people...

It could be that the people needed a change and so RD Burman and Kishore combo was liked by all... Certain questions I am putting forward to people to answer:

• But have we forgotten those gems composed and sung by the early legendary composers and singers???
• Why is it that when it comes to Kishore or RD Burman, a special kind of treatment is given, while not for others??
• Why is not much importance given to the gems composed by the early composers?? Shouldnt they revive those songs and promote them?? Why promote more of RD Burman and Kishore songs??

All I can say at the end is - By doing this, they are depriving the younger generation from hearing the real classic melodies of the early composers... And saying that RD Burman and Kishore are the best is an injustice to the early legendary composers and singers...

Originally posted by: Anuradha

I know I will be bashed by many in this topic 😆 But i really want this hot discussion - just to prove something 😉

So, here is an overview of what do I want to prove and how is it related to RDB and Kishore...

There are many who claim that RD Burman is the best composer till date and Kishore is the best singer (Considering male voice)... There are so many fans for him.. Oops not fans, his devotees 😛 Now what made RD Burman and Kishore so popular leaving behind the composers like SD Burman, Madan Mohan, Salil Chowdhury, Naushad and singers like Mohd Rafi, Manna Dey and others who tried their luck in industry???

Following are my view points for discussion:

Firstly, I consider Salil Chowdhury, SD Burman, Madan Mohan, Naushad, C.Ramanachandra, to be much much better composers than RD Burman... Just look at the songs being composed... No Doubt, RDB tried with many new style of music... But was he versatile enough?? His songs were composed as if to cater to the style of Kishore... hardly you can find any semi-classical number composed by him and sung by Kishoreda... Kishoreda's voice definitely had the right emotions for each song, but as not being trained, he couldnt give out certain classic numbers like what Rafi or Manna Dey sahib did...

While one can find, different types of compositions in SD Burman or Salil Chowdhury collections... Rafi sahib was again class apart.. He has sung almost all genre songs starting from semi-classical, qawallis till romantic soft numbers...

In this younger generation - if one asks for SD Burman or Salil Chowdhury or Naushad, very few percentage of people will know... But RD Burman and Kishore are known to huge percentage of people...

It could be that the people needed a change and so RD Burman and Kishore combo was liked by all... Certain questions I am putting forward to people to answer:

• But have we forgotten those gems composed and sung by the early legendary composers and singers???
• Why is it that when it comes to Kishore or RD Burman, a special kind of treatment is given, while not for others??
• Why is not much importance given to the gems composed by the early composers?? Shouldnt they revive those songs and promote them?? Why promote more of RD Burman and Kishore songs??

All I can say at the end is - By doing this, they are depriving the younger generation from hearing the real classic melodies of the early composers... And saying that RD Burman and Kishore are the best is an injustice to the early legendary composers and singers...

i think its just due to time...pretty soon...years from now... in about 25-30 years...people will call composers of today great and RD...although still a legend will be talked about less....its not that they aren't Legends they are just talked about/mention a little less.....the new generation will remember todays movies and todays composers...it always happens...its just a cycle...the others are legends also..RD...SD..Manna Dey...Mukesh Ji....Kishore Ji...i don't think you can compare them...because they had their own style and all of them cranked out hits...its just that Kirshore sang into the 80's while Mukesh Ji sang into the 70's...so i think thats it...same can be said For SD (70's) and RD (90's).....its not that they weren't as good...they are just mentioned less....and they all churned out hits....all are legends....and they all revolutionized the industry...

Really good topic! (maybe you can make this DOTW)

Well I think RD Burman is given so much importance because he brought a revolution in Bollywood music. And from what I've heard, he was not given this much respect when he was alive. RD Burman songs are the ones that, out of all old songs, are popular with the young generation the most. Be it Teesri Manzil or Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin, those are the albums that appeal to us teenagers a lot. He is my favourite composer too.

As far as Kishoreda is concerned, everyone worships him because he was truly god gifted, and sang so well without any training. But I feel that Rafi Saab has the same amount of devotees as in this world, but for some reason that is not reflected on television in the same way as it is for Kishoreda. I personally slightly prefer Rafi Saab out of the two, and my favourite RDB albums are always the ones that include at least one Mohd. Rafi song.

I guess RDB and KK songs have passed the test of time, but us individuals still have our own personal preferences. If you ask me, I would say that these 2 deserve all the hype around them, but I think that others deserve an equal position.

Good Topic Anu.

