Continuing our celebration of
Rahul Dev Burman's contribution to our lives through music, rediff.com presents Sameer Sheth's ode to the legend.I have been an ardent R D fan since childhood. I grew up listening to his music. Right from Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Kati Patang, Amar Prem to 1942: A Love Story, R D has given us melodies which linger.
As they say, the value of a person is best known after he is gone. Pancham is an excellent example of this. During the 1980s and 1990s, when composers like Nadeem-Shravan and Anand Milind were making waves, R D was at a low phase. People ignored him.
Just then, he came back with 1942: A Love Story. Unfortunately, that was his last composition. But the music of this film was an answer to all those who ignored him.
What I liked most about Pancham was that he composed memorable tunes even for those films which did not do well or did not have scope for music. This is something that only he could have done.
I still remember North Avenue in Mumbai's suburban Santa Cruz, where he lived in a building called Windmere. This was on my way to work in 1991. Every day, I would see him in his balcony or taking walks around the building.
It is difficult to list 25 of my favourite R D songs -- there are many more. People may not even remember some of these but they are definitely classics:
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Kuch to log kahenge
(Amar Prem): Once again, the same magical combination as above.Kiska rasta dekhe
(Joshila)Kaanchi re Kaanchi
(Hare Rama Hare Krishna)Mere naina sawan bhadon
(Mehbooba)Kya hua tera vaada
(Hum Kisise Kum Nahin)Aaja aaja
(Teesri Manzil)Piya tu
(Caravan)Ek main aur ek tu
(Khel Khel Mein).Kabhi kabhi sapna lagta hai
(Ratnadeep)Bade achche lagte hain
(Balika Badhu)Musafir hoon yaaron
(Parichay)Chura liya
(Yaadon Ki Baaraat)Jaane kaise kab kahan
(Shakti)Jaane jaan dhoondta
(Jawaani Diwani)Hamen tumse pyaar
(Kudrat)
Yeh dosti
Aane wala pal
(Gol Maal)Kasme vaade nibhayenge
(Kasme Vaade)Kehna hai
(Padosan)Ek din bik jaayega
(Dharam Karam)Ek ladki
(1942: A Love Story)Saagar Kinaare
(Saagar)Gum hai kisike pyaar mein
(Rampur Ka Lakshman)Aise na mujhe tum dekho
(Darling Darling)Click here for
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