‘Har--Monica O My Darling’.. ! <strong>Tribute to mahaan composer singer R D Burman (Pancham-Da) by eminent journalist author Chaitanya Padukone</strong>

Millions of  ‘immortal’ composer-singer Rahul Dev Burman’s ( Pancham-da)  loyal ardent fans in India and NRIs will be observing his 29^th death anniversary today ( January 4^th).  Just as the way we carry our cell-phones in our hands, most of the time,   Pancham-da used to carry the chromatic harmonica (mouth-organ) in his hand-palm and would play whenever he was that melody-mood. Interestingly, while playing harmonica ‘live’, at one of his annual school-functions where a young Rahul  won a prize, his hidden musical talent got noticed. None other than his own legendary  composer-singer father  Sachin Dev Burman, was the chief guest at this function and Sachin-da realized that his son Rahul had a fabulous innovative music-composing -playing potential. Later Pancham was specially invited by his father Sachin-da to play the fantastic resonating harmonica interludes in the evergreen song  ‘Hai Apna Dil Toh Aawara ( Solva Saal-1958) . During the 80’s while interviewing RDB, I asked him why he used to carry the harmonica with most of the time. After a few seconds the jovial, witty Pancham-da replied, “Because it is, ‘ Har-Monica—O My Darling’. !!  Surely you will be able to relate this catchy romantic phrase from  the iconic cabaret song  ‘Piya Tu Ab Toh  Aaja’ (‘Caravan’ movie-1971)

While versatile and daringly-experimental composer-singer Panchamda (RDB) was formally trained by illustrious senior musicians of his era, for playing classical-music based instruments such as tabla, sarod, and even sitar, he was a self-taught musician for playing the chromatic harmonica. Having mastered playing the harmonica Pancham-da was even invited to play the mouth-organ by Laxmikant Pyarelal for their movie Dosti (1964) to play the catchy vibrato interludes for the  songs especially Raahi Manwa Dukh Ki Chinta and Jaanewalon Zaraa, Mudke which in turn became popular hits.  Composers Laxmi-Pyare and RDB were very close friends at a personal  although they were professional rivals as composers.

As an eminent music & film-journalist writing for leading Mumbai city daily newspaper Mid-Day, I had the privilege to interview R D Burman numerous times at song & BGM recordings (Film Center), at movie premieres and film parties from 1983 up to end 1993.( time-span of  Ten years). Since I had a good knowledge of international  rhythms, and also played drums,  I shared a personal rapport with Pancham-da who treated me like his younger brother and even played pranks ( masti-mazaak) on me. 

Some of the evergreen R D Burman songs with harmonica notes : Yeh dosti hum nahin chhodenge & Amitabh Bachchan theme (Sholay ) Dukki pe Dukki (Satte pe satta ),  Lakdi ki kaatthi (Masoom ),  Aaj Unse Pehli Mulaqaat ( Paraya Dhan), Saare Ke saare ( Parichay), # SDBurman--Khwaab ho tum –(Teen Deviyan) , Hai apna dil toh aawara (Solva Saal) , Mere Sapnon ki Rani-- Aradhana and of course—from Laxmi-Pyare’s Dosti movie-- Raahi manwa dukh ki chintaa

Famous senior maestro harmonica player Vish Shirali ( 80 plus age, ailing yet but very active and young-at-heart ) who has played his mouth-organ at various live concerts and at numerous film sound-track recordings has also played for ‘Sholay 3-D’  released in January  2014. Shares Vish Shirali, “ Redubbing the tracks second to second as per action on The screen in Sholay3D, was a major challenge for me but we did it successfully under the diligent supervision of acclaimed  guitarist-composer Raju Singh. As far as genius Pancham-Da, is concerned he was the Shahenshah of innovative melodies, rhythms and  mesmerizing harmonica tunes. RDB's uniqueness was his unusual experimenting with different sounds instruments and rhythm patterns, “ enthuses Vish Shirali who has recorded an exclusive MAYAPURI  KUT  youtube  video (with eminent journalist Chaitanya Padukone) paying his humble yet heartfelt ‘live’ harmonious tribute to Pancham-da. ( Refer Below)