Sachin Dev Burman was born on October 1, 1906, a scion of the royal family of Tripura—and a king in the world of Hindi film music. From his first major hit—Mera sundar sapna beet gaya (Do Bhai, 1947)—on, Burman made a name for himself with songs that ran the gamut from folk to Western, from hauntingly poignant to unbeatably seductive (remember Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam? Remember Kya ho phir jo din?) To celebrate Burman Da’s music, therefore, this post.
To narrow down my list of S D Burman favourites to a mere ten, I’ve had to resort to a few self-imposed restrictions. All of these songs are, as always, from the 50’s and 60’s, and from films that I’ve seen. In addition, they’re songs that don’t just sound good, but are wonderful in other ways too: songs that I value not just for the music, but also for the lyrics, the picturisation, the feel of the song. Enjoy!
These are in no particular order:
1. Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai (Pyaasa, 1957; Sung by: Mohammad Rafi; Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi): There are some songs that give me gooseflesh every time I listen to them. This is one. The cynicism of Sahir’s lyrics is palpable, and S D Burman’s music complements them perfectly. The song starts off very slow and soft (Rafi’s voice literally trails over the first few lines), then gradually gathers momentum, building up till the finale, when the dead-alive poet Vijay’s fury boils over in a thunderous denouncement of the world, with voice and music reaching a sudden peak.
2. Piya tose naina laage re (Guide, 1965; Sung by: Lata Mangeshkar and chorus; Lyrics: Shailendra): A very different song from the dark Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye, this one is lavish, a celebration of life and love that chronicles the rise to fame of the dancer Rosie/Nalini, and her simultaneously growing intimacy with Raju. Waheeda Rehman’s dancing is reason enough to admire this song; what I also like is that despite the length of the song—it’s over 8 minutes—it doesn’t get boring; Burman manages to introduce a slightly different touch in each stanza. The stanza about Holi, for instance, has a cute `squirty’ sound in the beginning very like pichkaaris! And the combination of tabla and paayals at various points is lovely. A feast for the eyes and the ears.
3. San san san woh chali hawa (Kaagaz ke Phool, 1959; Sung by: Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhonsle and chorus; Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi): Kaagaz ke Phool had one breathtaking song after another, and choosing just one was a problem. I’ve solved it by saving one of my favourites for another post, and putting the other one here. I adore the sheer joie de vivre of this song: Waheeda Rehman’s hair streaming in the wind, the papers flying, the happy crowd (including Mehmood in a cameo) in the truck in front—and the song, of course. I like how everything in San san san woh chali hawa comes together: the whistling, the chorus singing in parts (or ooh-ing and aah-ing), even the musical `screeching’ of tires at the start.
4. Raat akeli hai bujh gaye diye (Jewel Thief, 1967; Sung by: Asha Bhonsle; Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri): I so love this song. I love Tanuja’s sparkling eyes and her irrepressible vivacity. I love Asha’s voice and the way it flows seductively through low notes and then powerfully through very high notes, seemingly without any effort (S D Burman had apparently told her to sing the song “as if she were going to whisper in somebody’s ear, and then decided to shout instead”!) And I love the music: soft, slow and enticing, then rising into a joyful crescendo—before dropping into a whisper again.
5. Khwaab ho tum ya koi haqeeqat (Teen Deviyaan, 1965; Sung by: Kishore Kumar and chorus; Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri): Another film of fabulous songs, also starring Dev Anand—here as the pianist at a party, singing in praise of—whom? The ethereal Simi Grewal, or the pretty Kalpana?
This is a wonderful song, and I especially like the way it starts: Kishore’s voice is beautiful by itself, without any musical instruments to support it. After that, in sharp contrast to the beginning, the song is a rollicking, fast-paced but still romantic tune. And I love the piano notes between the stanzas!
