’If Music Be The Food Of Life, Play On.’ Panchamda seemed to have lived by this maxim.
I have lived, breathed, & thrived on R.D.’s music ever since I can remember. Instead of sweet lullabies in the voice of mommy dearest, I remember falling asleep to soulful numbers like:
’Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani’ from’Masoom, ’
and the like.
Sadly, it is only his rock n’ roll ditties that are remembered today. No thanks to all the’hajar’ remixes dished out in the name of’tributes’ to Panchamda! Trust me,
songs like:
’Piya Tu’ from’Caravan, ’ and
’Yeh Jawani’ from’Jawani Deewani, ’
are not what Burman junior was all about. I’m sure anybody who has heard the classical
’Beeti Na Bitayi Raina, ’ from ‘Parichay’ starring Jaya Bhaduri & Jeetendra,
will agree with me when I say there was more to R.D. than his crash!boom!bang! numbers. Hey! By the way, has anyone heard of,
’Dil Padosi Hai?’
Surprise! Surprise! it is R.D.’s very non-filmi album. All the tracks sung by Asha Bhosle & written by Gulzar saab(another hot favourite of mine) are absolutely a must-hear for all you Pancham fans out there! Go get yourself the set of 2 CDs NOW.
To name’just a few’ more of my favourite R.D Burman numbers, would actually take up the space needed for this whole website! Honest! So for now I guess I shall have to contend with naming my all-time favourite RD melodies(in no particular order). So here goes:
1) Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani from Shekar Kapur’s tearjerker’Masoom.’
Beautifully rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, with out-of this-world music by the best of the best!
2) Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi from’Masoom’ again.
I prefer the male version of this song from the movie. Absolutely heart wrenching, soul stirring music combined with tearjerker lyrics, a lethal combination!
3)Katra Katra from the Rekha & Naseeruddin Shah starrer’Ijazat.’
Watch out for the goose flesh when Asha Bhosle croons’Pyasi Hoon Main Pyasi Rehne Do’!
4) Mera Kuch Saaman from “Ijazat”(again).
5) Huzur Is Kadar Bhi Na Itra Ke Chaliye from “Masoom” where Naseeruddin Shah(one of the most underrated actors ever, according to me) flirts in semi- drunken stupor with Shabana Azmi at a party. The music once again manages to convey the mood of the song.
6) Aap Ki Akhon Me Kuch is the song with which, Vinod Mehra serenades the gorgeous Rekha in ‘Ghar.’
Moreover there are:
7) Ek Chatura Naar and
8) Mere Samne Wali Khidki Mein from ‘Padosan’.
9) Jitne Bhi Tu Kar Le Sitam from ‘Sanam Teri Kasam.’(I like the Asha Bhosle version).
10) Dilbar Mere Kab Tak Mujhe from ‘Satte Pe Satta.’(it’s all thanks to this song that I fell head over heels in love with Amitabh Bachhan!)
11) Dukki Pe Dukki Ho from ‘Satte Pe Satta’ again.
12) Tere Bina Jiya Jaye Na from ‘Ghar.’
13) Roz Roz Aakhon Tale from ‘Jeeva’
14) Aane Wala Pal and the title song,
15) Golmaal Hai Bhai from the movie ‘Golmaal.’
16) Dhanno Ki Aakhon Mein from ‘Kitab’ directed by Gulzar.
17) Pehle Pehle Pyar Ki Baatein(Mera Kya Naam Hai) and
18) Do Lafzon Ki Hai from ‘Great Gambler.’
19) Tere Liye Palkon Ki Jhalar from the film ‘Harjaee’ and
20) Ek Ladki Ko Dekha from ‘1942- A Love Story.’
Whew! That was a tough one! And I haven’t even covered 1% of this legendary composer’s musical repertoire. Hey! If there are other R.D. worshippers out there, how ‘bout sharing ‘a few of your favourite Pancham songs with me?