Mera Sangeet Hi Pehchan Hai … Gar Yaad Rahe - PART III

In our last issue you read how R.D.Burman had an obsession for Western music and it was this same passion that became a butt of criticism for him. The younger generation who today regards Pancham as the greatest music director would be stunned to know that in his long and illustrious career R.D. Burman was never taken seriously as a music director by the media and the film awards ceremonies. 

Listen to RD. Burman Songs on Raaga.com

In fact most of his memorable movies are from the year 1970 to 1980 that have some of the most cherished and hummable numbers like like Chingari Koi Bhadke...(AMAR PREM), Ye Shaam Mastani...(KATI PATANG), Dum maro dum... (HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA), Jaane Jaan Dhoondta Phir Raha...(JAWANI DIWANI), Main Shayar Badnam ... (NAMAK HARAAM), O Saathi Chal.. (SEETA AUR GEETA), Chala Jata Hoon....(MERE JEEVAN SAATHI), Duniya Mein Logon Ko…(APNA DESH), Tera mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi ... ( AA GALE LAG JAA), Tere Bina Jiya... (GHAR) , Humein Tumse Pyar Kitna...(KUDRAT) etc. but alas he was never even nominated for these great musical blockbusters. Even his most talked about musical movies like CARAVAN, YAADON KI BAARAAT, AAP KI KASAM, KINARA, HUM KISISE KUM NAHEEN, LOVE STORY, and SAAGAR ended up just been nominated for Filmfare awards. 

Listen to RD. Burman Songs on Raaga.com

The younger generation will be further stunned to know that though R.D.Burman proved his mettle in Hindustani Classical music and gave superlative score in movies that he composed for film maker Gulzar like Beeti na beetayee raina...(PARICHAY), Aane wala pal jaane wala hai... (GOLMAAL), Mera kuch samaan...(IZAAZAT) and above all AANDHI. Each song was a pearl in itself like Is mod se jaatein hain..; Tere Bina Zindagi Se...; Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya...etc. yet the so called Gurus in music world ignored him. 

Listen to RD. Burman Songs on Raaga.com

However the scenario changed in the 80’s and 90’s when Pancham got the opportunity to work with Shekhar Kapoor in the movie MASOOM in which he was again teamed with Gulzar. In this movie Shekhar Kapoor asked Pancham to focus only on Hindustani music and extracted a mind-blowing score that forced the Filmfare jury to award R.D.Burman. Remember the hit songs Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani...; Tujhse Naraz nahin ...; Huzur Is Kadar… 

Listen to RD. Burman Songs on Raaga.com

Similarly in 1994 Vidhu Vinod Chopra extracted the best out of R.D. Burman for his movie 1942: A Love Story in which he asked Pancham to focus on Rabindra sangeet. The movie again compelled Filmfare to award Pancham. Who can forget the memorable numbers Kuch Na Kaho...; Ek Ladki Ko Dekha...; Rim Jhim Rim Jhim....; Rooth Na Jaana...

Comments