The Fifth Note

I am a big fan of movies - and movie music.  I live on humming melodies from the 70s and 80s from Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi (and also some Tamil and Malayalam songs that I have learnt).  Many times I am tempted to write about movies and music on to my blog, but hold myself back thinking that if I start on that, most posts of mine would be on those lines alone.  But, then you can't resist forever.  So, here comes one on my favourite theme.  

One morning, a couple of weeks back, I stepped into the terrace with my cup of tea, humming the peppy number, 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu..'.  Don't ask me, 'Who sings this number first thing in the morning?' I generally wake up with some song on my lips.  Sometimes (or many times), I even happen to be singing in my dreams, or even all through my sleep duration. a few days ago, I even woke up from sleep because the same song was playing in my head all through.  As I was humming, I was checking out news on the internet.  I discovered that it was RD Burman's birthday.  'What a coincidence!', I thought to myself, to wake up with his song on his birthday.  

I have for long been wanting to pen my thoughts about RD Burman - or Pancham Da as he was popularly known - for a long time.  Since that day, the desire increased exponentially.  I thought about the songs I love the most, many of the anecdotes I have read and heard about RD, how his musical influences on others, and so on.  But, writing about him wasn't easy.  Possibly, a million others have already written enough, and I wasn't going to add anything new to it.  So, I will primarily stick to writing why RDB is important to me.

RDB was instrumental in me developing interest in listening to Hindi film music.  As a young kid in a small town in Karnataka with no knowledge of any language beyond Kannada, I heard this song, 'Tere Bina Zindagi Si Koi' and it stayed in my head - not the lines but just the word, 'Shikua'.  I, as someone who was about 7 that time, imagined it to be some person's name.  It is another matter that it took me more than two decades from then to know what the word meant (and it wasn't the name of a person).  Cut to late 1990s, and I had cracked the Civil Services and found myself in Faridabad for training amidst a predominantly North Indian trainee officers.  When I reported there, I possibly could cobble up a few sentences in Hindi to survive - ask for food, get a transport from Place A to Place B, and nothing more. But then, I learnt Hindi pretty quick (patting my own back of course) and was able to hold some conversation in that language soon enough.  What helped me in this journey was watching Hindi movies and listening to Hindi film music (and I was also introduced to the world of Ghazals then).  Pancham da played a significant role here too.  I was asked by aficionados among friends to listen to the music of 'Ijaazat' (meaning 'permission'; I didn't know it back then).  I heard and appreciated the tunes, but the lyrics (by Gulzar) were another matter.  The song 'Katra Katra' was interpreted by the new learner (me) as, 'Life is full of dangers (katra) when you have two sisters (behne do)'!! I must admit I have come a long way from then.  Learning what Gulzar wrote for those songs composed by RDB has only made my Hindi strong.  

RDB's songs have been the most remixed, re-sung, re-used, re-hashed and so on.  Who doesn't remember 'Bangle Ke Peechhe', featuring Shefali Jariwala, or 'Chhadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastaani', featuring Negar Khan.  These songs, both composed by RDB, resulted in a spate of new music videos featuring old Hindi hits.  That's how I was introduced to his peppy music, and became his fan. Everyone - even the younger generations - has hummed 'Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko'.  We all have lost count how many times the song has been remixed (including one version by Asha herself).  There are many new music directors who have admitted to being influenced by him. Jatin-Lalit, and Vishal-Shekhar, to name a few.  

All that and more can wait, as I am just here to enlist his most liked numbers from among the songs I have heard over the years.  I must confess that I haven't heard the music of all those 300 plus movies he composed for.  Nor do I make a claim that this list is the most definitive.  It is just what I have loved.  I possibly might also write why these numbers as I go on to enlist them.  The list largely is random but for the No.1 ranking song.  

