Special on Pancham Da’s 86th Birth Anniversary (27 June 2025): Rahul Dev Burman – The Revolutionary Force in Indian Music

BY SHANTISWAROOP TRIPATHI

Rahul Dev Burman is widely credited with revolutionizing Indian film music. From the 1960s to the 1990s, he composed memorable and melodious songs for 331 films. Today, on 27th June, we celebrate the 86th birth anniversary of the legendary music director Rahul Dev Burman, fondly known as Pancham Da. Born on 27 June 1939, he passed away on 4 January 1994.

R.D. Burman was a gifted music composer, singer, and occasional actor who left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. His music touched generations and continues to reside in the hearts of listeners even today. Renowned for his versatility, Burman was known for his eclectic style that fused multiple musical influences. While Bengali folk music deeply inspired him, his compositions also incorporated elements from Western, Latin, Oriental, and Arabic music. This fusion created a fresh and unique sound that set him apart from his contemporaries. He is also credited with introducing electronic rock to Bollywood, particularly in youth-centric romantic films, starting with actors like Rajesh Khanna.

Burman was raised in a rich musical environment. His father, Sachin Dev Burman, was a celebrated music composer and singer in Hindi cinema, and his mother, Meera Dev Burman, was a lyricist. He sought to enhance this musical legacy. Over his three-decade-long career, he worked with legendary playback singers such as Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle (who later became his second wife), and Kishore Kumar. His collaborations with lyricist Gulzar produced some of the most iconic songs in Indian cinema, reflecting his creativity and innovation. Burman successfully bridged the gap between Indian classical and Western music, blending both into unique masterpieces.

The nickname "Pancham" also has multiple origin stories. Some say that as a baby, when he cried, his voice resembled the fifth note ("Pa") of the Indian musical scale. Others claim he cried in five different tones. Some believe actor Ashok Kumar or singer Manna Dey gave him this name. Interestingly, Pancham Da had no formal training in classical music during his childhood—music simply ran in his veins. At the age of nine, he composed his first tune, “Ae Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa Ja,” which his father used in the film Funtoosh.

By the late 1950s, Burman became a full-time assistant to his father, working on films like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (1963), Bandini (1963), Ziddi (1964), Guide (1965), and Teen Deviyan (1965). He finally got his break as an independent music director in 1961 with Chhote Nawab, offered by comedian Mehmood. The two shared a close bond, and Pancham even acted in Mehmood’s film Bhoot Bangla (1965).

Although Chhote Nawab wasn’t a major success, Burman continued composing for Bhoot Bangla (1965), Teesra Kaun (1965), and Pati Patni (1966). His big breakthrough came with the musical thriller Teesri Manzil (1966), directed by Vijay Anand, starring Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. The film’s massive box office success was largely credited to its chart-topping soundtrack, including “O Haseena Zulfon Wali,” “O Mere Sona Re,” “Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera,” “Deewana Mujhsa Nahin,” and “Tumne Mujhe Dekha.” All these tracks featured on the year-end Binaca Geet Mala countdown. The Teesri Manzil soundtrack went on to become one of the top-selling albums of the 1960s.

Another milestone came with the 1968 musical comedy Padosan, which included timeless tracks like “Ek Chatur Naar,” “Mere Samne Wali Khidki Mein,” “Mere Bhole Balam,” and “Kehna Hai Kehna Hai,” contributing to the film’s commercial success.

In 1969, while assisting his father on Shakti Samanta’s blockbuster Aradhana, Burman played a key role in convincing Kishore Kumar to lend his voice to Rajesh Khanna. The film’s massive success turned Rajesh Khanna into a superstar and catapulted Kishore Kumar to the top of the playback singing world—a position he held until his death in 1987.

‘Kati Patang’ and ‘Amar Prem’ Created History

Just a year after the release of Aradhana, Pancham Da rose to prominence as one of Hindi cinema’s leading music directors with Shakti Samanta’s romantic musical drama Kati Patang in 1970, starring Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh. The songs from this film—“Yeh Shaam Mastani,” “Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai,” and “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai” (all solo performances by Kishore Kumar), and “Jis Gali Mein Tera Ghar” (sung by Mukesh)—were massive chartbusters. These songs played a significant role in the film’s box office success and made its soundtrack one of the best-selling Bollywood albums of the 1970s. That same year, Pancham composed music for another Rajesh Khanna hit, The Train, which featured popular tracks like Mohammed Rafi’s “Gulabi Aankhen” and Lata Mangeshkar’s “Kis Liye Maine Pyaar Kiya.”

