Stay tuned to our new posts and updates! Click to join us on WhatsApp L&C-Whatsapp & Telegram telegram Channel
L&C-Silhouette Subscribe
The L&C-Silhouette Basket
L&C-Silhouette Basket
A hand-picked basket of cherries from the world of most talked about books and popular posts on creative literature, reviews and interviews, movies and music, critiques and retrospectives ...
to enjoy, ponder, wonder & relish!
 
Support LnC-Silhouette. Great reading for everyone, supported by readers. SUPPORT

The Incomparable Music Of S D Burman Transcends Generations

March 21, 2015 | By

S D Burman used his solid grounding in classical music and his wide exposure to folk music most effectively to create compositions that broke traditions and became hugely popular with the mass audience. His style of singing and quality of voice was his own, unique and unmatched. “Such is the youthfulness of his tunes that he seems a live presence even today. Age-wise, he may have belonged to the first generation composers but his tunes have a contemporariness that puts him ahead of the fourth generation.”

Refined from an autographed picture in Sachin Dev Burman 'Smriti Samaroh' Smarika (Hindi journal)

Rare picture of S D Burman refined from an autographed picture “With love Shachin” in Sachin Dev Burman ‘Smriti Samaroh’ Smarika (Hindi journal)

“Wahaan kaun hai tera, musafir… jayega kahaan…”

When you hear the inimitable S D Burman sing this song in his unique, rustic style, you can’t help get carried away into a world far beyond the humdrum of everyday life, a world of your own, pensive, thoughtful, evocative…

This ‘musafir’ from the north-eastern state of Tripura, fondly called Burman Dada, who made music his love, his being and his identity may not have imagined that 40 years since he passed away, his music will continue to rule the hearts of hundreds of thousands of music lovers.

What makes Burman Dada’s music stand the test of time? What gives it that everlasting appeal? What makes music lovers turn back to him wanting more? What gives his music a signature that is unmistakably his?

Roots and Heritage

“He was one of the music greats of our country, his thinking and creativity was unique. The range of music he gave from Bandini to Pyaasa to Guide, he was amazing at everything. His melodies had a different appeal,” sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan had said at the launch of the book Sun Mere Bandhu Re. “One of the best things about him was that he brought folk music in film tunes.”

Wahaan kaun hai tera, musafir… jayega kahaanGuide (1965)

I was bent towards folk music, simultaneously with classical music. Madhab was an old hand in our family. He used to sing Ramayana for us on Sunday afternoons after lunch. His simple rhythmic style used to make me ecstatic! There were no stunts and he used to sing effortlessly. Bauls, Bhatiyali singers, Fakhirs, Baishnabs, singers of Lord Shiba and Goddess Kali, and similar folk singers used to come to our house regularly. Their singing enthralled me…” – S D Burman in his autobiography, Sargamer Nikhad

S D Burman, V. Balsara, Bhupinder Singh and Kishore Kumar

S D Burman, V. Balsara, Bhupinder Singh and Kishore Kumar

Born in Kumilla, Tripura (now in Bangladesh) on 1st of October 1906, to the royal family of Tripura, S D Burman went through rigorous training in classical music under his father Nabadweepchandra Dev Burman who was his first guru. He then learned the intricacies of Indian classical music from the then legendary musicians including K C Dey, Ustad Badal Khan, Ustad Allauddin Khan and Bishmadev Chatterji.

Sachin Dev Burman (S D Burman) first shot into reckoning as radio singer composer in Calcutta Radio Station. With a mix of Bengali folk and light Hindustani classical music, S D Burman’s compositions and song renditions created a unique niche, enjoying raging popularity with both the connoisseurs and the mass audience. His inimitable  Bengali Thumri (Ami chhinu eka basaro jagaye) impressed everyone from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to Vijayalakshmi Pandit, from K L Saigal to Ustad  Abdul Karim Khan of Kirana Gharana.

Fondly known as ‘Sachin Karta’ in his native Bengal and Tripura and as Burman Dada or Sachinda or simply SD in Bombay, S D Burman used his solid grounding in classical music and his wide exposure to folk music most effectively to create compositions that broke traditions and became hugely popular with the mass audience. His style of singing and quality of voice was his own, unique and unmatched.