6. O re maanjhi (Bandini, 1963; Sung by: S D Burman; Lyrics: Gulzar): This song is a gooseflesh-inducing one, with Sachin Da’s wonderfully nasal and somewhat ‘raw’ voice blending superbly with the sweet notes of a flute and the seemingly incongruous sounds of a train’s piercing whistle and the sonorous boom of a boat’s foghorn. Gulzar’s lyrics are very poignant, and the combined effect—music, voice, words, the chance meeting between two separated lovers, now destined for different paths—never fails to give me a lump in the throat.
7. O nigaah-e-mastaana (Paying Guest, 1957; Sung by: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle; Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri): Paying Guest had a superb score, and this is my favourite song of them all. It’s fabulous to look at, with a handsome Dev Anand serenading a gorgeous Nutan with a wonderful song, romantic and playful at the same time. The tune in the background is subdued, rippling and lilting until it swells in a way that’s almost mischievous in its change from gentle to swift. The words are all sung by Kishore, with Asha’s humming used at strategic points. Very nice. And do listen till the end: O nigaah-e-mastaana fades gently out on a glorious combination of whistling and humming.
8. Dil se milaake dil pyaar kijiye (Taxi Driver, 1954; Sung by: Lata Mangeshkar; Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi): His score for Taxi Driver won S D Burman the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. Though the most soulful—and well-known—of the film’s songs was Jaayein toh jaayein kahaan, I personally prefer the excellent `club’ songs featuring the stunning Sheila Ramani. This one is in a class by itself: a simple, uncluttered tune that stays true to its picturisation: the tiny ‘orchestra’ in this bar room consists of a piano, a guitar, a clarinet and maracas—and that’s just about all the music itself seems to comprise.
9. Chupke se mile pyaase-pyaase (Manzil, 1960; Sung by: Mohammad Rafi and Geeta Dutt; Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri): Not one of my favourite Dev Anand-Nutan films (I remember it as having an end I didn’t like), but with fantastic music—especially this romantic tune that combines humming, music, and vocals with sections half-recited, half-sung by Geeta. I love the way the two voices come together, then drift away, one humming while the other sings the words, and then blending back in again. Sublime.
10. Tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer bana le (Baazi, 1951; Sung by: Geeta Dutt; Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi): According to this informative site on Geeta Dutt, the singer listed this as one of her ten favourite songs from those she’d sung till 1957, when the list was compiled. It’s also the song that changed her from a singer (largely) of bhajans and classical tunes, to one who could handle Western tunes—a genre she was soon dominating. Not that Tadbeer se bigdi hui is strictly Western: the tabla and the general tone of the music is very Indian. But the guitar strummed between the stanzas? Genius. The combination: S D Burman’s music, Majrooh’s lyrics, Dev Anand, and the two Geetas—the luminous Geeta Bali onscreen, and her `voice’, Geeta Dutt (then Roy)—is unforgettably inspirational yet alluring.
Tags: Baazi, Bandini, Bollywood, Chupke se mile pyaase-pyaase, Dil se milaake dil pyaar kijiye, Guide, Hindi film music, Jewel Thief, Kaagaz ke Phool, Khwaab ho tum ya koi haqeeqat, Manzil, O nigaah-e-mastaana, O re maanjhi, Paying Guest, Piya tose naina laage re, Pyaasa, Raat akeli hai bujh gaye diye, S D Burman, Sachin Dev Burman, San san san woh chali hawa, Tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer bana le, Taxi Driver, Teen Deviyaan, Ten of my favourite S D Burman songs, Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai
October 1, 2009 at 4:53 am
What an incredible talent, and what an incredible list you have here! Love all the songs, the soundtracks to Pyaasa and Taxi Driver will forever be among my all-time favorites.
October 1, 2009 at 5:26 am
LOVE your post, and the whole list is “gooseflesh-inducing”. :-) I love all the songs on your list and pretty much everything from the SD Burman stable. (I would pick Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam rather than San san san woh chali from Kaagaz Ke Phool, though.)
SDB certainly was the King of Hindi film music – he composed for pretty much every mood and blended Western and Indian music so well (I think RD got that talent from his Dad!).