The year 1971, when he divorced his first wife Rita Patel, proved to be lucky for him. It seemed like a shadow had lifted from his career, and he began ascending the ladder of success rapidly. Between 1971 and 1974, he composed music for a slew of successful films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Caravan (1971), Amar Prem (1972), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Apna Desh (1972), Jawani Diwani (1972), Rampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Parichay (1972), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Samadhi (1972), Heera Panna (1973), Anamika (1973), Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), and Namak Haraam (1973).

These films featured superhit songs like “Chadhti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani,” “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,” and “Kitna Pyara Vaada Hai” (Caravan), “Dum Maro Dum,” “Phoolon Ka Taron Ka” (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), “Raina Beeti Jaye,” “Chingari Koi Bhadke,” “Kuch To Log Kahenge,” and “Yeh Kya Hua” (Amar Prem), “O Mere Dil Ke Chain,” “Chala Jaata Hoon,” and “Aao Na Gale Lag Jao Na” (Mere Jeevan Saathi), “Duniya Mein Logon Ko,” “Kajra Laga Ke Gajra Saja Ke,” and “Ro Na Kabhi Nahin Rona” (Apna Desh), “Saamne Yeh Kaun Aaya,” “Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani,” and “Jaan-E-Jaan Dhoondhta Phir Raha Hoon” (Jawani Diwani), “Gum Hai Kisi Ke Pyar Mein,” “Rampur Ka Vaasi Hoon” (Rampur Ka Lakshman), “Musafir Hoon Yaaron,” and “Sa Re Ke Sa Re” (Parichay), “O Saathi Chal,” “Koi Ladki Mujhe Kal Raat” (Seeta Aur Geeta), “Kanta Laga,” “Jab Tak Rahen,” and “Jaan-E-Jana Jao” (Samadhi), “Panna Ki Tamanna” (Heera Panna), “Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si” and “Baahon Mein Chale Aao” (Anamika), “Wada Karo,” “Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi,” “Yaadon Ki Baaraat Nikli Hai,” “Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko,” “Lekar Hum Deewana Dil,” and “Meri Soni Meri Tamanna” (Yaadon Ki Baaraat), “Diye Jalte Hain,” and “Main Shayar Badnaam” (Namak Haraam).

For Caravan, Amar Prem, and Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Rahul Dev Burman received three consecutive Filmfare nominations for Best Music Director. In 1974, his notable films included Aap Ki Kasam, Ajanabee, Phir Kab Milogi, and Zehreela Insaan, with evergreen songs like “Karvatein Badalte Rahe,” “Jai Jai Shiv Shankar,” “Suno Kaho Kaha Suna,” “Zindagi Ke Safar Mein,” “Ek Ajnabi Haseena Se,” “Hum Dono Do Premi,” and “Bheegi Bheegi Raatein.”

In 1975, a series of films featuring his music—Deewaar, Khel Khel Mein, Warrant, Aandhi, Khushboo, Dharam Karam, and Sholay—created a storm at the box office, making Pancham Da the most sought-after name in the industry. Among these, Sholay became an all-time blockbuster and one of the greatest hits in Indian cinema history. Songs like “Mehbooba Mehbooba,” “Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Todenge,” “Jab Tak Hai Jaan,” and “Koi Haseena Jab” topped the year-end Binaca Geet Mala list and made the soundtrack one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s. Pancham Da also earned another Filmfare nomination for Best Music Director that year.

Songs like “Keh Doon Tumhe” from Deewaar, “Humne Tumko Dekha,” “Ek Main Aur Ek Tu,” and “Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karenge” from Khel Khel Mein also created waves. Meanwhile, Aandhi’s soulful tracks like “Tere Bina Zindagi Se,” “Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya,” and “Is Mod Se Jaate Hain,” along with Khushboo’s “O Majhi Re Apna Kinara” and Dharam Karam’s “Ek Din Bik Jaayega Maati Ke Mol,” “Tere Humsafar Geet Hain Tere,” became immensely popular.

However, in 1976, aside from Nehle Pe Dehla, Balika Badhu, and Mehbooba, most of his other films failed at the box office. But just a year later, Pancham Da bounced back with a bang with the success of Nasir Hussain’s Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, reclaiming his stardom.

