27, June 2012 :: Rahul Dev Burman was born on 27 June 1939 . He was an Indian film score composer, who is considered one of the seminal music directors of the Indian film industry. Nicknamed Pancham da, he was the only son of the noted composer Sachin Dev Burman.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, RD Burman composed scores for 331 movies. He was mainly active in the Hindi film industry (Bollywood) as a composer, and also provided vocals for a few of compositions. RD Burman did major work with Asha Bhosle (his wife) and Kishore Kumar, and scored many of the songs that made these singers famous. He served as a influence to the next generation of Indian music directors, and his songs continue to be popular in India even after his death.
RD Burman was born to the well-known Bollywood and Bengali composer-singer Sachin Dev Burman and his lyricist wife Meera Dev Burman , in Calcutta. Initially, he was nicknamed Tublu by his grandmother although he later became known by the nickname of Pancham
RD Burman received his early education at the St Xavier’s School in Kolkata. His father SD Burman was a noted music director in Bollywood, the Bombay-based Hindi film industry. When he was nine years old, RD 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, RD Burman was trained by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (sarod) and Samta Prasad (tabla). He also considered Salil Chowdhury as his guru. He served as an assistant to his father, and often played harmonica in his orchestras. Some of the notable films in which RD Burman is credited as the music assistant include Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Bandini (1963), Guide (1965) and Teen Devian (1965). RD Burman also played mouth organ for his father’s hit composition Hai Apna Dil to Aawara which was featured in the movie Solva Saal (1958).
RD Burman’s first released film as an independent music director was Chhote Nawab (1961). When the noted Bollywood comedian Mehmood decided to produce Chhote Nawab, he first approached RD Burman’s father Sachin Dev Burman for the music. However, SD Burman turned down the offer, saying that he did not have any free dates. At this meeting, Mehmood noticed Rahul playing tabla, and signed him up as the music director for Chhote Nawab. RD Burman later developed a close association with Mehmood, and did a cameo (apart from composing the music) in Mehmood’s Bhoot Bangla (1965).
RD Burman’s first wife was Rita Patel, whom he had met in Darjeeling. Rita, a fan, had laid a bet with her friends that she would be able to get a movie-date with Burman. The two married in 1966, and got divorced in 1971. The song Musafir Hoon Yaaron (“I’m a Traveller”) from Parichay (1972) was composed by him, when he was at a hotel after the separation.
RD Burman married Asha Bhosle in 1980. Together, they recorded many hit songs and also staged many live performances. Burman had financial difficulties, particularly later in his life. RD Burman’s mother Meera died in 2007, 13 years after his death.
