Down Memory Lane……….with my favourite R.D.Burman songs………

I discovered R.D.Burman’s music in my early teens, till then only having heard songs from composers like Naushad, Roshan, S.D.Burman and Jaidev and maybe S-J and O.P.N sparingly………….then came RDB with a bang! Though he had already done great work in his debut Chhote Nawab and early films like Padosan, Bhoot Bangla, Baharon Ke Sapne etc– my first RDB experiences were Kati Patang, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Amar Prem which were followed by hit after hit after hit– Parichay, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Sharif Badmash, Jawani Diwani, Anamika, Sholay, Heera Panna, Khel Khel Mein to name just a few.  His music took the very conservative audiences in Madras by storm and soon songs like Dum Maro Dum, Kanchi Re Kanchi, Chingari, Musafir, Mere Bheegi Bheegi si, Mehbooba O mehbooba, Ek May aur ek tu, Jaane Jaan had become household names and were being hummed by all and sundry! His music was chic, elegant, melodious and very easy to relate to!

And what a versatile composer he was – completely at ease with semi-classical songs such as Raina biti jaye, Biti na bitaye, Mere naina sawan bhadon, Meete bol bol, Piya banwri, Aao kahan se ghanshyam, just as he was with heavily western and rock and roll and disco type of songs like in HRHK, Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, …as well as his soft and stylish melodies like hame tumse pyar kitna, ye shaam mastani, raath kali…or with qawalis like hai agar dushman, pal do pal ka saath hamara….oh the list is endless.

RDB reigned supreme in the seventies and eighties and faded away for a while and would have come back with a bang but unfortunately died before his big come-back hit 1942 a love story was released!  Recently, while putting together 2 music shows paying tribute to O.P.Nayyar and R.D.Burman, I have been engulfed by nostalgia and memories that these songs have stirred up within me egging me on to reminisce about and share with you some of Panchamda’s creations that I hold closest to my heart…………

1.     1. Chingari – a song that mesmerizes and consumes me each time I hear it… Poetry, philosophy and perfection are hallmarks of this song -idyllic setting, (an inebriated Rajesh and solemn Sharmila on a boat on the Hoogly river under the Howrah bridge), brilliant verse (Anand Bakshi) and sheer magic…………..and awesome singing by Kishore Kumar

2.      2. Do lafzon ki hai – yet another boat song………….oh so different this time – a love song for all times – the gondola, his lovestruck passengers and then Asha’s smooth rendition of this Valentine Day’s favourite and special song, filmed on Amitabh and Zeenat as the gondola weaves its way through the Venetian waterways……………

3.      3. Do naina aur ek kahani – What do I call this, a lullaby, a lori or just an unsurpassed melody in terms of music, rendition and lyrics (Gulzar)………..a song that won Aarti Mukherji the filmfare award for best female playback singer in 1984 – never fails to bring that lump to your throat and tear to your eye………

4.      4. Kuchh to log kahenge – from Amar Prem - one more shining example of the Shakti Samantha-Rajesh Khanna- Anand Bakshi – RDB combine………as Rajesh drunkenly disses the world and its paradoxes…………Kishore just gets into the mood and so is so emotive and expressive through the song.

5.      5. Sapna mera toot gaya – a song that showcased RDB’s singing talents so beautifully – even though Asha’s histrionics-packed singing is very impressive - it is RDB who steals this song, especially when he touches the high notes and just takes you through a roller coaster ride of emotions and heart-tugging.

6.      6. Tere bina zindagi se koyi – a walk down memory lane …………Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar endow Gulzar’s song with just the right sentiments and emotions…filmed on Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen from the film Aandhi.

7.      7. Biti na bitayi – this song reveals the multifaceted talent of RDB – Lata’s melodic rendition is complemented by the richness of Bhupinder’s baritone in this moving song picturised on father and daughter in Gulzar’s Parichay.

8.      8. Diye jalte hain – a beautiful and haunting melody from Namak Haraam – a tale of a friendship that is put to trial.  Again, Kishore Kumar sings Anand Bakshi’s poignant lyrics with the perfect feel.  The signature rhythmic pattern and the distinctive percussion tone that RDB became well known for is present throughout this song.

9.      9. Humein tumse pyar – oh what a beautiful message or outpouring of love from Kudrat…penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri.  Both the Kishore and the Parveen Sultana versions are heavenly indeed and while Kishore was nominated for his version, Parveen walked away with the Filmfare award for her version. Simple and straightforward with so much sweetness in melody and lyrics

10.  10. Raina Biti Jaye -  Lata Mangeshkar’s classic from Amar Prem ranks high in my list of RDB favourites – the depth of the lyrics (Anand Bakshi) and the emotion and unadulterated sweetness that Lata packs into this song are truly amazing and leaves the listener with no doubt as to why Lata has been crowned the nightingale of  India.

We know that Kishoreda gave RDB some of the best songs ever of Hindi Film Music……but there is no denying the role that Asha (who also married RDB) and Lata played in his success.  Under his baton, both sisters rendered some of the most outstanding songs ever written and composed in the 20^thcentury!  The month of March being the International Women’s Month, I also compiled a list of the RDB female solos that I love the most …………and to make the list more meaningful and expansive, I have not included the female solos that already appear in my all time favourite list………which means that the female top 10 should actually read top 12!!

1.      1. Bahon me chaliya – a delightful and naughty song by Lata Mangeshkar from Anamika

2.      2. Chori chori shola – a beautiful melody from Manoranjan sung by Asha Bhosle

3.      3. Bada natkath – A charming lullaby from Amar Prem sung by Lata Mangeshkar

4.      4. Mera Khuch saaman – Asha classic from Ijaazat – a movie filled with other amazing songs too.

5.      5. Dilbar dil se pyare – a lovely seductive number from Caravan sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

6.      6. Dil ne kahan chup kaise – a song from 1942 a Love story, a film that could have been Panchamda’s big comeback if he hadn’t passed away before the movie was released.  Such expressive singing by Kavitha Krishnamoorthi.

7.      7. Tere bina jiya jayena – Lata’s evocative rendition from the film Ghar

8.      8. Piya Banwari – a beautiful classical dance number from Khubsoorat – sung by Asha Bhosle with total ease and panache.

9.      9. Ghar aaja ghir aaye – this beautiful Lata Mangeshkar song from R.D.B’s debut Chhote Nawab is one of the sweetest melodies I have heard.

10.  10. Dum Maro Dum – ooh – a song that has people swaying and dancing in the aisles……..the euphoria and feeling that this song generates is unbelievable!

And if reading this has created a sense of nostalgia and stirred or revived the RDB fan in you, then ISW India Center is the right place to be on 21^st March 2009 when Saptaswar, a New England based music group will present an evening of R.D.Burman favourites for your listening pleasure! 

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