Sachin Dev Burman
The Maharaja Maestro
SD Burman was a pioneer in giving a jazzy edge to Hindi film music. He chose singers from his well loved Bengal to make the songs memorable. Geeta Dutta (Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri) the girl from Faridpur would sing “Tadbir se bigri huyi taqdeer banale” for Guru Dutt’s directorial venture “Baazi” in 1951. The beat in the song was of cheerful abandon. It was Geeta Dutta who earlier sang for SD Burman “Mera sundar sapna beet gaya” for the film “Do Bhai” in 1947.
In 1952 Guru Dutt made Jaal, a Dev Anand-Geeta Bali starrer. SD Burman’s western flair made a romantic song that transcended time. The song “Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan sunja dil ki dastan” — the voice was that of Hemanta Kumar. Dev Anand as the stylish hero was playing the guitar in a full moon night.
Chetan Anand directed “Taxi Driver” in 1954 for Navketan Pictures. SD Burman was the music director. The film was a hit and Dev Anand found his bride Kalpana Kartik. SD Burman chose Talat to sing for the lovelorn hero. He made Talat pour the melody in his voice for the memorable sad song “Jaye to jaye kaha samjhega kaun yehaan dard bhari dil ki juban”. In 1955 in a Dev Anand-Kalpana Kartik starrer “House No. 44” there was another Hindi hit song by Hemanta Kumar composed by SD Burman — “Teri duniya me jeene se behtar hai ke mar jaye”. Subodh Mukherjee made “Paying Guest” in 1957. Svelte Nutan’s charming freshness and Lata Mangeshkar’s enchanting voice made “Chand phir nikla magar tum na aye” an all-time sentimental hit. The composer was SD Burman!
This was followed by Guru Dutt classics and the celebration of the music of the maestro– “Pyaasa” (1957) and “Kagaz Ke Phool” (1959). SD Burman embellished the films with songs of great emotional effect. In “Pyaasa” Mohammad Rafi sang “Ye mahelo ye takhto ye tajon ke duniya ye insan ki dushman samajo ki duniya ye duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai” with the lofty height of his talent. Hemanta Kumar sang a melancholy tune “Jane woh kaise log they jinke pyar ko pyar mila” that sets the heart brooding over the unfairness of life. In the movie Mohammad Rafi sang with an effortless articulation that reaches the heart — “Jinhe naz hai hind par”. In “Kagaz Ke Phool”, SD Burman brought out the full potential of Geeta Dutt singing “Waqt ne kia kya hasin sitam tum rahena tum hum rahenahum”.
In 1958 came the dream hit movie “Solva Saal”; and SD Burman took Hemanta Kumar to the top with the song “Hai apna dil to awara na jane kis pe ayega”. “Hum bekhudi tumko pukare chale gaye” by Mohammad Rafi was another popular song of SD Burman for the film “Kala Pani” (1958). In 1959 Bimal Roy made “Sujata”, a film based on a short story by Subodh Ghosh. SD Burman was the music director and Talat Mahmood sang one of his all-time great songs — “Jalte hai jiske liye teri aankhon ke diye”. In 1960 there was another lovely song by SD Burman “Khoya khoya chand khula aasmaan” in the voice of Mohammad Rafi for the film “Kala Bazar”.
SD Burman’s musical background had a classical base. The opportunity came when he was the music director of the film “Meri Surat Teri Aankhen” (1963) based on the novel “Ulka” by Nihar Ranjan Gupta. Who was the choice? Manna Dey. He sang with his familiar command “Poocho na kaise maine rain bitai ek pal jaise ek jug bita”. On the other hand Mohammad Rafi sang “Tere bine sune nayan hamare”.
In the 1965 film “Guide”, a Dev Anand-Waheeda Rehman starrer, the versatility of SD Burman’s music was widely acclaimed. The songs “Tere mere sapne bas ek rang hai” by Mohammad Rafi and “Aaj phir jeene ka tamanna hai aaj phir marne ka erada hai” are all time popular songs.
SD Burman had an expressive voice and could sing well. For the film “Bandini” (1963), he sang that famous song “Ore majhi mera sajan hai uspar mujhe kar de par”. For “Guide” he sang “Wahan kaun hai tera musafir”. For “Aradhana” (1969) he sang “Safal hogi tera aradhana”.
There was a strong influence of folk music of East Bengal, like Bhatiali, Sari, Dhamail in his compositions and songs. There was also the influence of Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Sangeet in his songs. He sang at least 131 Bengali songs and directed music for 17 Bengali films like – “Jeevan Sangini”, “Protisodh”, “Abhoyer Biye” and “Chaddobeshi”.
SD Burman was born on 1 October 1906 in Comilla to Rajkumari Nirmala Devi, princess of Manipur and Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman son of Maharaja Ishanchandra Manikya Dev Burman Raja of Tripura. He died on 31 October 1975.
The writer is a film and music aficionado.