Mera sundar sapna beet gaya – Do Bhai (1947)

Storming the West

With more than 132 Bengali songs sung with the illustrious Bengali musicians and poets and compositions for several popular Bengali plays and films under his belt, S D Burman moved west to storm the highly competitive portals of Hindi film music. There was no looking back.

Geeta Dutt and SD Burman

“Her (Geeta Dutt’s) collaboration with SD Burman in films such as Do Bhai, Baazi, Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool remain at a special pedestal and encompass all the possible genres and emotions in music.” (Pic courtesy: Internet)

At the time when Hindi film music was dominated by the richly classical compositions, the devotional songs or the typical “sad” songs, S D Burman introduced a unique sweetness into film music, creating compositions that perfectly expressed the situations they were made for. He started making music that created moods.

Along with Geeta Roy (Dutt), who got her first big break with S D Burman in Do Bhai (1947), the iconic Mera sundar sapna beet gaya catapulted both the composer and the singer into the national limelight.  As Punita Bhatt wrote in an article, “S. D. Burman composed music for exactly 89 films, adding up to a total of 689 songs.  It is said that SD Burman had the highest hit songs as compared to others. This much can be said without hesitation: S. D.’s music never grated or jarred the sensibilities. How many music directors today can make even this claim? At his best, Burman’s compositions were uncluttered little masterpieces in which singer and melody became partners to beguile the ear.”

Yeh raat yeh chaandni phir kahaan – Jaal (1952)

The Choice of Voice

S D Burman’s uncanny ability to choose the right voice for each song lifted the song to the level of a perfect song in all aspects. Not surprisingly, he was instrumental in discovering, honing, nurturing and mentoring talents who went on to become legends in their own right. Says Moti Lalwani, whose dedicated and steadfast research into S D Burman’s life and works and massive collection of rare archival material has been the backbone of many articles and a book on the music maestro’s life Sathya Saran’s Sun Mere Bandhu Re, “Hemant Kumar’s 1st Hindi song, Asha Bhonsle’s 1st cabaret song, Lata’s 1st cabaret song, Kishore’s 1st few lines in Hindi films, Manna Dey’s 1st successful Hindi song, Anuradha Paudwal’s first few lines (Shiv shlok) in films when she was a housewife bringing lunch for husband Arun who was SDB assistant, Danny Denzogpa’s 1st Hindi song, Bhupinder’s 1st words (Oh Shaaloo…!) in Jewel Thief, Meena Kapoor’s 1st released song, all by SDB.”

Dev Anand, Dada Burman and Mohd Rafi

Dev Anand, Dada Burman and Mohd Rafi

S D Burman knew which voice would fit which song, which instruments would capture the mood of the song perfectly, which situation demanded what kind of music… simply put, he knew the pulse of the audience. From path-breaking club songs Tadbeer se bigdi hui in Baazi (1951) to the best adaptation of the Bengali kirtan in Hindi Aaj sajan mohe ang lagaa lo in Pyaasa (1957), he used the dulcet voice of Geeta Dutt to traverse the entire spectrum of film music.

Moti Lalwani, recounts that in an interview of maverick film director Vijay Anand had mentioned that it was S D Burman who had suggested that the song ‘Rimjhim ke taraane le-ke aayi barsaat’ in Kala Bazaar (1960) be picturised on the hero and heroine with the song playing only in the background. Vijay Anand immediately liked the idea and thus the lovely Rafi-Geeta duet created. “With visuals of a rain-lashed promenade of South Bombay, the fleeting images of flashbacks & the muted yet expressive faces of the debonair hero Dev Anand and the dainty heroine Waheeda, is one of the best-picturised songs in the annals of Indian movies. And SD Burman had suggested on how to picturise it.”

Agrees Peeyush Sharma, the prolific Canada-based writer on cinema who was also the founder secretary of Vintage Hindi film music Lovers Association in Banglore in mid 80s, “Also, Geeta had by this time refused to sing for Waheeda, as she believed Guru Dutt was paying more attention to Waheeda and their marriage was not going smooth. Dada keeping all that in mind suggested the song to be played on background and not be lip-sync. And Dada would not change his singers as he knew these are the singers to give him the best in this number. Thus the song got done and all parties were happy. Rest was Vijay Anand’s genius.”