October 1, 2009 at 5:28 am
TheBollywoodFan: Making this list was very tough. S D Burman was really awesome – there are so many films for which he scored music that was uniformly superb. Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Paying Guest, Guide, Teen Deviyaan… brilliant. And that’s not counting some of the 1970’s films for which he composed, like Abhimaan or Tere Mere Sapne.
Bollyviewer: Yes, I’d have picked Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam too – but I’m saving it up for the Geeta Dutt post! That is one of her best songs, I think.
October 1, 2009 at 5:28 am
PS: The lady in the extreme right of the San san san woh chali hawa screencap looks like Mrs. Bennet of Trishna! Wonder if it IS the same actress…
October 1, 2009 at 5:33 am
I don’t remember who played Mrs Bennett in Trishna, unfortunately. But I have seen that actress in other films as well (she looks like Ratna, the woman who played Shyama’s sister in Barsaat ki Raat).
October 1, 2009 at 5:37 am
hahaha – you’ve obviously not seen each and every replay of Trishna on TV! Or perhaps it didnt make as deep an impression as it did on me! ;-)
October 1, 2009 at 5:43 am
Replays? When? Where??! I want to see! I loved Trishna (have been remembering it with great fondness recently, since I’ve just finished – ten minutes back – rereading Pride and Prejudice). And yesterday I rewatched the 1995 Colin Firth-Jennifer Ehle P&P. Was thinking how I like Trishna as an adaptation of P&P. Better than the 1940 Greer Garson-Laurence Olivier version, better than the 2005 one, and miles ahead of the Aishwarya Rai one (which anyway I thought was awful).
October 1, 2009 at 5:54 am
Well, it was repeated on DD afternoon telecast once, a couple of years after the original telecast – just when weekday afternoon telecast began on DD. And then perhaps once, on one of the newer channels (or was it DD again? not sure…) in the late 90s.
And I did love Bride And Prejudice inspite of its glaring problems – it was so masala-y and pretty! The Colin Firth one was pretty good too, inspite of him taking sudden leaps into watery-terrains and inspite of Elizabeth smiling waaaaay too much!
October 1, 2009 at 6:16 am
I must keep an eye open for Trishna!
Bride and Prejudice somehow just didn’t appeal to me. I don’t mind masala at all, but there was something (Aishwarya’s lack of acting ability?) that didn’t appeal to me. Am now trying to get hold of the 1980 TV series of Pride and Prejudice, starring David Rintoul and Elizabeth Garvie.
October 1, 2009 at 6:19 am
While so many of his compositions are of the “gooseflesh” variety, I have a cassette with all the songs he sung in his own voice and that is one album that is not for the faint-hearted or depressive!
I would not even attempt to start with a top 10 list for such a composer, but you are a brave woman memsaab!
October 1, 2009 at 6:20 am
sorrrry! i meant M___!!
October 1, 2009 at 6:58 am
Yes, S D Burman’s voice makes for some lovely songs – O re maanjhi, of course; also Allah megh de, Wahaan kaun hai tera and also Doli mein bithaaye ke kahaar (which, of course, was composed by R D Burman). His voice has an amazing poignancy to it – unforgettable.
Here, by the way, is another song in his voice – a Bangla tune that was the basis of Hum bekhudi mein tumko.
No problem about the ‘memsaab’! ;-) A slip of the tongue (or typing fingers?), as someone once told me, “is no fault of the mind, and those who remark it are rather unkind!”
October 1, 2009 at 11:28 am
S D Burman! Great composer! At times I don’t know whom I love more father or son. To hell with the comparative I love both!
All the songs are awesome.
Will send you my list if possible.
Just like Bollyviewer I also prefer Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam over San san san woh chali from Kaagaz Ke Phool.
Great list!
Thanks for reminding me of all these beautiful songs!
October 1, 2009 at 11:30 am
It WAS Ratna Bhushan, who played Mrs. Bennett in the TV-Serial. She is/was the Bharat Bhushan’s wife. She was a regular on Bombay DD plays.
