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R.D. Burman

Personal Profile

R.D. Burman
  • Birth Name:
    Rahu Dev Burman
  • Common Name:
    Pancham
  • Nickname:
    Pancham da
  • Date of Birth:
    June 27, 1939
  • Zodiac Sign:
    Cancer
  • Place of Birth:
    Calcutta, West Bengal, India
  • Place of Death:
    Bombay, Maharashtra, India
  • Date of Death:
    January 4, 1994
  • Cause of Death:
    Heart Attack
  • Sex:
    Male
  • Nationality:
    Indian
  • Religion:
    Hinduism
  • Education:

    St. Xavier's School, Kolkata

    Ballygunj Govt. High School, Kolkata

Family

R.D. Burman
  • Father:
    Sachin Dev Burman
  • Mother:
    Meera
  • Spouse:
    Asha Bhosle
    Rita Patel - Divorced

Career

R.D. Burman
  • Profession:
    Musician
  • Debut:
    Chhote Nawaab - 1961

Awards

R.D. Burman

1995 : Filmfare Award, Best Music Director
for: 1942: A Love Story (1993)

1984 : Best Music Director for: 1942: A Love Story (1993)

1983 : Filmfare Award Best Music Director
for: Sanam Teri Kasam (1982)

Trivia

R.D. Burman
  • He was the first to introduce the Brazilian bossa nova rhythm in Hindi film music - the song was "Maar dalega dard-e-jigar", sung by Asha Bhosle, in "Pati Patni".
  • On his own submission, he used to get tunes in his dreams, and on the advice of his father, began getting up as soon as he "dreamt" of a tune and wrote it down. Songs such as "Mera naam Shabbo", "Kanchi re kacnhi re" had come to him in his sleep.
  • In the song 'O Manjhi Re' from the movie 'Khushboo', he used soda bottles with water filled at different levels and created a "phook" sound by blowing into them. This sound was used with the orchestra.
  • His music has found a new generation of followers.
  • Have been wide discussions about the disconnect between the success of his music and his financial success.
  • Had financial difficulties particularly later in his life.
  • One of his hit songs "Mehbooba Mehbooba" is inspired from the song "Say You Love Me" by the Greek singer Demis Roussos.
  • Used some of the popular western songs to compose his own tunes.
  • Was a very creative person.
  • Was comfortable with all types of music, be it the romantic Raat kali from Buddha mil gaya in 1971.

Biography

R.D. Burman
Last Updated: Thursday, September 10, 2009

rd burmanR.D. Burman is considered the greatest of all music composers the Indian film industry's ever had. His musical brilliance is evident from the fact that the famous song 'Sar jo tera chakraaye' in Guru Dutt's film, Pyaasa was composed by him as a child. He has belted out some of the jazziest hits in the history of Bollywood music. Rahul Dev Burman, who is more famous by the name of R.D. Burman, is considered the greatest of all music composers the Indian film industry's ever had.

His entry into Bollywood saw the revolutionization of the way music was being composed here. Son of singer and music composer, Sachin Dev Burman and second husband of playback singer, Asha Bhosle, RD Burman is credited for injecting a fresh style and technique into the singing of yesteryears Hindi songs. Burman's melodious songs lack parallel even today.

rd burmanRahul Dev Burman was lovingly called Pancham da by industry insiders and friends because during his childhood, whenever he cried, it sounded in the fifth note 'Pa' of the Indian musical scale. Little Pancham was born at Kolkata in West Bengal state. He started taking sarod lessons from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan after shifting to Mumbai. RD Burman composed his first song 'Aye meri topi palat ke aa' at the age of nine, which his father used in the film 'Funtoosh' released in the year 1956.

Infact, the famous song 'Sar jo tera chakraaye' in Guru Dutt's film, Pyaasa was composed by him as a child. RD Burman also played the mouth organ as a child in another famous song, Hai apna dil to aawara in the film Solva Saal released in the year 1958 starring actor Dev Anand. Pancham began his music career as assistant to his father. However, he began working independently as music director after the film Chhote Nawaab was made and thereafter, handled 331 films and 4 non-film albums on his own.

rd burmanEven though, RD Burman composed an impressive amount of songs, yet a number of them are yet to be released. These are songs from unreleased movies and a particular short phase when he had little work in hand. R D Burman also did playback for 18 movies and was famous for unique, grunting bass singing style. He even acted in films like Bhoot Bungla (1965) and Pyar Ka Mausam (1967). At times, his songs used to be inspired by western songs. For instance, song 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' was inspired by Demis Rusos's 'Say You Love Me'.

Infact, RD Burman was India's most popular composer in 1970s. During this time, he teamed up with singers like Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and others to belt out some of the jazziest hits in the history of Bollywood music. For example, there were musical hits like Amar prem, Buddha mil gaya, Caravan, and Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Amar Prem is remembered for its complex songs based on Indian classical music. RD Burman has also collaborated with Singer Boy George and other international artists.

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