The 1980s: A Decline in Popularity

After reigning as the king of music in the 1970s, Pancham Da (R.D. Burman) began losing popularity during the 1980s. There were several reasons behind this decline. At the time, Amitabh Bachchan had become a rapidly rising star and was mostly doing mass-entertainment films that didn’t require rich, nuanced music. Moreover, the musical experiments Pancham had pioneered in the 70s were shamelessly copied by others in the 80s, causing his uniqueness to fade. Even his die-hard fans began turning to other music directors. For instance, Nasir Hussain had always chosen Pancham as the composer for his films since Yaadon Ki Baaraat, but in 1987, for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Laxmikant-Pyarelal entered the Nasir Hussain camp, replacing Pancham Da.

Meanwhile, the films that featured R.D. Burman's music failed to perform well at the box office. Though he wasn’t responsible for those failures, the industry and public gradually started distancing themselves from him. Despite this, some films during this period—like Khubsoorat (1980), Rocky (1981), Yeh Vaada Raha (1982), Masoom (1983), Sunny (1984), and Saagar (1985)—achieved success. But Pancham Da was always known as someone who delivered hit albums, not just hit songs. Unfortunately, the 80s became a decade where individual tracks gained more attention than full albums. Songs like “Tumse Milne Zindagi Ko Yun Laga” (Chor Police, 1983), “Roz Roz Aankhon Tale” (Jeeva, 1984), and “Mummy Kero Mama” (Arjun, 1985) stood out individually.

The 1990s: Pancham Da Admits Defeat

By the 1990s, Pancham Da was surrounded by adversity. He suffered a heart attack, and the industry further distanced itself from him. During this decade, only a few scattered hits like “Tu Hai Mere Dil Ki Rani” (Indrajeet, 1991), “Jaipur Se Nikli Gaadi” (Gurudev, 1993), and “Sili Hawa Chhoo Gayi” (Libaas, 1993) came his way.

Heartbroken by Subhash Ghai’s Betrayal

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai initially announced Pancham Da as the music director for his film Ram Lakhan. However, when R.D. Burman went to London for a heart bypass surgery, Subhash Ghai replaced him with Laxmikant-Pyarelal without informing him. Upon returning from surgery, Pancham Da was devastated to learn of this betrayal. He confided in many, saying: "I went for a bypass surgery of my heart, but Subhash Ghai bypassed me instead—without even feeling the need to tell me."
This broke him emotionally. He fell into a spiral of alcohol and chain-smoking. Things worsened to the point where every music company distanced itself from him.

A Ray of Hope: ‘1942 – A Love Story’

But destiny has its twists. Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra offered R.D. Burman the chance to compose music for 1942 – A Love Story. Chopra personally visited Pancham Da’s sitting room and said:"Pancham Da, don’t lose hope. The talent you have is unmatched. I believe you can still deliver the best music today."

Moved by these words, Pancham Da poured his heart into the film and delivered a timeless soundtrack. Sadly, he passed away from heart disease on January 4, 1994, before he could witness the success of his final masterpiece. 1942 – A Love Story released on July 15, 1994, and songs like “Kuch Na Kaho” and “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga” became massive hits. Posthumously, he was awarded the 40th Filmfare Award for Best Music Director—his third in that category.

A Legacy Etched in Notes and Rhythms

In total, Rahul Dev Burman composed music for 331 films, including 292 Hindi, 31 Bengali, 3 Telugu, 2 Tamil and Odia, and 1 Marathi film. He also scored music for 5 television serials in Hindi and Marathi.
Among his non-film works, notable albums include Pantera (1987), a Latin rock album produced by Pete Govankar (father of Janina Gavankar) in collaboration with Jose Flores in San Francisco. In 1987, Burman, Gulzar, and Asha Bhosle worked on a private album Dil Padosi Hai, which was released on Asha Bhosle’s birthday, September 8. He and Asha also recorded “Bow Down Mister” with Boy George. Burman also composed many non-film Bengali songs, several of which were later adapted into Hindi films.

An Innovator Who Revolutionized Indian Film Music

R.D. Burman is credited with revolutionizing Hindi film music. He drew influences from multiple genres—although his primary inspiration remained Bengali folk. His career aligned with the rise of youthful romantic films featuring Rajesh Khanna, where he introduced electronic rock to Bollywood. He blended Bengali folk with disco and rock, and incorporated jazz elements introduced to him by studio pianist Kersi Lord.