‘Rimjhim ke taraane le-ke aayi barsaat’ (Kala Bazaar, 1960)

From the passionate romantic beckoning of Hemant Kumar’s Yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahaan (Jaal, 1952) to the fun and frothy Kishore Kumar in Mere sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu in Aradhana (1969); from fully exploiting Geeta Dutt’s Bhaav-gayaki in the immortal Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam in Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) to Lata Mangeshkar’s classical Piya tose naina laage re in Guide (1965); from Asha Bhosle’s melancholic yearning in Kaali ghata chhaye mora jiya tarsaaye in Sujata (1959) to Rafi’s intense Dekhi zamaane ki yaari in Kaagaz Ke Phool in the same year, S D Burman’s impeccable choice of voice made these songs become the benchmarks of Hindi film music. “Her (Geeta Dutt’s) collaboration with SD Burman in films such as Do Bhai, Baazi, Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool remain at a special pedestal and encompass all the possible genres and emotions in music,” says AK, the writer on music  in his article Geeta Dutt’s best songs by SD Burman.

Piya tose naina laage re – Guide (1965)

Keep it simple!

S D Burman had the uncanny knack to simplify complex compositions into hummable super hit numbers that topped the charts. For instance, for Hai apna dil to awara in Solva Saal, S D Burman insisted on Hemant Kumar to playback for Dev  Anand much to the chagrin of director Raj Khosla who wanted to sing it himself! (Raj Khosla also wanted to sing ‘Yeh raat yeh chandini’ in Jaal.) The song topped the ’58 Binaca Geetmala charts, after staying there for almost a year irrespective of the fact that the film did not do well at the box-office. Music lovers still marvel at the innovative orchestration in this song, especially the use of the harmonica played by RD Burman.

Says Moti Lalwani, “He used minimum instruments to achieve maximum sweetness in his songs. For background music/climax music, where music directors used 50 to 75 to 100 musicians, Dada used only one instrument at least twice I know of, in Kala Pani (1958) and in Bandini (1963).”

Hai apna dil to awara – Sohlva Saal (1958)

The tall and lean S D Burman with wife Meera, son Rahul Dev Burman and singer Asha Bhonsle

The tall and lean S D Burman with wife Meera, son Rahul Dev Burman and singer Asha Bhonsle

When Rafi’s soft and introspective beginning reached a high-pitched crescendo in Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai (Pyaasa), the world sat up amazed. With Sahir’s evocative lyrics and Guru Dutt’s direction, this song composed so sensitively by S D Burman became a proverbial lament on the futility of the material world.

When Asha Bhonsle’s voice swung in “masti” along with the notes to capture the delight in Deewana mastana hua dil, jaane kahaan hoke bahaar aayi (Bambai Ka Babu), listeners could not help smiling and humming along.

When Manna Dey’s classical expertise made the complex Raag Ahir Bhairav sound easy in Poochho na kaise maine rain bitai (Meri Soorat Teri Aankhen), one could not help marveling at S D Burman’s expertise in bringing the elite classical to the mass audience.

When Kishore Kumar was struggling to find a foothold as a singer in Bombay, his only anchor was S D Burman’s steadfast faith in giving this great talent the right opportunities starting with Pyar (1950) and Bahaar (1951).  Jeevan ke safar mein raahi in Munimji (1955) was one of the first super hits of the duo. Kishore Kumar was a force to reckon with in the fifties as the voice of Dev Anand. But it was with Burman Dada’s Aradhana (1969) that Kishore Kumar shot ahead of other singers.

Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai – Pyaasa (1957)

Seamless Transition from Bangla to Hindi

S D Burman, Lata Mangeshkar and R D Burman rehearsing a song.

S D Burman, Lata Mangeshkar and R D Burman rehearsing a song.

S D Burman’s hugely successful compositions in Bengali non-film music became chart toppers in Hindi as well. Can we ever get enough of Jaane kya tune kahi (Pyaasa), adapted from S D Burman’s superhit Bengali non-film song in his own voice Mono dilo na bodhu that was a best-seller? “SD Burman’s voice is so unique that the two versions impact the listener in completely different ways,” writes AK, the writer on music who blogs at Songs of Yore. He adds, “Down the internet era, I stumbled upon the largest treasure trove of SD Burman – his Bengali songs numbering over 130 (132 actually), about 35 of which were adapted in Hindi, mostly by SD Burman himself in different voices – Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Geeta Dutt, etc for films. A few were also adapted by other composers. SD Burman himself sang some of these Hindi adaptations in films as well as non-films. Most of these songs have achieved everlasting popularity, without the listeners becoming aware of their original source… That still leaves about 95 Bengali songs which to my knowledge have no Hindi versions. Therefore, I term them as pure Bengali songs. It is Bengali folk, which was the soul of his music. This is what he had absorbed in his childhood, and this was his natural habitat.”