1.  Dum Maro Dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), Asha Bhonsle

Ever since movies and music evolved, rarely has a number captured the emotions and angst of an entire generation like this song.  And, to this day it stays as catchy, hummable, and relevant.  It is said that Dev Anand chose to use a truncated version of the song in the movie because he felt the song else would overpower the entire movie. Everything about this song - the guitar chords, the lyrics, and the singing - blend perfectly.  Asha has never sung with such gay abandon ever. With this a new star was born - Zeenat Aman!  I am not a fan of the other enduring song from the film though, 'Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka'; I cringe when I hear this.  

2.  Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi (Aandhi), Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar

Arguably, 'Is Mode Se Jaate Hain' is a better song - optimistic, and uplifting, and based on a raag; even the interludes are better.  And, the singers are the same too.  But, because 'Tere Bina..' was the first song I ever was drawn to (without even knowing it's a sad song) it wins over the other number.  Also, pathos has a stronger hold over a man.  Possibly the rumour that the movie was based on Mrs Indira Gandhi, the then PM, resulted in the movie not winning a National Award for music.

3.  Raina Beeti Jaaye (Amar Prem), Lata Mangeshkar

Every song of the movie, 'Amar Prem' is a gem.  To choose one (I am limiting my selection to one song from a movie) was made difficult because  I love every song from this movie.  'Chingari Koi Bhadke', and 'Kuchh To Log Kahenge', are equally alluring.  And, same applies to 'Bada Natkhat Hai Yeh'.  SD Burman possitlby sang his best.  However, Lata's rendition of the chosen tune made all the difference. It is another matter that I do not particularly like the film that focuses on deifying an all-suffering woman (a masochist's wet-dream), and it certainly has not aged well.  

4.  O Mere Dil Ke Chain (Mere Jeevan Saathi), Kishore Kumar

This song is an earworm.  Once you hear, it never leaves you.  You keep humming and humming again.  It is the kind of song that bothers you in the sleep too.  There is another equally brilliant number from the same movie where Kishore yodels to perfection ('Chalaa Jaata Hoon'), but this song wins over for its sheer longevity.  

5.  Tere Bina Jiya Jaaye Na (Ghar), Lata Mangeshkar (& Kishore Kumar)

This is not only one of the seminal movies in the career of Rekha, and RD Burman, but possibly also in the Hindi Cinema itself.  Rekha possibly looked her best ever in this movie (and also won a Filmfare for her sensitive portrayal of a rape survivor).  Another movie where every song shines like a diamond, and yet RDB didn't win any award for this score.  Connoisseurs of music might prefer either 'Aajkal paaon zameen par', or 'Aapki aankhon mein', but my pick is different.   It is largely influenced also by a quirky fact.  My best friend, CDL, sings this so well and so mesmerisingly - and I would pester her to sing this often during our training days.

6.  Maine Poochha Chaand Se (Abdullah), Mohammed Rafi

Abdullah had one of the most ordinary albums by Burman Jr's standards, but for this song. It was like finding a bottle of champagne among a load of cheap wine.  Also, it is one of the last few movies Rafi sang for before his untimely demise (July 1980).  Hardly any singer can ooze romance the way Rafi did, and this song stands testimony to that.  They lyrics are not great, but the music and singing elevate the song.  When I heard the song, I had imagined a lot about how this could have been picturised,- a hero imagining his muse, driving an open jeep in deserted lands - but was terribly disappointed to see how it really was.  

7.  Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Caravan), Asha Bhonsle (& RD Burman)

Helen-Asha-RDB make this number a cracker! Can there be a Top-Gaane list of any music director and not have a song that featured Helen? Next to impossible.  Caravan was another album that had stupendous music, each tune outdoing the other.  Also, Lata, according to me, has sounded utterly sensuous in, 'Chhadti Jawaani Meri' vis-à-vis any other song she has sung (including the celebrated but boring 'Aa Jaane Jaan').  

