R D Burman - Remembering The Musical Genius
Rahul Dev Burman know as R.D. Burman the sun of Sachin Dev Burman was born in Calcutta on June 27, 1939.
Music was an inherited talent and a gift bequeathed to Rahul Dev Burman, the only son of famous music composer Sachin Dev Burman.
Starting independent music composing in 1961, He did 331 Films and 4 Non-Film Albums. On January 4, 1994, the most loved and adored musician RD Burman bid goodbye to this world.
The easiest thing to write about somebody who is dead and gone is to say good things.The genius of some composers is recognised during their lifetimes. Others, particularly those who take music into new directions, may not be recognised until after their deaths.
Though R D Burman won honour and respect in his lifetime for his innovative music, his work as a music composer did not find true recognition till his death.
With the passage of time, the popularity of R.D. Burman – Pancham da has grown and posthumously (it’s fifteen years now) his music has become more popular and admirable.
A fact grossly contrasts his last days as a music director who not only dished out some immortal songs but also gifted Hindi film music a new way of looking into it. During the last decade his music re-entered into the music shelves cutting all possible genres and his music got noticed like never before.
Its not RD Burman who was unfortunate with awards & recognitions, its literally our shame that we have not given our due respect and recognition to this genius when he was alive. Or it took us these many years to understand the hidden beauties of R D Burman’s music?
If a person cannot appreciate the greatness of R D Burman, then it can be safely concluded that the person does not have a sense of music.
I am ’Very sorry to say, today everything has degenerated. Our emotions, values, lifestyle ... So has music.
The golden era of music of stalwarts like Naushad, Shankar Jaikishen, O P Nayyar, S D Burman, Roshan, Madan Mohan & R D Burman can never come back. "What’s gone is gone, ’’
Many music critics called R D Burman a copy master, a plagiarist who went abroad only to bring back tunes.
I do agree that every composer, whether it was SD Burman or RD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal or Kalyanji - Anandji, has been inspired. But the difference between those legends and today’s musicians is that they never copied tunes blatantly, they only adapted.
Today, we don’t have copies, we have bad photo copies. No one is coming up with anything original or creative ( with the exception of A R Rahman). Music directors are only remixing and replaying old hits. The immortal songs are still playing in the discotheques today in their remixed versions.
Without a second thought I can say R D Burman was not a plagiarist. He reinvented tunes which lay in the darkness of the hills or the depths of the oceans. He was a true discoverer. Pancham Da brought a revolution in the Hindi film music through his innovative style.
It is said that R D Burman is also remembered for his unique style of composing music. He was always ready for experimentation. In the song Chura liya hai tumne, he used the sound of a spoon hitting a glass. In another 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.
R D Burman’s biggest award was that his music is immortal. Even today many of the remixes are done using his old hits, In clubs, Parties, discs & during marriage ceremony. RD’s intoxicating songs are played all over the country.
R D Burman, the man who added his unique dash of pep and verve in to Hindi film music starting with the 60s. He can claim the credit of the first music director who brought Rock n’ Roll to Hindi tunes, creating a brand of music so distinctly his own.
In his lifetime, Panchamda bagged three Filmfare Awards for Sanam Teri Kasam in 1982 , Masoom in 1983 & 1942 The Love story (1994)
Very few people know the harsh fact, RD Burman was a failure in the latter part of his life, took to drinking heavily in frustration and was quite amazed when Vidhu Vinod Chopra offered him 1942: A Love Story, the music and subsequent success of which he never lived to see. And for many years after that he remained as a fossil, forgotten and desolate while people like Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik & Nadeem-Shravan defined the music of the nineties.
Even 15 years after his demise, 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.
Ours is a nation driven by music. We use music to define ourselves, lessen our sorrows, wallow in self-pity, express, dance, sing, and RD Burman is that one man who has made songs for every mood.
Even to this day, whenever I hear RD’s tunes, what immediately rushes to mind is a medley of myriad images , my school, my college, those wonderful & carefree days with my friends. Those days wouldn’t have been what they were if R.D.Burman had not happened !
People all over the world, of all ages, still love R D Burman.His talent, his wonderment and his innovative music make him legend.
Most of the songs composed by R D are my favourotes. I like to hear again & again. I have picked some of my all time favorite songs from RD’s musical garden.
Chingari Koi Bhadke - Amar Prem
Dum maro Dum - Hare Krishna Hare Rama
Hum Dono Do Premi, Ajnabee
O mere Dil ke chain – Mere Jeevan Saathi
Mehbooba mehbooba - Sholay
Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya - Andhi
Chand Mera Dil - Hum Kisise Kum Naheen
Do Lafzon Ki Hian – The great Gambler
Chehra hain a chand khila hain – Saagar
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha - 1942 : A Love Story
Dear Tanna I appreciate & thank you for celebrating the R D Burman Film Festival on MS. My tribute to the musical genius R D Burman.