SD Burman

There are several such shining examples of a seamless transition from Bengali musical traditions to something that has a pan-Indian appeal. Hence, Shono go dokhino hawa composed in the Bangla ‘tappa’ style became the romantic Khai hai re humne kasam in Talaash (1969); Rongila rongila rongila re turned into Aan milo aan milo Shyam sanwre in Devdas (1955); Ke jash re written by Mira Dev Burman transformed into Sun ri pawan purwaiya from Anurag (1972) and the classical Alo chhaya dola was adapted into the racy yet complex Pawan diwani from Dr Vidya (1962).

Says Moti Lalwani, “He brought in folk in film songs, and simplified classical to fit in films.  He changed with times so that his music didn’t become dated. Dada’s music was not such that if you have listened to it once, you have listened to it always.”

This ability to create everlasting music that would cut across generations of music lovers came from an endearing persona of S D Burman, which was at the same time mature as well as childish, rustic as well as urbane.

Khai hai re humne kasam – Talaash (1969)

The Master of the Situation Song

Perhaps no other composer could fully capture the “mood” of the situation through music as Burman Dada could. The way S D Burman weaved music into the words, the music was powerful enough to create graphic images in your mind even if you are not watching the scene. Listen to ‘Baajoo…. Babu, samjho ishaare’ and you can picturise the three harum-scarum brothers in the madly driven jalopy of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.

When Hemant Kumar’s deep baritone sings ‘Jaane woh kaise log thhe jinke pyaar ko pyaar mila’ (Pyaasa), Sahir’s words make you drop everything and get immersed in the angst of the failed lover. The pathos of the bidaai (a bride’s departure from her parents’ home) is perfectly expressed in Mukesh’s heart-wrenching Chal ri sajni ab kya soche (Bambai Ka Babu).

Baajoo…. Babu, samjho ishaare – Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)

“This ability to compose what the film needed and not get identified with one kind of music (such as Naushad’s classical image or Madan Mohan’s ghazal fascination) was what made SD the only composer in Bollywood who was much sought after right till his death. Had SD lived longer, son RD would have faced the predicament of competing with his father for the top slot,” writes Ganesh Anantharaman in his book Bollywood Melodies: A History of the Hindi Film Song.

The Music Makers - Naushad, SD Burman, Jaikishan and Madan Mohan

The Music Makers – Naushad, SD Burman, Jaikishan and Madan Mohan

Listen to ‘O re maajhi’ (Bandini) and the moving, intrinsically folk music in Burman Dada’s inimitable voice perfectly captures the agony of a woman who is pleading to a majhi (boatman) to help her cross the river to meet her beloved, providing the most defining climax of this Bimal Roy classic.

If Sa-re-ga-ma, ma-sa-re-ga  (Chupke Chupke,  1975) makes you giggle,  Aaye tum yaad mujhe (Mili, 1975) transports you to a world of love and longing. The evocative Tum na jaane kis jahaan mein kho gaye  (Sazaa, 1951), the mischievous Haal kaisa hai janaab ka (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi), the passionate Roop tera mastana (Aradhana), the soulful Piya bina piya bina (Abhimaan, 1973), the romantic  Na tum humein jaano (Baat Ek Raat Ki, 1962) or the ultimate nok-jhonk of lovers in Achchha ji main haari (Kala Pani, 1958) – each song sketches the scene visually through the music, the orchestration and the interlude.

Achchha ji main haari – Kala Pani (1958)

The Greatest Show on Sachin Dev Burman

Kersi Lord

Kersi Lord

‘The Greatest Show on Sachin Dev Burman’, held in Mumbai last year on November 29, 2014, was one historic occasion that brought together a slew of luminaries – including those who worked with S D Burman and those who did not meet him personally but have loved his music, researched on his life and his works and written about him.  The dignitaries who graced the occasion were Mr. HQ Chowdhury (author of Incomparable Sachin Dev Burman) with his wife Sharmeen and daughter Saiqa who all came down from Bangladesh, Ms Ritu Chandra (joint owner, with HQ Chowdhury and Maajid Maqbool from Pakistan, of website sdburman.net), who came down from US, Mr Suresh C Verma who had constructed a building named ‘Sachinda Strains’ in 1985 in Santacruz West, Mumbai, Ms Sathya Saran, author of ‘Sun Mere Bandhu Re and Ten Years with Guru Dutt – Abrar Alvi’s Journeyand Mr Moti Lalwani, a fan for last 60 years, whose impeccable research on Dada Burman includes 53 interviews conducted at his own expenses and four musicians who had worked with Burman Dada – Kersi LordHomi Mullan, Amrut Rao and UK Dubey. 

