'Give me a harmonium and my 'Lota', and I will give you an outstanding composition,' Sachin Dev Burman once declared.
True to his word, almost every song he composed with Lata Mangeshkar was a smash hit.
What about the ones that never got the attention they deserved?
Subhash K Jha highlights 9 hidden gems.
Hum Pyar Ki Baazi Hare from Sazaa (1951)
One of their earliest songs together, it is primarily recalled for Lataji's haunting Tum Na Jane Kis Jahan Mein Kho Gaye.
Pighla Hai Sona Door Gagan Par from Jaal (1952)
It was rare to hear Lataji in a Guru Dutt film.
In this espionage thriller, we got Lataji's gold rendition of Pighla Hai Sona Door Gagan Par.
Khaak Hua Dil Jalte Jalte from Shahenshah (1953)
By the time this film emerged, Burmandada was dithering between Geeta Dutt and Lataji as his preferred voice.
Geeta had some solid songs in this film, but this timeless plea of the broken heart is the clear winner.
So Ja Re So Ja Meri Akhiyon Ke Tare from Jeewan Jyoti (1953)
Burmandada got Lataji and Geeta Dutt to do separate renditions of the lullaby So Ja Re So Ja Meri Akhiyon Ke Tare.
Dil Jale To Jale Gum Pale To Pale from Taxi Driver (1954)
In this Navketan film, it wasn't Geeta Dutt who sang the smoky seductive number filmed on the lovely Sheila Ramani.
Yes, you guessed who did.
Aa Khilte Hain Gul O! Meri Bulbul from Sitaron Se Aage (1958)
A whimsical, semi-dreamy, ballad that Lataji sang for Burmandada before their three-year cold war.
Makes you wonder how they could tear themselves from each other's artistry.
Baharon Ki Mehfil Suhani Rahegi from Benazir (1964)
Benazir is one of SD's most under-rated scores with ageless classics as Husn Ki Baharen Liye and Alvida Jaan-E-Wafa.
My pick is this plaintive mujra rendered with profound grief by Lataji.
Suno Suno Meri Dukhbhari Dastan from Chhupa Rustam (1973)
Vijay Anand's Chhupa Rustam, starring Dev Anand and Hema Malini, flopped, but the music by Burmandada lingers in memory, especially this heartbreaking song of a damsel in distress.
Shyam Vaye Bine Shyam from Chaitali (1973)
One of the most beautiful songs from Lataji and Burmandada's repertoire is a Krishna birha bhajan to rival his son RD's Raina Beeti Jaye from Amar Prem.
Remarkably, this Hindi song was composed for a Bengali film.