My 10 favourite RD Burman numbers
Yesterday, January 4, was RD Burman's 22nd death anniversary. Known for bringing about a complete transformation in Bollywood music, RD ruled the roost for a little more than three decades.
Under father and ace music composer, SD Burman's aegis, young RD (nicknamed Pancham) grew up surrounded with music. He also assisted the elder Burman in films such as Funtoosh (1956), Gurudutt's Pyaasa (1957), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) and many more.
He tasted initial success as a music director with Vijay Anand's Teesri Manzil, 1966 and Bollywood knew RD was here to stay.
Though there are at least 20-30 other equally wonderful songs, these are my top ten picks from Pancham's repertoire:
1. Piya Tu Ab Toh Aaja (Teesri Manzil, 1966)
Pulsating number that ushered in the trend of brass instruments in Hindi film songs... Made immortal, in consonance with one of the all-time favourite Helen dance numbers!!
2. Mehbooba O Mehbooba (Sholay, 1975)
This Demis Roussos number lift, so to say, became a runaway hit... But look at what he did with it... He transformed it into a throbbing, gyrating, stylised number, using his gyspy voice and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's Iranian santoor, the sound of which he tweaked to bring that desert, rababi sound.
3. Dum Maro Dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971)
Unmistakable for its bass guitar sound and wonderful rhythmic structure, this is an all-time favourite dance number till date... Check out any hi-end party and you'll find people still grooving to this track!
4. Kuch Toh Log Kahenge (Amar Prem, 1972)
Kishore Kumar-Rajesh Khanna-Pancham-Anand Bakshi combination at its best... Known to have fascinated musicians across generations for its cross-line composition... "Chhodo bekaar ki baaton mein!"
5. Chingari Koi Bhadke (Amar Prem, 1972)
Again, an amazing number picturised on Rajesh Khanna on a boat in Hoogly river... Other than its soulful melody, notice how he uses guitar... As the dha... The guitar beat so wonderfully used, almost like a melodic rhythm.
6. Zindagi Ke Safar Mein (Aap Ki Kasam, 1974)
Soulful and haunting, this one remains one of the most elaborately conceived songs of Hindi films... From church bells for time transitions to santoor for seasonal changes to flute for longing... Allthrough, paced up by robust percussion combinations!
7. Aane Wala Pal (Golmaal, 1979)
One of his best known pairings with Gulzar's amazing lyrics and dramatic dimensions... Groovy, soulful and delightful... Till date, a big favourite at karaoke or talent hunt tracks!
8. Phir Wahi Raat Hai (Ghar, 1978)
The slow, definitive build up of the drums from silent points and the chord progressions in the lines "Kaanch ke khwaab hain, aankhon mein chubh jayenge..." Fills up any music composer with its unusual and uncanny usage.
9. Mera Kuch Samaan (Ijaazat, 1987)
A song that Pancham used to call "the luggage wala gaana" due its usage of the word samaan and his lack of knowledge of Gulzar's Hindi... It continues to send too many of us in a tizzy with its compositional brilliance!
10. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (1942: A Love Story, 1994)
The swan song, almost... The popularity of which he never lived to see. Amazing in its rhythm using ghatam and daff... And a bare melody running through it all.