Not surprisingly, all the people he worked with ranging from his team members to arrangers, assistants to singers, actors to directors remember him with fond memories as someone who helped them learn, grow and flourish. During ‘The Greatest Show on Sachin Dev Burman’, Kersi Lord, one of the most innovative musicians and music arrangers in the Indian film industry who worked closely with S D Burman said, “Many a time SDB would close his ears, sit in a squatting position amidst of a recording going on in a studio and then would give specific instructions to the musicians. When I became a music arranger myself, I did the same thing amidst of the recording and I could minutely figure out which instrument is a bit off-key (besur). This art came from within Dada Burman’s genius mind.”

Moti Lalwani and Waheeda Rehman

Moti Lalwani and Waheeda Rehman

For those who had worked with the maestro, this was the time to remember the good times. In a voice clip courtesy Ameen Sayani, the legendary actor Waheeda Rehman said, “Burman Dada hamesha subject ke mutaabik music taiyyar karte hain. Gaana banane se pehle, character ke baare mein zyada se zyada baaten jan-ne ki koshish karte hain. Scene ko poori tarah samajh lete hain, aur situation ke hisab se gaana taiyyar karte hain.”

Recalling a funny incident during the making of Guide’s music, she continued, “Kai baar to woh apne aap ko character samajh lete hain, jiske liye unhein gaana banana hota hai. Ek mazedar kissa bataaoon aapko. Film Guide mein ek scene ke dance ka music taiyyar karna tha. Bade soch vichaar ke baad unhonein badi mehnat se woh music taiyyar kiya, aur mujhse kehne lage, ‘Kaisa lagaa tumhe? Aur is par kaise dance karogi? Dekho, yeh jo dhak-dhak dhana-dhan ka tukra hai na, is par kuchh is tarah dance karna.’

Yeh keh kar khud dance karne lage.” Waheeda Rehman recounted, giggling.

Though royal blood ran in his veins, S D Burman was a simple man. With his kapda thaila slung on his shoulder, he was just like a common villager, remembered Kersi Lord. He was so simple that he sought Kersi ji’s father’s help to buy his car. He had to be explained the need of paying the road tax for the same!

An eclectic mix of music lovers connected by a common passion for S D Burman’s music made the show go way beyond a regular musical show and become a journey of memories, strewn with golden nuggets of experiences. Homi Mullan, the ace percussionist in the S D Burman group mentioned that when the song ‘O pancchhi pyare..’ was being composed for Bimal Roy’s Bandini, it was Dada Burman’s idea to use to use real wheat and rice in a sieve (supra) to get that perfect sound of grains being cleaned before pounding them in the mortar, pestle. He was so much involved in his compositions, Mullan remembered.

O panchhi pyaare – Bandini (1963)

Says Moti Lalwani, the chief organizer of the show, “The most challenging part was to get the organisers who were music lovers and SDB lovers first and not organisers out there due to commercial reasons. The ‘Humrahi’ group whom I chose is a group formed by four entrepreneurs who are music lovers, and have joined hands to satiate their thirst for good music. Humrahi in turn chose a well known orchestra and singers who are very popular in Maharashtra. They did not bother about expenses and even the compere was a well known name who won the hearts of the audience by his knowledge.”

The orchestra and the singers on stage.

The orchestra and the singers on stage.

Compered by Ambrish Mishra, with entire team of Humraahi and the dynamic music arranger Avinash Chandrachud putting their skills together, the melodious journey began with a beautiful song Chand phir nikla by Vibhavari Joshi. She sang many soulful classical solos and duets like Piya bina, piya bina (Abhimaan) Megha chhaye aadhi raat (Sharmilee), Mose chhal kiye jaaye (Guide), Tere mere milan ki ye raina (Abhimaan) Chhod do aanchal zamana kya kahega (Paying Guest) and Hum aapki aankhon mein (Pyaasa).