First of all to call Kishore the best singer is wrong. I may be his fan but its true he had some constraints. He could never match the classical trainings of Rafi or Manna Dey. Koshore gave some hit numbers which became too popular hence the fan following. Without training he did all that and that makes him a class apart. But definitely Rafi or Manna Dey as far as singing classical songs were concerned, they were way ahead.

RDB as composer was okay. I won't say someone exceptional. But again he knew the pulse of the public and composed his songs accordingly. Thus he made sure to get connected to the masses.

The combo that he formed with Kishore actually became his downfall too. See the songs he composed after Kishore's demise. Baring 1942 Love Story none could make any mark. He never tried to compose songs that could go well with other singers. And after Kishore he was left stranded. SDB I would say was way way better than his son. You see versatility in his songs. Be it folk, masti number or even classicals. RDB lacked that level of talent while composing.

Originally posted by: Bhaskar.T

SDB I would say was way way better than his son. You see versatility in his songs. Be it folk, masti number or even classicals. RDB lacked that level of talent while composing.

I read somewhere that many SDB numbers were actually composed by RDB and I think most masti numbers under SDB's credit are done by his son because SDB himself did not really like composing masti numbers so when it was required in a film he would have his son do them.

I won't comment on this topic. I don't want to fight with my little sister and my little brother. 😛 😛


" RD as a composer was OK". Bhaskar - 😡

Originally posted by: Bhaskar.T

The combo that he formed with Kishore actually became his downfall too. See the songs he composed after Kishore's demise. Baring 1942 Love Story none could make any mark. He never tried to compose songs that could go well with other singers. And after Kishore he was left stranded.

And who was available to sing after Kishore Kumar? Kumar Sanu. Well, RDB was forced to take him and you saw the pathetic, shaky singing.

Point is that every MD tends to get close to some singers who are able to give exactly the form to a song that the MD imagined. Today's MDs are very good in taking scores of different singers, but I will not speak about the end-result of these songs because my views are well-known. 😃

Originally posted by: apparaohoare

I won't comment on this topic. I don't want to fight with my little sister and my little brother. 😛 😛


" RD as a composer was OK". Bhaskar - 😡

Dada, aap post nahin karoge toh discussion kahaan se hogi?? 😆 Its not fight, we are only debating 😛 Yesterday had a loud debate with my parents also.. My dad is die hard kishoreda fan and was too mad when I said this... But then he had to agree to what I said 😉 Kyaa pata aap bhi maan jaaye 😛

Im still waiting for some kishoreda fans to come 😃

Originally posted by: jaskaran48

i think its just due to time...pretty soon...years from now... in about 25-30 years...people will call composers of today great and RD...although still a legend will be talked about less....its not that they aren't Legends they are just talked about/mention a little less.....the new generation will remember todays movies and todays composers...it always happens...its just a cycle...the others are legends also..RD...SD..Manna Dey...Mukesh Ji....Kishore Ji...i don't think you can compare them...because they had their own style and all of them cranked out hits...its just that Kirshore sang into the 80's while Mukesh Ji sang into the 70's...so i think thats it...same can be said For SD (70's) and RD (90's).....its not that they weren't as good...they are just mentioned less....and they all churned out hits....all are legends....and they all revolutionized the industry...

Agreed... But thats the question... Asha has revived all RDB songs though they are already popular among the younger gen while no effort to revive those songs of Opee who found her???

Only the peppy nos of the 50s or 60s have been made into a so called remix... But why no effort to bring out the classic songs of that era?? Thr r many classics available in 40s too.. Who knows about Noor Jehan now?? Why not popularize her songs??

Why this special attention for RDB and Kishore??? They are trying to find new kishore from the reality shows... This is in a way popularizing the songs of Kishore too... Why no effort for others??

Originally posted by: Anuradha

Asha has revived all RDB songs though they are already popular among the younger gen while no effort to revive those songs of Opee who found her???

Only the peppy nos of the 50s or 60s have been made into a so called remix... But why no effort to bring out the classic songs of that era?? Thr r many classics available in 40s too.. Who knows about Noor Jehan now?? Why not popularize her songs??

Why this special attention for RDB and Kishore??? They are trying to find new kishore from the reality shows... This is in a way popularizing the songs of Kishore too... Why no effort for others??

I actually don't like all that stuff they do like remixes and what not (even when Asha Bhosle does it). And the new Kishore idea was a complete flop idea anyways. I'm actually glad that not many Rafi numbers are ruined (remixed) and I wish they didn't do that to Kishore da also.