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.
 
 

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