Madhura Datar sang some chirpy, youthful solos and duets like Tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer banale (Baazi), So jaa nindiya ki bela hai (Nau Do Gyaarah), Kitni akeli kitni tanha si (Talaash), Rangila re (Prem Pujari) and the best one Acchha ji mein hari  (Kala Pani) along with Ali Hussain. Avinash Chandrachud introduced a little instrument Pianica to the audience and played a beautiful song Gaata rahe mera dil (Jewel Thief).

“Agar yun kaha jaaye, ki sangeet hi Sachinda ka poora jeevan tha, to galat na hoga. Jaagte, sote, uth-te, baith-te, sair karte hue, yaan football match dekhte hue, unka tan-man kewal sangeet hi mein mast rehta. 

Unka sangeet samarpan itna gehra tha, ki sachmuch hum sab ke liye seekhne ki baat thi.” – Lata Mangeshkar on Dada Burman

Creating the Best for the Best

Lata rehearsing for Dada Burman

Lata rehearsing for Dada Burman

If we list the best songs of the most well-known lyricists of Indian film music, every list is sure to include songs composed by S D Burman. Majrooh Sultanpuri (22 films including Abhimaan, Sujata, Phagun, Jewel Thief, Baat Ek Raat Ki, Nau Do Gyaarah, Paying Guest), Sahir Ludhianvi (18 films including Pyaasa, Taxi Driver, House No. 44, Munimji, Baazi) and Shailendra (Bandini, Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, Guide, Kala Bazar, Insaan Jaag Utha) are among the best films of the most revered lyricists of the Hindi film industry.

Gulzar got his first break with Bandini’s Mora gora ang lai le sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Aradhana and Chupke Chupke are among the best films of Anand Bakshi. Lyricist Yogesh Gaur, who wrote the lyrics of Us Paar and Mili for Dada Burman remembered in an interview with Moti Lalwani that while R D Burman was composing the music for Basu Chatterji’s Shaukeen, the ace filmmaker told RD to specifically pick his father’s own song Nitol paye rinik jhinik payel khani baje for the music of Jab bhi koi kangana bole. The song sung by Kishore Kumar became a hit.

The Timeless Magic

The music that is intrinsic to the Indian psyche, the music that belongs to the masses, the music that is deeply rooted in the ethnic, folk and traditional culture of India, the music that cuts across generations in its appeal and connect – S D Burman picked that rich heritage and brought it into the national arena. Ganesh Ananthraman aptly summarises the timeless magic of S D Burman in Bollywood Melodies: A History of the Hindi Film Song, “Such is the youthfulness of his tunes that he seems a live presence even today. Age-wise, he may have belonged to the first generation composers but his tunes have a contemporariness that puts him ahead of the fourth generation. SD composed Meet na mila re man ka when he was all of 67 years old!” Today, nearly forty years after he passed away, the music of S D Burman continues to be remembered, loved, hummed and serve as a source of inspiration to the young generation of melody makers and singers.

 

Acknowledgements
– Reference material used in this article is courtesy Moti Lalwani
– Details about the ‘The Greatest Show on Sachin Dev Burman’ show are courtesy Kalindi Saraf
– Pictures used in this article are courtesy sdburman.net, S D Burman (Sachin Dev Burman Fan Club) and Internet
-Pictures of the show are courtesy Humrahi Group of Pune.

More to read

Geeta Dutt – The Skylark Who Sang From The Heart
Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Voh Kahaan Hain: Songs of Sahir
Gulzar: Redefining Poetry and Purpose In Cinema
Waheeda Rehman: Quintessential Beauty With Intense Acting Prowess
The Nightingale’s Everlasting Melodies

Editor in Chief, Learning and Creativity; Consulting Editor, Silhouette Magazine. A former business journalist, Antara writes extensively on the changing trends of music, direction and filmmaking in cinema. Her articles aim to provide well-researched information on the legends of cinema for the movie and music enthusiast. She is also the Founder-Editor of Blue Pencil, a New Delhi-based publishing house. She edited and published Incomparable Sachin Dev Burman, the biography of SD Burman written by HQ Chowdhury. She has co-authored a chapter on Hemant Kumar's Bengali music in the acclaimed book The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar, written by Manek Premchand. Her articles have also been published in Dearcinema.com and Du-kool.com. Antara is Editor-Creative Director of Wisitech InfoSolutions Pvt. Ltd.
All Posts of Antara Nanda Mondal

Hope you enjoyed reading...

