R. D. Burman

Rahul Dev Burman (27 June 1939 – 4 January 1994), known professionally as R.D. Burman, was an Indian music director and actor, who is considered to be one of the greatest and most successful music directors of the Hindi film music industry.

When he was seventeen years old, R. D. Burman composed his first song, Aye meri topi palat ke aa, which his father used in the film Funtoosh (1956).

The tune of the song Sar jo tera chakraaye was also composed by him as a child; his father included it in the soundtrack of Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957).

In Mumbai, Burman was trained by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (sarod) and Samta Prasad (tabla).

He also considered Salil Chowdhury his guru.

He served as an assistant to his father and often played harmonica in his orchestras.

Some of the notable films in which Burman is credited as the music assistant include Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Bandini (1963), Ziddi (1964), Guide (1965) and Teen Devian (1965).

Burman also played mouth organ for his father's hit composition "Hai Apna Dil To Aawara", which was featured in the film Solva Saal, and sung by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay.

In 1959, Burman signed up as a music director for the film Raaz, directed by Guru Dutt's assistant Niranjan.

However, the film was never completed.

The lyrics of this Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman-starrer film were written by Shailendra.

Burman recorded two songs for the film before it was shelved.

The first song was sung by Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle, and the second one had vocals by Shamshad Begum.

From the 1960s to the 1990s, Burman composed musical scores for 331 films, bringing a new level of music ensemble with his compositions.

Burman did his major work with legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Kishore Kumar.

He also worked extensively with lyricist Gulzar, with whom he has some of the most memorable numbers in his career.

Nicknamed Pancham, he was the only son of the composer Sachin Dev Burman.

He was mainly active in the Hindi film industry as a composer, and also provided vocals for a few compositions.

He served as an influence to the next generation of Indian music directors, and his songs continue to be popular in India and overseas.

Many years after his death, his songs continue to be inspiration for new singers and composers.

Burman was born to the Hindi film composer and singer, Sachin Dev Burman, and his lyricist wife Meera Dev Burman (née Dasgupta), in Calcutta.

Initially, he was nicknamed Tublu by his maternal grandmother, although he later became known by the nickname Pancham.

According to some stories, he was nicknamed Pancham because, as a child, whenever he cried, it sounded in the fifth note (Pa), G note on c major scale, of music notation; in Hindustani Classical Music, Pancham is the name of the fifth scale degree: (IAST: Ṣaḍja, Ṛṣabha, Gandhāra, Madhyama, Pañcama, Dhaivata, Niṣāda).

Another theory says that the baby was nicknamed Pancham because he could cry in five different notes.

Yet another version is that when the veteran Indian actor Ashok Kumar saw a newborn Rahul uttering the syllable Pa repeatedly, he nicknamed the boy Pancham.

Burman received his early education in West Bengal from Tirthapati Institution in Kolkata.

His father S. D. Burman was a noted music director in Hindi language films, the Mumbai-based Hindi film industry.

Burman's first released film as an independent music director was Chhote Nawab (1961).

When the noted Hindi film comedian Mehmood decided to produce Chhote Nawab, he first approached Burman's father Sachin Dev Burman for the music.

However, S. D. Burman declined the offer, advising he was unavailable.

At this meeting, Mehmood noticed Rahul playing tabla, and signed him as the music director for Chhote Nawab.

Burman later developed a close association with Mehmood, and made a cameo in Mehmood's Bhoot Bangla (1965).

Burman's first hit film as a music director was Teesri Manzil (1966).

Burman gave credit to lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri for recommending him to Nasir Hussain, the producer and writer of the film.

Vijay Anand also said that he had arranged a music session for Burman before Nasir Hussain.

Teesri Manzil had six songs, all of which were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, and sung by Mohammed Rafi.

Four of these were duets with Asha Bhosle, whom Burman later married.

Nasir Hussain went on to sign Burman and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri for six of his films including Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) and Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973).

Meanwhile, he continued to work as his father's assistant for films including Jewel Thief (1967) and Prem Pujari (1970).

Burman's score for Padosan (1968) was well received.