October 1, 2009 at 11:54 am
I totally forgot he did the songs for Jewel thief, he came to my attention ever since i heard his masterpiece work for Aradhana, that is one film where i cherish each and every one of the songs. This one being one of my favourites
October 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm
SD’s music had a new improved sound when RD started assisting him in late 60s and early 70s (RD had made his debut till then, but despite his success with Teesri Manzil, he had few offers). Abhimaan had great songs, but not sure how much RD contributed to that. Aradhana obviously had the mark of RD’s orchestrization, and we all know the story of ‘roop tera mastaana’. A lot of people (including SD and you, M) asserted that the era of good music ended with 60s, but there’s a story about RD going against his dad when the latter said the same, for RD had just got started in the late 60s, and I still believe that SD himself gave a lot of great numbers in 70s only. In fact, I’m of the opinion that most of Rafi’s best songs are with SD and RD (quite contrary to the belief that RD brought about Rafi’s downfall) and these were in 70s and some in 80s with RD. Rafi actually became a new singer with ‘Tumne mujhe dekha’ (RD), ‘Maine poocha chaand se (RD, 80s)’, ‘Mera mann tera pyasa’ (SD), ‘Dil ka bhanwar kare pulaar’ (SD), ‘Diwana mujh sa nahi’ (RD), and many more such songs.
I also wish that SD and RD chould have worked as a team for longer than they did. But I dont agree with those people who assert that RD lost melody in 80s. He did Maasoom, Ghar, Sawere waali gaadi, Saagar, ijaazat, Rocky (for just that one number), Parichay, Golmaal, Khoobsoorat (for piya baawari), Jeeva, Samandar (aye saagar ki lehro), and many more. He was the only great composer in the 80s, while Rajesh Roshan, Jaidev, Khayyam also kept bringing something great during the period. Again, I think Khayyam and Jaidev gave their best in 80s only (Umaro Jaan, Razia Sultan, Baazar, Gharonda, etc.).
Yes, music did die in late 80s (87 onwards when Pancham was literally begging for work. And people were so happy with the Laxmi-Pyare crap (Karma, Ram Lakhan, Tezaab, Khalnayak, and stuff. It was just Karz and Hero that was good, but nowhere comparable to RD. Way of the world!)
Someone rihgtly noted that while SD did all his struggle in the initial part of his career (he once returned to kalcutta and then had to be brought back), on the other hand RD did his struggle in his last years (but still cant believe that he had to beg for work, and still didnt get it! He almost successfully begged Subhasg Ghai for Ram Lakhan and Nassir Hussain for QSQT, only to be kicked out later. Hmmm…. way of the world! But doesnt matter. I believe RD was sometimes much more better than even his dad, forget about the other lesser mortals!
Please excuse the verbal diarrhea :) I tend to have too many things all coming up together to my mind, sometimes a new one almost knocking the existing one out of the queue:)
October 1, 2009 at 12:59 pm
harvey: I didn’t know Ratna was Bharat Bhushan’s wife! Now I have to watch Barsaat ki Raat again. :-)
bollywooddeewana: Yes, Aradhana had some great music too – I especially love Gunguna rahe hain bhanwre, and the song in S D Burman’s own voice – Safal hogi teri aradhana.
The Count: I don’t actually assert that the era of good music ended with the 60’s, it’s just that I think the era of films that really appeal to me ended about then! ;-) Not that I don’t find good films after that, or even good music – I agree with a lot of the films you’ve suggested as having excellent music, both in the 70’s and the 80’s. The proportion of films with good songs had dipped by the late 70’s and the 80’s (I dare not yet talk of the 90’s!), and even then the number of songs in a film that were really worth listening to were far less than earlier… I can count on my fingertips films from the late 70’s or 80’s where I thought each song was amazing (Chhoti si Baat and Umrao Jaan come to mind). There were plenty of films with passable and even good music, but few songs that I can listen to again and again. Sad.