One of his trademarks was using unconventional sounds. For example, in Sholay (1975), he used beer bottles to create the opening notes of “Mehbooba,” and used cups and saucers for the chime in “Chura Liya Hai” (Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973). His inventive techniques added new dimensions to film music, making his compositions timeless.

Despite his success, Burman often faced accusations of plagiarism. Producers would sometimes pressure him to mimic famous foreign songs. Yet, his adaptations and original works became iconic—songs like “Jahan Teri Yeh Nazar Hai” are still considered classics.

Pancham Da’s Music: A Legacy That Makes You Groove

R.D. Burman's music compels your feet to move. His rhythm and melody continue to illuminate the world of music decades later. His tunes are considered sacred by countless musicians. The magic of his hands elevated Indian music to new heights. Even today, his compositions are boldly used in films, and his songs remain the pride of music clubs and parties.

Personal Life

R.D. Burman's first wife was Rita Patel, whom he met in Darjeeling. Rita, a fan of his, had made a bet with her friends that she could get a film date with Burman. Pancham Da agreed to go to a movie with her, and Rita won the bet — but what started as a playful wager soon blossomed into a deeper connection. The two eventually got married in 1966 but divorced in 1971. Incidentally, it was during his separation, while staying alone in a hotel, that he composed the soulful track “Musafir Hoon Yaaron…” for the 1972 film Parichay.

Nine years after his divorce from Rita Patel, Pancham Da married Asha Bhosle in 1980, despite his mother's strong opposition. His mother had three main reasons for objecting: Asha Bhosle was divorced, a mother of three children, and six years older than Pancham. Before and after their marriage, Asha and Pancham recorded many hit songs together — including several duets — and performed in numerous live shows. However, they were not together at the end of his life. Pancham Da faced financial difficulties, especially in his later years.

Rahul Dev Burman: The Music Lives On

The timeless quality of R.D. Burman's music is evident from the way his original compositions and their remixed versions continue to be used in Hindi films even after his death. Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), featuring rearranged versions of his hits, was created as a tribute. Jhankaar Beats (2003), which launched the music duo Vishal-Shekhar into the limelight, was also a homage to him. In Khwahish (2003), Mallika Sherawat’s character is a fan of Burman, and he is frequently mentioned in the film.

In 2010, filmmaker Brahmanand Singh released a 113-minute documentary titled Pancham Unmixed: Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai, which earned critical acclaim and won two National Awards.

In 1995, the Filmfare Awards instituted the R.D. Burman Award for new musical talent in his memory. In 2009, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation named a public square in Santacruz after him.

Every year on January 4 (his death anniversary) and June 27 (his birth anniversary), Pancham Magic in Pune and Euphony in Kolkata organize shows with musicians and artists who worked with Burman. Many similar events are held across India with emerging talents and collaborators paying tribute to him.

Box Item One: The Same Tune in Two Different Films

R.D. Burman had a habit of reusing melodies he loved. Did you know that the tune of the 1985 film Saagar’s song “Saagar Kinare Dil Ye Pukare…” was originally used in “Humein Raaston Ki Zarurat Nahin” from the 1981 film Naram Garam? That earlier track, sung by Asha Bhosle and picturized on Swaroop Sampat, didn’t gain much popularity, but Pancham loved the tune and used it again in Saagar. The Saagar song, a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, picturized on Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, became a hit. Similarly, the melody of Saagar’s “Jalpari” was reused in the title song of the 1993 film Aaja Meri Jaan, sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam.

Box Item Two: A Hit Song Sung With a Bad Throat

Pancham Da not only composed music but also lent his voice to many playback tracks and background vocals. Remarkably, even when his throat wasn’t in good shape, his songs still became hits. A famous example is from the Ramesh Sippy film Shaan, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. During the shoot, Mohammed Rafi requested Pancham Da to sing the track “Yamma Yamma.” Pancham replied that his throat was not well, but Rafi encouraged him, saying, “Doesn’t matter — sing it now, we’ll re-record it later.” Pancham sang the song in his rough voice — but before they could re-record it, Rafi sadly passed away. The version that exists today is still the one Pancham Da sang with his bad throat — and it’s a classic.

He also did playback singing in Amitabh’s films Mahan and Pukar, although those movies didn’t achieve much success.

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