R.D. Burman and the sound of his soul

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Bob Chowdhury

@Qwest

Inactive

Posted: 19 years ago

R.D. Burman and the sound of his soul

R.D. Burman and the sound of his soul
Friday, 30 June 2006 |

"RD married Rita in 1960 but divorced her in 1974. He later got married to singer Asha Bhosle who had lent her voice to many of his compositions. Indeed, the duo delighted audiences the world over with their 'live' performances. RD's showmanship and Asha's natural exuberance made them the perfect pair."

By Santanu Bose

New Delhi, June 30 - They say humans die but the soul never does. And R.D. Burman had music in his soul.

Although a dozen years have passed since the musical maestro's death, the charisma of his music refuses to die down. The overwhelming music of Rahul Dev Burman or Panchamda or RD, as he is popularly referred to, is still alive in the hearts of millions of Indians, old and young alike.

Panchamda, whose birthday was celebrated June 27, remains the spirit of the Indian music industry, says the cinema portal Bollywoodcountry.com. So much so that even the current genre of musicians, be it singers or composers, at least once in their lifetime, have wished they had worked with him.

Regarded as one of the all time greats, he was always far ahead of his contemporaries. He was different. He was gifted. Most importantly, he always thought ahead of the times. Who else could have thought of hippie numbers like 'Hare Krishna Hare Rama', or 'Mehbooba mehbooba' in the early 1970s?

Panchamda always made music for the youth, as he himself was so youthful. But his songs touched the hearts of the old generation too. Most of his songs were termed revolutionary as they had a Westernised element.

The West at that time was rocking with the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and also jazz music. The rest of the world was slowly waking up to the new music and Panchamda was no exception. He realised the potential of this genre. He cultivated it and infused it into his music though with his own stamp of identity.

He was also one of the few composers who had a thorough knowledge of both Western and Indian music.

Music critics could never typecast RD as, along with compositions with heavy presence of Western instruments, he gave music to soft, soulful songs and left a deep imprint in the sands of time.

Who can forget his poignant numbers like 'Tere bina zindagi se koi shiqwa', 'Musafir hoon yaaron', 'Beeti na beetayi raina' and dozens of other songs from his huge oeuvre of more than 330 films in six different languages. His teaming up with Gulzar gave music lovers some of the most beautiful compositions.

Panchamda is also remembered for his unique style of composing music. He was always ready for experimentation. In 'Chura liya hai tumne', he used the sound of a spoon hitting a glass. In the song 'O manjhi re', he used bottles with water filled at different levels and created a hollow sound by blowing into them and this sound effect was used with the orchestra.

He was born June 27, 1939, and was the only child of the famous singer-music director, Sachin Dev Burman. His childhood was spent in Kolkata but he shifted to Mumbai after matriculation. He started learning the sarod from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and began assisting his father in music direction. He struck out as an independent music director with the movie, 'Bhoot Bangla'.

RD married Rita in 1960 but divorced her in 1974. He later got married to singer Asha Bhosle who had lent her voice to many of his compositions. Indeed, the duo delighted audiences the world over with their 'live' performances. RD's showmanship and Asha's natural exuberance made them the perfect pair.

In his lifetime, Panchamda bagged two Filmfare Awards for 'Sanam Teri Kasam' in 1982 and 'Masoom' in 1983. This great doyen of Indian music breathed his last Jan 4, 1994, leaving all music lovers in void.

Edited by Qwest - 19 years ago

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Kavita Gupta

@uknaik99

Rocker

+ 2

Posted: 19 years ago

Thank you for the article Qwest Ji.. Pancahm da is one of my Fav MD.

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punjini

@punjini

Dazzler

Posted: 19 years ago

Just 2 Filmfare awards for this great man?!

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Bob Chowdhury

@Qwest

Inactive

Posted: 19 years ago

Originally posted by: punjini
Just 2 Filmfare awards for this great man?!

punjini ji, Thanks for reminding us again that only 2 Filmfare award for him. Yes he was a great man and the best MD at all times.!!!!

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Barnali

@Barnali

Rocker

+ 2

Posted: 19 years ago

Originally posted by: punjini
Just 2 Filmfare awards for this great man?!

same thoughts its really sad.

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advil

@advil

Inactive

+ 3

Posted: 19 years ago

Originally posted by: Barnali

same thoughts its really sad.

I thought people understood music better then..😕

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punjini

@punjini

Dazzler

Posted: 19 years ago

Did You Know...

R.D. Burman made his acting debut in Mehmood's 'Bhoot Bangla'. Later in 'Pyar Ka Mausam' too he gave a hilarious performance as Mr. Popat Lal.

