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Rahul Dev Burman, better known as R. D. Burman or Pancham da, made an indelible mark on Indian music in his 37 year long career. Many of the musical maestro’s songs got overshadowed by other brilliant numbers like O Haseena, O Mere Sona and Aja Aja Main Hun Pyar Tera. On Pancham’s 17th death anniversary, we bring you some of the lesser known gems of this genius:
Koi Diya Jale Kahin – Dil Padosi Hain (Pvt. Album)
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Three talented Bollywood personalities have come together for this masterpiece and the whole album. Of course there are other wonderful numbers like Saato bar bole bansi and Majhi re majhi but this one takes the cake according to koimoi.com. Asha ji’s voice is like a mystic beauty. Gulzar’s words are penetrating as usual but Pancham da’s brilliance tops it all by weaving the lyrics into a soulful song.
Aaja Re Meri Jamborine – Ek Sey Bhale Do
A typical ‘80s R. D. peppy number from Kumar Gaurav’s Ek Sey Bhale Do. But once the song starts you just fall in love the way mouth organ wanders into the orchestration. Sung by evergreen Kishore da and Asha ji, this song surely deserves a place next to Jab Chaha Yara Tum Ne from Zabardast. Unfortunately all the movies Kumar Gaurav made were ignored and so were R. D. Burman’s awesome compositions. By the way, koimoi.com is still wondering what exactly a Jamborine is. Was that the musical instrument, Tambourine, that Pancham da was referring to?
Suno Sitamgar – Zabardast
This song is a dialogue with R. D. Yes, listen to the prelude (yes, it is longer than all R.D. numbers – it may be the longest). R. D. starts yodeling at exactly 1.16 minutes into the song and takes over. He sings “Iss mehfil mein tum kya aaye, hum jaison ke din phirey” so innocently that all his friends from the industry who turned their backs to R.D. in his bad times, must feel the pain their friend was going through. Asha ji is there, but this song definitely belongs to R. D. and only R. D.
Click next for more hidden gems from R.D. Burman.
Lut Gaye Hum Toh Raah Mein – Manzil Manzil
A lazy Sunny Deol riding on a donkey, wooing gorgeous Dimple Kapadia on beautiful landscapes of Kashmir from Nasir Hussain sahab’s Manzil Manzil. R. D. Burman never stuck to a particular singer for any actor. He always read the situation, the character and assigned singers accordingly. For Sunny Deol, R. D. has experimented with Suresh Wadkar, Shabbir Kumar, his own voice and Shailendra Sing, who has sung this song. Penned by Majruh Sultanpuri, the song has an amazing laidback feel especially with the excellent flute sounds. Asha ji enters the song in the end and gives a nice touch. One of the really less heard gems.
Socha Tha Maine Toh – Chandi Sona
Kishore da in some of his songs sounds so different and yet so endearing. R. D. in one of his interviews had said, ”You have to be happy in your mind to create. Even if it’s a sad song to be composed, you have to be happy in your mind.” May be that is why this number creates a feeling of hope in the end. Also, watch out for Sanjay Khan, one of the most handsome men of those times.
Ab Ke Sawan Mein Jee Kare – Jaise Ko Taisa
Super sizzling Reena Roy and jumping jack Jeetubhai ala Jeetendra in this foot tapping rain dance number. We especially like the interludes and the way R. D. has crafted the transition from the antara to the mukhda. Lata didi is amazing and sounds full of life. Incidentally, Jaise Ko Taisa had a more popular song in the title song itself.
Roz Roz Ankhotale – Jeeva
The song’s great but the movie was a bummer. Jeeva – one of Sanjay Dutt’s come-back movies. This brilliant work of R.D., Asha ji and super talented Amit Kumar stayed on the shelves for many years. Thankfully, this song is becoming popular thanks to internet. Watch for Amit Kumar, how he softly enters in the song.
Gumsum Kyon Hai Sanam – Kasme Vaade
Asha Bhosale is in full form here. A peppy solo, trying to cheer up the hero, has come out as a classic. The way R. D. has made Asha Ji sing Ab jara man ja is a proof of the genius he was. Kasme Vaade was a successful movie of the ‘70s but it had other songs that topped the charts. We feel this song deserves a place in this list because of sheer quality of Asha Ji and R. D.
Yeh Zindagi Kuchh Bhi Sahi – Romance
May be by now this song is little more popular as we see the numbers on the Youtube video, sung brilliantly by Amit Kumar. Again Kumar Gaurav in one of his flops Romance. Unfortunately when a film flops, all the good things, including the music also get labeled as a flop.
Tumney Mujhey Dekha Ho Kar Meherbaan – Teesari Manzil
Much has been written about how R.D. got Teesari Manzil and how it changed his career graph. Be that as it may, this song is one of the many good R. D.’s numbers that got overshadowed by other brilliant numbers like O Haseena, O Mere Sona and Aja Aja Main Hun Pyar Tera. Majruh Sultanpuri has penned this song in such a shayrana andaaz that the lines stay with you.
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