Some interesting facts on S. D. Burman

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S.D. Burman: S.D. Burman was one of the most brilliant music directors of 1950s through mid 1970s. He was the only music director who continued to give very melodious music until his last film Abhimaan (1973). His frail health did not allow him to take too many music contracts. So he composed music for fewer films per year. He never depended on any one particular singer. On the contrary, he kept on experimenting with a variety of singers. It was one particular folk tune sung by tribal people in the forests of Tripura (which many years later he used it for the song `O re maazhi' in the film Bandini) that SDB used to listen to during his childhood, which inspired him to become a composer. Later, SDB himself sang this song for the film Bandini.
  His son R.D. Burman assisted him most of the time until RDB himself became an independent music director in his own right. Most of the mouth organ pieces in SDB films were played by RDB. RDB was a great mouth organ player. In 1956, when SDB composed music for Dev Anand's film Funtoosh, after the release of this film, RDB discovered that his father had stolen one of his tunes for the song `Ai meri topi palatake aa'. When RDB questioned his father the reason for this, SDB, in his characteristic Style, replied that he purposely did it so that he could test RDB's composition skills in public domain. Everyone knows this song became very popular.

  When RDB started composing music independently, one day he noticed SDB returned from his morning walk in a very good mood, which was very unusual. So RDB asked his father the reason. SDB replied that while he was taking his morning walk, he came across two people who were talking to each other. One person told his companion, “Look, R.D. Burman's father just walked by.” This statement assured SDB that RDB had finally arrived in music world. Earlier, RDB was known as SDB's son. Now on, people will recognize SDB as RDB's father.

  SDB gave new lease of life to Kishore Kumar. In 1968, after singing for RDB's `Padosan', KK was not getting any assignments and, out of frustration, decided to go back permanently to his native place Khandwa in MP. KK's song `Kehna hai, kehna hai' in the film was supposed to be his career's last song. At this time, it was RDB who requested KK to stay back in Mumbai for few more weeks and assured KK that his father SDB was in the process of composing specially tailored songs for KK in Aradhana (1969), which could change KK's fortunes. KK roared back with the song `Mere sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu' and never looked back until his death in 1987. He surpassed Manna Dey, Mukesh and even Rafi. RDB went on to use KK's voice superbly in many of his films in 1970s and 1980s. RDB always used to say that KK, Asha Bhonsle and he understood each other very well musically. And this was the precise reason how RDB could compose very romantic duets using this pair.

  Initially, SDB wanted to give the famous song `Jalte hai jiske liye' (Film: Sujata) to Rafi. It was SDB's assistant Jaidev who strongly recommended taking Talat Mehmood instead of Rafi. By looking at the composition, he insisted that only Talat could do justice to this song and not Rafi. However, SDB would not listen to Jaidev. Finally, SDB bowed down and took Talat to sing the song. We all know that Talat did full justice to this song with his mellow voice.

  When RDB was young, SDB was very much worried about whether his son was picking up the composing skills or not. So, whenever lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri visited his house, SDB used to tell Majrooh to talk to RDB and make him pay more attention to composing skills. Majrooh always told SDB that if father could not fix his son then how could an outsider like him do it. Anyway, RDB turned out to be one of the greatest music directors fulfilling the dream of his father. Unfortunately, SDB did not live long enough to see his son's super success.

  Music Director Roshan was a family friend of SDB. Once Roshan came to SDB's house and asked his permission to use his tune `Thandi Hawaayen' (Film: Naujawaan) for his forthcoming composition for the song `Rahe na rahe hum' (Film: Mamta). SDB gladly gave him permission and Roshan made some cosmetic changes and composed this song very well. Later, RDB used the same tune and composed `Saagar kinare' (Film: Saagar). If you listen to all 3 songs, you will notice that all of them have same Bandishi and hence sound similar.



  Once in a while, SDB asked his assistant music directors to compose antara of the song. SDB composed sthaayi of the song `Piya tose naian lage re' (Film: Guide) on raga Khamaj, and then went out to eat paan (betel leaves). In the meantime, he told his assistant music directors to compose the antara. When he returned to the recording room and listened to the antara composed by his assistants, he immediately realized that it was a very poor composition. He scolded his assistants and discarded this antara and then sat down to compose it himself, and came out with brilliant composition within a short time. His assistant music directors were dazzled to see the brilliance of SDB. We all know how melodious this classical song is.

  Singer Bhupendra used to be a leading guitar player in SDB's orchestra. There were rumors that some of the songs of film Aradhana were composed by RDB. But according to Bhupendra, contrary to this popular belief, all the songs of the film were composed by SDB.

skywalker

Nice article. SD Burman was a great composer.
Thandi hawaayen and rahe  na rahe hum are based on Raga Pahadi and Lataji is simply superb singing Rahe na rahe hum which was composed by Roshan.

imrupak

Nice article !

sandymgjs

Great tribute thread to the great composer!

SDB was a true genius composer!

And also a great singer.

Songs like ...
Waha Kaun Hain Tera
O Re Majhi

Are the best background songs ever composed in Hindi cinema!

Viney Mittal

wowww. what an informative write up it is. I am a great fan of SDB, and even RDB, so I have definitely enjoyed this...!!

knikam

awesome post, have been ardent supporter of burman family