Pancham introduced the twin track effect in 'Baharon Ke Sapne'. which he later used to create the mesmerizing 'qatra qatra miltee hai' (Ijaazat) and a few more songs.

He also pioneered the use of electronic organ in Indian Films with the song 'O mere Sona re' (Teesri Manzil).

RD was, as Gulzar says, as good a craftsman as he was a musician. He picked the sounds for his songs from very indigenous sources.

In 'Chura liya' he used the sound of a spoon hitting a glass .

For the Kitaab song 'Master jee kee aa gayee chiTThee' he brought some desks from a classroom in the studio while recording and used them as percussion.

In Abdullah he used the sound of a bamboo whistle with a balloon tied to it for a song.

Once to get the sound of raindrops, he spent a whole rainy night in his house's balcony recording the sound he wanted.

In the song 'O Manjhi Re' from the movie 'Khushboo', R.D. Burman used bottles with water filled at different levels and created a hollow sound by blowing into them and this sound effect was used with the orchestra.

During the recording of 'Hum donoN do premee' (Ajnabee) the musicians were on strike. So he improvised the song with emptied-out musical interludes and just listen the song!

The mouth organ played in the song 'Hai Apna Dil To Awara' sung by Hemant Kumar in the film 'Solva Saal' is played by R.D. Burman himself.

R.D. Burman played the mouth organ for his friends Laxmikant-Pyarelal in a song in 'Dosti' and also in a movie for Kalyanji-Anandji.

Dada Burman used Pancham's tune 'ai meree topee palat ke aa' in 'Fantoosh'. Pancham was only 9 when he composed the tune.

Again next year, for Pyaasa, SD used his son's 'Sar Jo Tera Chakraaye', which became a big hit.

Both Lata and Bhupinder won a National award for the song 'Beeti Na Bitaayee Raina' from 'Parichay', and this song was composed in a hotel room in no time.

Aarti Mukherjee won a National award for the song 'Do Naina Ek Kahaani' from 'Masoom'.

Gulzar (best lyricist), Asha Bhosle (best female singer) won National awards for the song 'Mera Kuchh Samaan' from Ijaazat.

RDB was the first to introduce the Brazilian bossa nova rhythm in Hindi film music - the song was "Maar dalega dard-e-jigar", sung by Asha, in "Pati Patni". That rhythm has since been endlessly used for film music. (contributed by Chandrashekhar, UAE)

R.D. Burman won the Filmfare Award only 3 times (Sanam Teri Kasam, Masoom, 1942-A Love Story) while being nominated 16 times for the award.

Amit Kumar, Abhijeet & Shabbir Kumar were given their first breaks by Pancham.

Jatin of Jatin-Lalit used to be in Pancham's children's choir.

Nasir Hussain, for the first time after Teesari Manzil, did not sign R.D. Burman, in 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'.

In July 1968, when presenting the Vividh Bharati Program Jaimala, Pancham played the following songs :

kajre badarwa re (Pati Patni), Lata

O ganga maiyya paar laga de (Chandan Ka Palna), Lata

sharaabee sharaabee mera naam ho gaya (Chandan ka Palna), Lata

chunree saMbhaal goree (Baharon Ke Sapne), Lata

mere saamne waalee khiD.kee meiN (Padosan), Kishore

ghar aaja ghir aaye (Chhote Nawaab), Lata

kahna hai kahna hai (Padosan), Lata

In Decemeber 1971 again in Jaimala Pancham played these compositions of his own:

Ye jo mohabbat hai (Kati Patang), Kishore

O hasina zulfoN waalee (Teesri Manzil), Asha-Rafi

Gulaabee aankheiN jo teree dekhee (The Train), Rafi

Jogee o jogee pyaar meiN kya hoga (Lakhon Mein Ek), Lata-Kishore

Aao twist kareiN (Bhoot Bangla), Manna Dey-Chorus

I Love You (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), Usha Iyyer-Asha

Matwaalee aankhoN waale (Chhote Nawaab), Lata-Rafi

Courtesy - panchamonline.com

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pranjal

@musicbug

Inactive

Posted: 19 years ago

When Sholay was released, it did not get good response from the public. It was Pancham Da who invested some money with the cinema hall owners in Bombay and requested them to screen the movie for one more week. And you know what sholay did after that.

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Bob Chowdhury

@Qwest

Inactive

Posted: 19 years ago

Originally posted by: musicbug
When Sholay was released, it did not get good response from the public. It was Pancham Da who invested some money with the cinema hall owners in Bombay and requested them to screen the movie for one more week. And you know what Sholay did after that.

Thanks for sharing .!!!!!!!!