Rahul Dev Burman, affectionately known as “Panchamda,” was a legendary Indian music director, composer, and singer. His unique musical style significantly impacted the Indian film industry, earning him a place among its most prominent composers.
Wiki/Biography
R. D. Burman was born on June 27, 1939, in Kolkata, British India (then Calcutta, Bengal Presidency). His zodiac sign was Cancer. He completed his schooling in West Bengal. His musical training began early, under the guidance of Tabla Maestro Brajen Biswas. Further tutelage included sarod lessons from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ashish Khan, and tabla from Samta Prasad, all in Mumbai. He considered Salil Chowdhury a key mentor.
Family
Burman hailed from a family deeply rooted in music. Interestingly, he was also a member of Tripura’s royal Manikya dynasty.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Sachin Dev Burman (S. D. Burman), was a renowned music director and singer. His mother, Meera Dev Burman, was a lyricist. This rich musical heritage undoubtedly shaped his career.
Wife & Children
R. D. Burman’s first marriage was to Rita Patel, a fan he met in Darjeeling. They married in 1966 and divorced in 1971. His second marriage was to the iconic singer Asha Bhosle in 1979, though they separated later in life. He had three step-children from Asha’s previous marriage: Varsha Bhosle (singer), Anand Bhosle (film producer), and Hemant Bhosle (film score composer).
Career
Burman’s musical talent emerged early. At the tender age of nine, he composed his first song, “Aye Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa,” used in his father’s film Funtoosh (1956). He followed this with “Sar Jo Tera Chakraaye” in Pyaasa (1957). He initially assisted his father on films such as Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Bandini (1963), Ziddi (1964), Guide (1965), and Teen Devian (1965). While his professional debut as a music director was with Raaz (1959), which remained unreleased, his first released film was Chhote Nawab (1961). His breakthrough success came with Teesri Manzil (1966).
His career extended beyond Hindi cinema. He made his debut in Telugu films with Rocky (1987) and in Tamil with Poo Mazhai Pozhiyuthu (1987).
As A Singer
Beyond composing, R. D. Burman also showcased his vocal talent. His rendition of “Mehbooba Mehbooba” earned him a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Playback Singer. He lent his voice and composed scores for approximately 18 films.
Awards
R. D. Burman’s contributions were widely recognized:
- Multiple Filmfare Awards for Best Music Director
His legacy extends beyond awards:
- The Filmfare R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent was established in his honor.
- A public square in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, was named after him.
- India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring him.
- Google dedicated a doodle to him on his 77th birthday.
Awards/ Places Named After Him
Signature
Favourite Things
Here’s a glimpse into his preferences:
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Food | Biryani, Fish Kalia, Mutton Dishes, Crabs & Prawns, Goan Stews, Sarapatel |
| Singer | Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi |
| Color | Red |
Death
R. D. Burman passed away on January 4, 1994, in Mumbai due to a heart attack.
Facts
Burman’s life was filled with interesting anecdotes:
- He enjoyed cooking and watching sports.
- His maternal grandmother affectionately called him “Tublu.”
- His nickname, “Pancham,” holds several intriguing origins.
- He was a skilled mouth organ player.
- He briefly explored acting, appearing in films like Bhoot Bangla (1965) and Pyar Ka Mausam (1969).
- He completed his father’s work on Aradhna (1969) after his illness.
- He wrote lyrics for the English song “I’m Falling In Love With A Stranger” in a film.
- He played a pivotal role in launching the careers of several singers, including Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Hariharan, and Mohammed Aziz.
- He released a Latin American rock album, Panthera, in 1987.
- He suffered a heart attack in 1988 and underwent bypass surgery in London.
- His compositions for films like Janam Se Pehle (1994), 1942: A Love Story (1994), and Ghatak: Lethal (1996) were released posthumously.
- He shared a close friendship with Rajesh Khanna and Kishore Kumar.
- He composed music for over 331 films, encompassing various regional languages.
- His musical style was influenced by Louis Armstrong.
- He had a playful nickname exchange with Gulzar.
- His musical creativity was so profound that he even dreamt in music.
- He openly acknowledged his musical inspirations, including Demis Roussos for “Mehbooba Mehbooba.”
- He innovatively used unconventional instruments and techniques in his compositions.
- A documentary, Pancham Unmixed, details his life and work.
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