October 1, 2009 at 3:33 pm
What is this Trishna you speak of?! I must see it! I have often mourned the lack of Jane Austen remakes in Hindi cinema (Bride and Prejudice doesn’t count, it is too abysmal). The only Trishna I can find is a Shashi one (Shashi as Darcy? Would ROCK!) but the plot described of that film doesn’t sound much like P&P?
Please do tell!
October 1, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Trishna, if I remember right, was a TV serial based on Pride and Prejudice in the late 80s.
lots of beautiful people!
Kitu Gidwani played the elder sister.
I can’t remember who the other actresses were except for Ratna Bhushan.
October 1, 2009 at 3:56 pm
memsaab: harvey’s right about the Trishna I’m referring to – this was a TV serial in the late 80’s, and (in my opinion) a very good adaptation of Pride and Prejudice – it managed to translate the ethos of the original into an Indian milieu very effectively. I remember Tarun Dhanrajgir acting as the Darcy character – he looked awesome! ;-)
Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get hold of copies of any of the 80’s TV serials (there were some excellent ones back then), other than a few of the comic ones, most of which can be viewed on youtube. Trishna is one which I’d love to lay my hands on!
October 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm
This is a fantastic post dustedoff!!!
Not only because it is quite a major undertaking, but also for choosing some of the best from the cream. Congratulations on both counts. :-)
I especially love the songs sung by SD Burman himself. Such a plaintive voice.
Talking about P&P.
I bought a boxset of all the 6 adaptations by BBC of the 80s/late 70s, but can’t seem to find any now. Most can be bought separately though from amazon. Here’s a link to amazon.uk for the 1980 P&P
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pride-Prejudice-Dutch-Elizabeth-Garvie/dp/B001A7M8L6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1254424131&sr=1-6
I like this equally if not more, than the 1995. David Rintoul makes a noble looking, handsome proud Darcy with his high cheekboned face as compared to the chubby one of Colin’s ;-)
For me Elizabeth Garvie is the definitive Elizabeth Bennet. I love it inspite of its dated look, and theatrical ways (I love theatre)
October 1, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Harvey, I didnt know she was Ratna Bhushan and Bharat Bhushan’s wife! I just remember her from Trishna and have seen her here and there in some old films. As to the cast of Trishna, the younger characters were all played by models. I’ve forgotten the name of the actress who played Jane (she played older sis to Suchitra Krishnamoorthy in a Haseena Moin serial on Star TV a few years later), but Elizabeth was played by Sangeeta Handa and Kitu Gidwani was Lydia. It was the first Jane Austen adaptation I’d ever seen and as you can see, it made a BIG impact! :-D
Sorry for the long tangent, Dustedoff! More on topic, I must say that I much prefer 50s and 60s music, probably because the songs had better lyrics, and also because I think all the major singers werent all that young and dynamic by the 70s. Kishore, for example, was sooooo much better pre-Aradhana. Looking back at Kishore songs that I love, I think he got his best 50s and 60s stuff with SD Burman. From Jeevan ke safar mein rahi, Hum hain rahi pyar ke, Mana janaab ne pukara nahin, O nigaahen mastana, Khwaab ho tum ya to the songs of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi – all were with SDB and usually for Dev Anand! Sometimes I feel like SD gave the best songs to Kishore and not Rafi. I think the latter had much better songs with Roshan, Ravi, Naushad and OP Nayyar.
October 2, 2009 at 9:05 am
pacifist: Thank you for that link! I am currently seeing the 1980 Pride and Prejudice, and I agree that Elizabeth Garvie makes for a very convincing Eliza Bennet – better than Jennifer Ehle, I think. Somehow, though, I find Colin Firth the best Mr Darcy there is! David Rintoul’s a bit stiff and his hair looks like a wig – which it probably was. ;-)
bollyviewer: I do wish I could find Trishna somewhere – DVD, VCD, whatever! Unfortunately, the only TV series I’ve seen in shops are Malgudi Days and Mirza Ghalib, and the mythological serials… none of the good romances. Sniff!