... we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and supporting our creative, informative and analytical posts than ever before. And yes, we are firmly set on the path we chose when we started... our twin magazines Learning and Creativity and Silhouette Magazine (LnC-Silhouette) will be accessible to all, across the world.

We are editorially independent, not funded, supported or influenced by investors or agencies. We try to keep our content easily readable in an undisturbed interface, not swamped by advertisements and pop-ups. Our mission is to provide a platform you can call your own creative outlet and everyone from renowned authors and critics to budding bloggers, artists, teen writers and kids love to build their own space here and share with the world.

When readers like you contribute, big or small, it goes directly into funding our initiative. Your support helps us to keep striving towards making our content better. And yes, we need to build on this year after year. Support LnC-Silhouette with a little amount - and it only takes a minute. Thank you

Support LnC-Silhouette

Creative Writing

Got a poem, story, musing or painting you would like to share with the world? Send your creative writings and expressions to editor@learningandcreativity.com

Learning and Creativity publishes articles, stories, poems, reviews, and other literary works, artworks, photographs and other publishable material contributed by writers, artists and photographers as a friendly gesture. The opinions shared by the writers, artists and photographers are their personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of Learning and Creativity- emagazine. Images used in the posts (not including those from Learning and Creativity's own photo archives) have been procured from the contributors themselves, public forums, social networking sites, publicity releases, free photo sites such as Pixabay, Pexels, Morguefile, etc and Wikimedia Creative Commons. Please inform us if any of the images used here are copyrighted, we will pull those images down.

11 thoughts on “The Incomparable Music Of S D Burman Transcends Generations

  • Songs Of Yore

    Very well-researched and very well-written article. Thanks for quoting me and linking my article. You have brought out the immense diversity of SD Burman. He is the only one among his peers whose music did not become dated, everyone else fell by the wayside at the transition from the 1950-60s to the 70s post-Aradhana. May we know the name of the writer?
    AK

    1. Antara

      Thank you AK for your appreciative comments!

      Songs of Yore is a treasure house of references, information and insights into the golden era of Indian music. I learned a lot by browsing your articles. I fully agree with you, Dada Burman’s music is timeless, not bound by styles, trends and genres that may come and go. Hence, it continues to appeal to all music lovers across age barriers.

      Will keep visiting Songs of Yore for references and quotes.
      Thanks again!

  • Jitu

    Well researched article Antara. Like you said, Sachin da didn’t have any fixed style. He adapted to the situation. That makes it hard for a layperson to identify his compositions. I know Hemant da or Pancham da’s composition with my eyes closed. I can place Madan Mohan from miles. Not so with SDB. I am actually surprised so many of my favorite songs are up here in the list. That he is ageless and timeless can be known from the fact that the songs composed during my grandfather’s era, enamor my kids even today.

    What can I say. Just the other day I was humming O shiv ji bihaane chale… and I didn’t even know it was Sachin da’s. Some of my favorites…

    Jalte hain jinke liye
    Maana janaab nein pukaara nahin
    Ye raat ye chaandni
    Tadbeer se bigdi hui
    Hai apna dil
    Dukhi mann mere
    Mere saajan hain us paar
    Tu kahaan ye bata
    Dil ka bhanwar kare pukaa
    Dekho rootha na karo
    Poocho na kaise mainein
    Mora gora ang lai le
    Abke sajan saawan mein
    All songs of Abhiman
    Khilte hain gul yahaan
    Aaye tum yaad mujhe
    All songs of Jewel thief
    Jaye to jaye kahaan

    Hai re… kitna lamba list hai. And he did just 69 movies. Seriously unbelievable.

    Timeless and Ageless…

  • Antara

    Jitu,

    Dada Burman’s forte lay in letting himself get bound by rules, trends, genres… He created music that connected, simple! The orchestration could be large or minuscule, depending upon the requirement of the song… the tunes could be anything from fun to soulful, classical to club song…. the range was immense and expansive.

    The way he popularised folk and brought it into the mainstream is unparalleled. He created what he knew would work best and many a time, the director had to bend to what Dada wanted… and not surprisingly the melody maker was bang on target!