8.  Humen Tumse Pyar Kitna (Kudrat), Parveen Sultana

One song, same movie, two legendary singers belting it in their inimitable styles.  Kishore appeals to our emotional self, and Parveen Sultana to our soul itself. It couldn't be made anymore difficult to choose.  Those who aren't from the generation may not even have heard Parveen Sultana's classically rendered version. I hum the Kishore version because it surely is easier (music-wise); if I try Ms Sultana's version, I'll be bruised badly.  This movie also had a sweet romantic track in 'Tune O Rangeele Kaisa Jadoo Kiya'. 

9.  Baahon Mein Chale Aao (Anamika), Lata Mangeshkar

When I imagine Lata's singing, it is generally about her perfection, her technical knowledge of the sur, and how pitch perfect she sounds in any rendition, even in her later years.  But, she singing this playful, teasing number is a revelation, maybe something only RDB could extract.  

I also have a cute story about this song to narrate.  At a Ghulam Ali concert, attended by Lata ji too, the ghazal maestro was requested to sing this song.  And, he obliged only to create magic.  Just that this story is untrue.  Instead it was the renowned duo of Ustaad Imtiaz and Riaz Ali, that have sung it, and needless to say it's fabulous.  Lata's rendition is like a soothing balm, while the one by the ghazal maestros is like a heady cocktail.  Listen it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsFEDcrFF3Q

10.  Hai Agar Dushman Zamaana (Hum Kisise Kum Nahin), Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhonsle

If there is one qawwali that I love forever, it is this ('Humen to loot liya' and 'Tere Mehfil Mein Kismat' come close second).  The energy in the singing, and the music, and the entry of Zeenat Aman that raises the bar to the stratosphere, everything about it is spectacular.  I can't ever get tired of listening to this, whenever I need a bit of lifting up of my mood.  This movie - a musical - had songs galore, one better than the other.  Mohammed Rafi even won his (only) National Award for 'Kya Hua Tera Waada' (though I consider this song as one of his ordinary renditions, a scream-fest; there are hundreds that are better).  I would have chosen the medley song too as one of Pancham da's best but for the 'Mil Gayaa Humko Saathi' bit, a straight lift from 'Mama Mia' of Abba.  

11.  Naam Gum Jaayega (Kinaara), Lata Mangeshkar & Bhupinder

It takes just one song to make someone immortal, and even if Bhupinder had not sung any other song before or after, his name would have been etched in the film history forever just by this beauty.  It also shows how well Gulzar and Rahul Dev Burman understood each other and regularly created outstanding songs and music.  The credit to make two pieces of wood to act - Hema and Jeetendra - should also go to Gulzar! 

12.  'Pyar Humen Kis Mode Pe Le Aaya' (Satte Pe Satta), Kishore, RDB, Bhupinder, etc.

There are melodies and then there are soulful melodies, and then some extremely oddball compositions that stand out.  This is Burman Jr at his screwball best.  The composition and the singing, plus the background music all add to make it a number to remember.  It certainly leaves anyone who hears it with a broad smile, and there hardly is another song that could parallel this effect.  

13.  'Chhoti Si Kahaani Se' (Ijaazat), Asha Bhonsle

No RDB list can be complete without a composition from the movie, 'Ijaazat'.  The coming together of Rekha and Gulzar was rather late in the day; they should have collaborated much earlier.  Of course, it is Anuradha Patel that had the best role in the movie.  Each tune can make you teary-eyed for days, and happy simultaneously.  There can hardly another blend of music, words, and rendition going so well together ever.  Most people would pick 'Mera Kuchh Samaan' as their favourite, RDB did a masterclass by setting the prose to tune.  It won two National Awards; one each for Gulzar and Asha Bhonsle.  But then I haven't always gone by what the most popular opinions are.  This song is simpler, but as deep.  And, makes you tear up as much too, both with joy and sadness.  That this movie's music didn't win an award is a travesty!

14.  Ek Din Bik Jaayega (Dharam Karam), Mukesh

This song makes the list sheerly on sentimental reasons.  Mukesh didn't sing too many songs for Rahul Dev.  And, most of them were sung past his prime and didn't sound great (to me).  Except for this melody.  This song is joyful, fast, has all elements that make Mukesh's singing stand out.  Plus Raj Kapoor.  Maybe that's the reason Mukesh gave his all to this song.  

