R.D Burman
Birth of a legend:
A genius was born in 27th June the
year1939 to a legendary composer
named Sachin Dev Burman. Born in a
royal family Rahul Dev Burman was
nicknamed by Ashok Kumar.
Dadamoni saw Sachinda's kid
speaking the word Pa, hence the
name Pancham. Rahul Dev Burman
took keen interest in music at a very
early age. R. D. efficiently learnt to
play the Mouth - Organ. He also learnt
to play Sarod from the legendary
Sarod player Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
His First Break:
The first ever song R. D. Burman composed was at the tender age
of nine Aaie Meri Topi Palat for the film Funtoosh for his fathers
film the very next year Sachinda borrowed 'Sar Jo Tera Chakraye'
for the Guru Dutt film, Pyaasa. At a very young age Panchamda
displayed his potential of being a music composer. Spotting this
bundle of talent tempted Guru Dutt to offer a film the son of S. D.
Burman (Guru Dutt's in-house composer). Unfortunately the
project for which Pancham had scored a song did not see the
light of the day. Later actor Mehmood offered Pancham his movie
Chhote Nawab. The first song was to be recorded by Lata
Mangeshkar 'Ghar Ajaa Ghir Aayi' in 1961. The song created
History in two ways first was the foray of a genius in Hindi film
music. This song was instrumental in a patch up between Lata
Mangeshkar and S. D. Burman (they did not recorded with each
other for six years), when Lata came to their house for the song
rehearsal.
Like Father Unlike Son:
Pancham was Sachinda's pride. Being
a son of a genius music composer
music was in his genes. In his early
days Rahul Dev Burman was Sachin
Dev Burman's assistant, they shared a
unique rapport. Sachinda knew his son
in and out when, in music sittings,
Pancham would dash out of the music
room to smoke and Saschinda would
remark "Jao Jao I know you are going
out to smoke." Pancham helped his father when S. D. was ailing;
he composed a few songs for his father.
But Pancham was keen to create his own music so he branched
out on his own. Sachin Dev was worried when Pancham
composed western tunes but R. D. was determined to carve a
niche of his own. Sachinda realised his sons popularity when he
was taking a walk on the beach and some one pointed out "Woh
Dekh R. D. Burman Ka Baap" (Look at R. D. Burman's father). A
father was recognised because of his son! Sachin da couldn't be
any prouder. Sachinda also guided Pancham when he composed
Bada Nathkhat Hai Re according to Shakti Samanta the situation
was of a regular Bhajan. So R. D. composed a trademark Bhajan
when Sachinda heard the tune, he remarked that the song did not
have his element and every composition by a composer should
reflect his idiosyncrasy. So Rahul Dev Burman recomposed the
Bhajan and viola, the aria was a piece de resistance.