More on the topic at hand, I agree that some of the best music in Hindi cinema is from the 40’s through the 60’s, but I don’t agree that good music went completely out after that. I think the 70’s had some great music too, though the number of songs from that period – and beyond – that I like are significantly fewer. Here’s a comparison: on my laptop, I have music folders for old Hindi songs, divided by era. The 50’s and 60’s folder has 346 songs. The 70’s folder has 76 songs. Hah!
And yes, Kishore did have some awesome songs with S D Burman – all those lovely ones, especially, that are picturised on Dev Anand. Superb!
October 2, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@ bollyviewer: yeah, now I remember! Kitu Gidwani was Lydia. Kitu Gidwani was so beautiful. Was nice to see her in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na after so many years, although her role was gloomy! Remember her in that awful serial Air Hostess. I think they aired only six episodes of it and then ….
But there were sure some more serials, in which she acted.
A good adaption of an english novel (Little Women), which I fondly remember was Kachchi Dhoop by Amol Palekar, with Bhagyashree, Ashutosh Gowariker and Palekar’s daughter and Bharati Achrekar.
October 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Love love the post :-) and love SD who was amazing until he died. What a great list you’ve put together.
Here are a couple of absolutely lovely numbers IMO from “Tyaag” which he probably composed for around 72-74 though it had a very delayed release around 76-77.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIGmDEktByU
October 2, 2009 at 1:48 pm
What a wonderful post! I share your love for SDB and all the songs you’ve listed. “Piya tose naina lagey re” is my 4-year old little boy’s favorite song. He’s being brought up properly.8-D
Let me point out one lesser heard but absolutely divine song, “chanda ki chandini ka jadoo” from Sitaron Se Aagey(an Ashok Kumar starrer for all you Dada Moni lovers).
October 2, 2009 at 2:48 pm
harvey: I remember the name Kachchi Dhoop, but somehow am just not able to recall anything of the serial itself. I did love all those delightful old serials they showed way back in the 80’s and 90’s, though – even the very Mills & Boon types like Farmaan or Kashish! I wish Doordarshan would put them on the retail market…
Suhan: Thank you – and thank you also for introducing me to that lovely song! Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore look so beautiful together. I thought I’d seen all their films together, but it’s good to discover another! From the way she looks, I’d think this was probably shot even earlier than 1972 or so.
Shalini: You are a very good mother!! A 4-year old whose favourite song is Piya tose naina laage re is definitely being brought up very right! Well done. ;-)
Thank you for that song – there’s something so languorously romantic about it. Very S D Burman, I think, and it reminded me of another awesome song, Sochke yeh gagan jhoome, from Jyoti… and a little research showed that S D Burman was the composer for that too!
If I’d seen Jyoti, I’d probably have listed that song in my top ten; on the other hand, if I’d seen Mashaal, I’d probably have listed the stunning Upar gagan vishaal. There are just so many superb SDB songs out there!
P.S. Have just realised that the person who posted Sochke yeh gagan jhoome on youtube is an srazdan – Shalini, is that you, by any chance? :-)
October 2, 2009 at 3:44 pm
DD :-) There were two songs there, the better one being “Mann Pukare”–lovely composition. Here’s the link to it again.
October 2, 2009 at 6:04 pm
@dustedoff: [David Rintoul’s a bit stiff and his hair looks like a wig – which it probably was. ;-)
Awwww! Why would you say that?
I know he’s quite bald now, but 29 years ago at about 30 years of age he must have had a head of hair :-)
Here’s a picture of him with his hairstyle a replica of the style he sported in the 80’s version. The thinning hair speaks for its authenticity then (I think, I may be wrong though) and much later when that photo was taken.
http://www.aboutaberdeen.com/david-rintoul.gif
A great SD Burman song
October 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I had forgotten all about Sujata! Thanks for the reminder, pacifist. I love LOVE, Jalte hain jiske liye and the rest of the songs, too.