15.  Chunri Sambhaal Gori (Bahaaron Ke Sapne), Lata and Manna Dey

This song from one of the earliest movies of RD Burman, is a harbinger of the things to come.  His experimentation in composing, the pauses, the percussion, everything.  One can even see the influences of Salil Choudhary in this tune, and how RDB then stands apart.  Also, Manna Dey's mellifluous singing.

16.  Bin Payal Ki Cham Cham Karti (Saware Wali Gaadi), Suresh Wadkar

Even though Burman composed music for a horde of movies in the mid to late 80s, many of them bombed, resulting him later losing work to other, more successful music directors.  Needless to say, Burman's music even in most of these flop movies was doubtlessly successful ('Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai', 'Zameen Aasmaan', 'Shakti', to name a few).  Even when the movies were successful, rarely the credit went to RDB (Arjun, Parinda).  This movie - starring Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon - also was a flop, but the music is heavenly.  Suresh Wadkar sings this tune like a dream and you are transported to the world of fairies.  

17.  Yeh Zameen Gaa Rahi Hai (Teri Kasam), Amit Kumar

Amit Kumar sang many of his chart-toppers for Rahul Dev, and after the maestro passed away in 1994, he largely withdrew from singing in movies.  While there are many songs of Amit that I love (including those that he sang for other music directors), this song in particular displays his quality of singing the best.  I truly wish he had sung the songs of '1942: A Love Story' instead of Kumar Sanu.  

That concludes the list.  No reason why there are 17 numbers and not 10 or 20 or 15 or 25.  There are hundreds of other songs that vie for attention, and I had to stave them off.  I consciously have avoided including tracks that were influenced by other tunes from elsewhere and that's how 'Chura Liya', or 'Mehbooba Mehbooba', do not make the list.  If you still find any song that I have inadvertently included that has a marked influence, do let me know.  The reason I took over a fortnight to compile the list also was that I didn't want to put one up in haste.  I mentally sang almost every song I know of Pancham Da, before making carefully a written list of around 50, and then further whittled them down to these 17.  It was not easy to eliminate songs like 'Aanewala Pal', 'Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi', 'O Hansini', 'Piya Baawari', and more.  But, I did, largely based on my own whims and tastes.  Let me know if you like these numbers.  Also, tell me the numbers that you would have included in the list and why.  It is always the story behind selection of each song that is interesting, and not just the song itself. 

Like many other bright luminaries of cinema, RD Burman too died young - and died dejected.  There are many music directors that have made indelible impressions in the history of cinema in India. Roshan, Madan Mohan, Ilayaraja, AR Rahman, Jaidev, Hamsalekha, C Ashwatth, and so on.  Some well known, and others not so much.   Pancham stands at the forefront, not just because of his tunes, but because how he influenced many generations after too.  

Footnotes

The career of Rajesh Khanna soared on the back of RDB music in his movies; similarly, Kishore bounced back and became the most sought after singer thanks to Burman Jr.  Some interesting nuggets about Pancham Da may not be known to many.  Let's start with his pet name.  It emanated because of his crying! The story goes that he always ended up crying sounding like the fifth note of Indian Music ('Pa', 'Pancham'), and hence the moniker.  The title of this write-up alludes to the same.  

Even though he composed music for over 300 movies, he never won the National Award for Best Music Director.  It feels surreal; not even Amar Prem, or Ghar, or Ijazat could claim that honour, despite possibly being arguably the best albums of those years.  Or, some of his best known numbers were influenced by outside music (Western, Arabic, etc) - it is also said that he was reluctant but gave in to the pressures of the Directors/Producers.  'Chura Liya', and 'Mehbooba Mehbooba', and 'Dilbar Mere Kab Tak Mujhe', are examples of such songs in his repertoire.