Explore the poignant legacy of R.D. Burman, the musical genius who revolutionized Hindi film music. The musician is the maverick. Today, we regard Rahul Dev Burman as a Music Genius, Music Maverick and par excellence director. However, the bitter truth is that when R.D. Burman was active in the film industry, people never gave his due. They ignored, overlooked and even ridiculed him for lifting Western album tunes, shamefully labelling him as a plagiarist.
Agreed that there is a long list of songs that were truly lifted by R.D. Burman like Churaa Liya Hai Tum Ne (Yaadon Ki Baraat, 1973) inspired from “If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium” (Bojoura, 1969) or Mehbooba Mehbooba (Sholay) lifted from Demis Roussos’s ‘Say You Love Me‘) or Dilbar Mere Kab Tak Mujhe (Satta Pe Satta, 1982) from “Zigeunerjunge” (Alexandra, 1967) or Tum Se Milke (Parinda, 1989) from “When I Need You” (Leo Sayer, 1977) or the melodious song O Hansini (Zehreela Insaan, 1974) was taken from the James Bond Goldfinger theme song but the truth is R.D. Burman was an original composer and had mastery over Hindustani classical ragas, however, film producers forced him to copy and he flowed their diktats to survive in the film industry.
R.D. Burman – The Undisputed Musical Maestro
This proved fatal to R.D. Burman, as music critics tarnished his image, and he never achieved the status he rightly deserved. The bitter truthis evident in the fact that though he received 15 Filmfare nominations, he declined the honor. They only awarded three times; Sanam Teri Kasam (1983), Masoom (1983) and 1942: A Love Story (1995). Most agonizingly, they tragically did not even nominate some of his career’s best musical films!
Who can forget R.D. Burman‘s most popular musical blockbuster like Tesri Manzil, Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Andhi, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Jawani Diwani, Pyar Ka Mausam, Buddha Mil Gaya, Parichay, Parinda … the list is long!! What is most depressing is that each of the film mentioned has path-breaking songs that brought revolution in the Indian film industry for instance in Tesri Manzil in introduced the fast and jazzy music. Songs like Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera, O Haseena Zulfonwali Jaane Jahan…. Later such songs became a trendsetter and made R.D. Burman a popular music director.
R.D. Burman’s Trendsetting Songs
In the movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna, he started the trend of rock music with the trendsetter song Dum Maro Dum…. Interestingly the song is still foot tapping and a favorite among today’s generation. Other films that were a success solely on its music included Pyar Ka Mausam, Caravan, Jawani Diwani, Khel Khel Mein, Love Story, Sanam Teri Kasam, etc.
In fact, R.D. Burman played a key role in making Rajesh Khanna a superstar because most of his films were a success at the box-office due to the films excellent music like Kati Patang(1970), Amar Prem (1972), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Apna Desh (1972), Namak Haraam (1973), Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Ajanabee (1974), Mehbooba (1976) etc.
In the late ’80s, R.D. Burman was a deserted man! In frustration, he took to liquor and spent lonely hours with his musical instruments with no films on hand. Eventually, Vidhu Vinod Chopra brought him out from depression by offering him 1942: A Love Story (1994). An elated R.D. Burman thanked Vidhu Vinod Chopra and promised to give his career-best music! He put his heart and soul in the creation of the music of 1942: A Love Story (1994) and emerged triumphantly! Even his hardcore critics were stunned by the mind-blowing music! The film released on 15th April, 1994, and. Its music became a national craze.
The film won Filmfare Best Music Award but alas R.D. Burman was not alive to watch the laurels and honor!!! 4 months before the release of the film on January 4, 1994, Pancham bid adieu from the world!
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