Shalini, Sitaron Se Aage has been on my to-find list for Dada Mani. I saw it years ago (on DD) and all I can remember is my disappointment at not finding the Lata song Kahan le chale ho bata do musafir, sitaron ke aage yeh kaisa jahan hai, in the film!
Dustedoff, Kachchi Dhoop is up on Rajshri, if you want to check it out. I found that it didnt quite live up to my memories (I remember going to watch Maine Pyar Kiya because I loved Bhagyashree so much in her role in the series) – some TV serials just dont! And I would love to see Farmaan and Kashish too (was the latter the one with Malvika Tiwari as an actress and Sudesh Beri as a director?) – even though they were so Mills and Boon-ish.
October 2, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Loved this as usual, what with the Burmans being my favorite Music Directors & Dev Anand being my favorite Bollywood hero. I could add several DA songs, but I am sure that most if not all readers here know them anyway. Nevetheless, I shall add one —
Phoolon Ke Rang Se, from Prem Pujari
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4iYbxFBZKQ
The song; lyrics, music, & singing; are great, but the picturization could have been better. This was DA’s first film as a director, and although he selected a great locale (Switzerland, Meiringen to Grimsel Pass); he kept the focus on himself a little too long.
A complete list of S.D. Burman songs can be found here
http://www.sdburman.net/website/Anthology/Anthology_sd.html
Thanks for a wonderful list.
October 3, 2009 at 8:46 am
Suhan: Now I have to get hold of Tyaag! Lovely song. Thank you :-)
pacifist: He actually looks better in that photo of his, thinning hair and all! I think as a wig goes, the one in P&P was bad – they were probably trying to achieve the slightly windblown look, but it didn’t quite make it. Colin Firth’s hair was his own – the men on the cast for the 1995 P&P had supposedly been told to let their hair grow longer than usual before shooting was to start, so they’d get a more 19th century look without trying too hard. I’ve also just discovered another rather dishy Darcy: Elliot Cowan, who acts the part in the P&P-centred time travel series Lost in Austen:
And yes, thank you for that song from Sujata – it had some lovely songs too (and one of my favourite lullabies).
bollyviewer: Yes, Kashish was the one with Malvika Tiwari and Sudesh Beri – enjoyable serial, even though it was pretty standard romance novel fare! The same goes for Farmaan – I thought Kanwaljeet pulled off the arrogant hero bit pretty well in that.
Hmmm… if I can find the time, I just might check out Kachchi Dhoop on Rajshri. Would like to at least see what it was; I’ll probably remember it if I see a couple of episodes.
Samir: I love Phoolon ke rang se. Really nice music, and the lyrics are wonderful too! I wish the film had been better – somehow I found Prem Pujari to be rather disjointed and with plot holes in places.
October 4, 2009 at 8:06 pm
@dustedoff – Guilty as charged. :-)
@bollyviewer – I think I have Sitaron Se Aagey somewhere on videotape. Shall try to find it for you.
October 5, 2009 at 5:18 am
Shalini, thank you for uploading that song – it is so absolutely lovely! :-)
October 12, 2009 at 11:16 am
Love this… because I don’t know most of the songs (or a lot about SD Burman’s work in general), and now I can really get stuck in. I adore ‘Piya Tose’ – beautiful song and picturisation.
October 16, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Isn’t it a gorgeous song? I usually get impatient pretty soon with songs, no matter how good… but Piya tose, despite being so long, manages to keep me hooked right till the end.
November 3, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Thanks for sharing your list. I’m from a much younger generation, and had never been exposed to the music of this era.
November 4, 2009 at 5:31 am
Unfortunately, S D Burman was past his prime by the time I was old enough to appreciate his music – which is why I’m grateful to my parents (especially my father) who’s a fan of old Hindi film music, and used to play songs from the golden oldies a lot!