{"id":3817,"date":"2017-10-28T09:01:31","date_gmt":"2017-10-28T03:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=3817"},"modified":"2019-06-29T22:30:36","modified_gmt":"2019-06-29T17:00:36","slug":"rd-burman-lyricists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/rd-burman-lyricists\/","title":{"rendered":"RD Burman and His Lyricists"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RD<\/p>\n

Each song composition must be treated as an individual entity and given full scope and effort to bloom on its own merits, treated independently for its delivery style, instrumentation, percussion and all its finer nuances so that every song has a story to tell. That was RD Burman, the non-conformist genius.\u00a0Each and every song RDB composed and set to tune has a unique identity in its treatment – the unmistakable RDB stamp.<\/p>\n

RD Burman had his training under his father SD Burman, who as we all know had mentored so many musicians and singers. Some of them became legends in their own right. Geeta Dutt was his prodigy, Madan Mohan started as his assistant in two films and held him in high esteem. Music director N Dutta and Jaidev started as his assistants. Mohd Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar \u2013 all these greats have admitted to learning under his guidance. Hence, it is no surprise that his own son would absorb much from his father. As SD Burman\u2019s assistant, RD Burman used to write his notations, arrange the music and coordinate with the singers for rehearsals.<\/p>\n

\"SD

“I used to be Pitaji\u2019s assistant. I used to play tabla and Pitaji used to sing.” – RD Burman<\/p><\/div>\n

And yet, when he started his career, he realised he would have to develop a niche for himself to make his music bear his stamp. And that is what happened.<\/p>\n

It is very difficult to summarise the massive canvas of RD Burman in this limited space.\u00a0But our attempt is to give you a glance of the amazing variety of music he composed, working with a great cross-section of lyricists \u2013 including those of the golden era as well as the younger lot.<\/p>\n

A lot has been written about RDB creating sound from various sources, like a broom and a comb, a glass hit by spoon, blow wind into a bottle or beat the tabla or the human back. It is not important to create that sound. The genius is to apply that sound into music and make it part of the melody. That was RDB.<\/p>\n

Though a few of the lyricists worked with him all through his career, Majrooh Sultanpuri and Anand Bakshi\u00a0 were with him entire 34 years. Once Gulzar and Gulshan Bawra started to tune with him, also stayed with him till his end.<\/p>\n

For our presentation, we have picked up a spectrum of lyricists who have worked with RD Burman. Many have also been left out as it would not be possible to refer to all in this space. The intention is purely to present a kaleidoscope of innovations and great music and picking the songs as examples.<\/p>\n

\"RD

RD Burman, Majrooh Sultanpuri and SD Burman<\/p><\/div>\n

Shailendra<\/h2>\n

RD Burman began his career with Shailendra, the great poet-lyricist, writing the songs for his debut Chhote Nawab<\/em> in 1961. Produced by Mehmood under his brother\u2019s name, Usman Ali and directed by S. A. Akbar, the film had 8 songs. This is the only film in which he worked with Shailendra and created music that is still remembered.<\/p>\n

\"Shankardas

Shankardas Kesarilal popularly known by his pen name Shailendra
(30 August 1923 \u2013 14 December 1966)<\/p><\/div>\n

He started with pure classical that leaves us in no doubt about his intense training in classical music. He himself played the tabla very well. In Ghar aaja ghir aaye<\/em>, you will find the rhythm of the rain, the pathos of pining for the beloved to come home.<\/p>\n

R D Burman, fondly called Pancham, was\u00a0enthusiastic about breaking out on his own when he got this offer from Mehmood. He wanted to have his first song recorded by Lata Mangeshkar. But S D Burman had a strained relationship with Lata, and he was not using her voice. Nevertheless, RD approached Lata to sing this song for Chhote Nawab<\/em> and it paved the way for a patch up and Lata Mangeshkar and Burman Dada started working again very soon.<\/p>\n

And also it is believed that the song \u2018Ghar aaja ghir aaye\u2019<\/em> was conceived three years earlier for a film titled Raaz<\/em> (a Guru Dutt production), which was shelved. Raaz <\/em>went on to be made as Woh Kaun Thi<\/em> while Ghar aaja<\/em> found a place in Chhote Nawab.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ghar aaja ghir aaye<\/em><\/strong> (Chhote Nawab<\/em>, 1961) Lata Mangeshkar<\/span><\/p>\n