Discover surprising instances where legendary music director S.D. Burman adapted Western tunes in his iconic Bollywood compositions. Generally, it is believed that in Bollywood some stalwart Music directors are highly respected and have no stains of plagiarism (copy –cat). One name that tops the list is the great Music composer S.D. Burman who gave several hits like Gata Rahe Mera Dil.. (Guide), Mere Sapnoon Ki Rani … (Aradhana), Teri Bindiya Re ( Abhimaan), Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke.. (Nau Do Gyarah)… Though there is no doubt that S.D. Burman was one of Indian Cinema’s music genius and an original composer but film historians have alleged that Burman Dada too lifted tunes from the Mexican, Italian, and American music directors.
One of Burman Dada’s super hit song Jeevan Ke Safar Me Raahi……. from the Munimji (1955) starring Dev Anand is copied from ‘Mexican Hat Dance‘ (Traditional). Besides, the other songs lifted from the West are Saala Main To Saab Ban Gaya (Sagina, 1974) starring Dilip Kumar. The song is a lift of the original song Chella Lla.. by Renato Carosone (1959).
S.D. Burman’s Copied Songs
In Kishore Kumar‘s super hit film comedy film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Burman Dada copied not one but two songs from the West. Interestingly both songs have been lifted from American singer Ernest Jennings Ford popularly known as Tennessee Ernie Ford. His career’s famous song Sixteen Tons… first released in July 1947 by Capitol on Travis’s album Folk Songs of the Hills. The song was so popular that it won a Gold Record. This song was re-made as Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi). The other song lifted was Watermelon Song…. (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1957). This song was re-made as Hum The Woh Thi Aur Sama Rangin Samaj Gaye Na…
Another movie in which S.D. Burman gave good music was Taxi Driver (1954). The film had hit songs Jayen To Jayen Kahan……….The film even won the Best Music Director award for Burman Da. Interestingly, in this film too Burman Dad copied a song Chahe Koi Khush Ho Chahe … (Taxi Driver) was lifted from the Hollywood song The Godfather – Tarantella Napolitana.
Shakti Samanta’s Crime Thriller
In 1959 filmmaker Shakti Samanta made a crime thriller Insan Jaag Utha (1959) Staring Sunil Dutt and Madhubala. The film had good music by S.D. Burman. The film’s super hit song Ye Chanda Roos Ka Na Ye Japan Ka….was bluntly lifted from – Barefoot Girl composers Ron Goodwin and his orchestra composition for an Arabian Night.
U-TUBE
The song Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Raahi…….
Copied from “Mexican Hat Dance” (Traditional)
The song Saala Main To Saab Ban Gaya ….
Copied from Renato Carosone – Chella ‘lla (1957)
Chella Lla.. by Renato Carosone (1957).
The song Ek Ladki Bheegii Bhaagii Sii …
Copied from “Sixteen Tons” (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1955)
The song Hum The Vo the Or Sama Rangeen … …..
Copied “Watermelon Song” (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1957)
The song Chaahe Koi Khush Ho Chaahe … (Taxi Driver)
Copied from the Hollywood song The Godfather – Tarantella Napolitana
The song Ye Chanda Roos Ka Na Ye Japan Ka….
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