    Delighted you enjoyed the article. And I enjoyed replying to your comment and humming your choice of songs as I went along as these happen to be my favorites too, although you missed out my all time favorite Geeta Dutt numbers 😉

  • nirmal phophalia

    What a beautifully written article on Dada Burman, Antara ji. You have woven all the aspects of his life so intricately removing the time barrier and it unfolds like a film on celluloid before your eyes with authenticity, richness & passing of those melodious years of the golden period of vintage music.

    1. Antara

      Nirmal ji,

      Thank you so much! It was indeed one of the most joyful musical journeys I experience while putting together this article… The subject is so massive that it is one uphill task to decide what to include and what to leave out. Delighted to know that the article could create a brief visual of Dada Burman’s music through words 🙂

      Thank you again!!!

  • Antara

    Thank you Maajid ji 🙂 I will treasure this feedback received from you. sdburman.net is such a wonderful resource and repository of S D Burman’s magical music. Writing this article and putting it together with pictures and videos was a superb musical journey for me, I am delighted that knowledgeable people like you are appreciating this small effort with such kind words!

    Thanks very much again!

  • Learning and Creativity

    Some of the comments received on Facebook for this article:

    Suhita Roy · Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, Special projects
    Wonderful post Antaradi! Something beautiful and timeless about all the creations by this great maestro

    Peeyush Sharma · Business Development Manager at A Slice of Fried Gold
    What a beauty of a write up. Thanks Antara. You have said and compiled it really well. Loved every bit of the read. Welcome to the group and we look forward to more gems coming from you. God bless.

    Antara Nanda Mondal · Editor/Creative Director at Wisitech InfoSolutions Pvt Ltd
    Thank you so very much Peeyush ji…. coming from you it is a very treasured feedback for me and indeed very motivating! I am delighted you liked the article… it was a learning experience for me!

    MN Sardana · SBSO at M.E.S.,Ministry Of Defence, Govt.Of India
    Antara Ji,at the outset,I may say that I consider myself fortunate having meet you for a while. Your write up I have gone through & shall be reading again & again, to extract new meanings every time,which I might not have understood ,in my first attempt. I wish,I should also had the same passion for the music,which you posses .I must admit that, after going through your article, I feel myself much more enlightened, than before. Yaad Aa Gayi Woh Nasheeli of Manzil & Dum Hai Baki To Gham Nahin from House No 44 are my favorite songs. Thanks & May God bless you. Always !

    Govind Maindargikar · Kawathekar High School, P’pur
    great Post…..Legend of Film Industry……under his guidance many got nurtuered….Jaidevji/Panchamda/Madan Mohanji……even arranger got recogniation like Arun paudwal….Vasudevji/Bablooda/manoharida……and you see later all these people grew so well today they are recognised all over…..in short they got talim from Legendary burmanda….Bhishmpitamaha……

    Subrat Banerji · General Manager at BHEL
    Excellent article.

    Mahesh Chattopadhyaya · Professor at University of Allahabad
    When S D Burman came to Bombay he was middle aged person and much senior in age as his contemporary music directors. Yet he composed many youthful songs which are still liked by person of this generation- and are refreshing. Another aspect of his creativity lies in the canvas which is largest. He could play with same notes yet can produces two different songs for same film (Guide) look at the instruments used in the songs those are few yet very effective and add to the fragrance of the song.

  • jasmeen kaur

    Well SD Burman created songs to reach masses heart not just songs to sing.

    These songs will be seen on YouTube and TV screen even 100 years later as they are young at heart and made with utmost care to suit all characters. He gave spl care to all his favourite singers. Only he has most singers singing his melody.

    1. Antara

      Thank you Jasmeen Kaur ji,

      Indeed Dada Burman’s songs were young at heart and fresh…. they perfectly matched the situation they were fitted in. They have stood the test of time more efficiently and effectively than those made by his contemporaries.

      No wonder they are just as popular today as they were years ago.

  • Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Today’s Motivation

    <div class=at-above-post addthis_tool data-url=https://learningandcreativity.com/learning-quote-on-adventure-by-jawaharlal-nehru/></div>We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings above via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings below via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons above via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons below via filter on get_the_excerpt --><div class=at-below-post addthis_tool data-url=https://learningandcreativity.com/learning-quote-on-adventure-by-jawaharlal-nehru/></div><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
    We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open