Sachin Dev Burman: Encyclopedia II - Sachin Dev Burman - Music career

Sachin Dev Burman - Music career

S D Burman composed music for 89 movies. Agneepath (1990) had an uncredited song composed by him - Nazar lagi raja tore bangle par from Kalapani (1958). He also sang as a playback singer for about five movies for which he composed music. He also sang for one of the songs of Amar Prem (1971), a film whose music was composed by his son, Rahul Dev Burman. S.D.Burman's compositions have been mainly sung to a large extent by the likes of Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Geeta Dutt (wife of Guru Dutt and a playback singer herself), Manna Dey, Shamshad Begum and Kishore Kumar. Mukesh and Asha Bhonsle have also sung songs composed by him. Like the Madan-Mohan/Lata numbers, a Lata/S.D. or a Rafi/S.D. composition remains unforgettable even to this day.

Sachin Dev Burman - 1930s

He made his film debut singing in Yahudi ki Ladki (1933) but the songs were scrapped and re-sung by Pahadi Sanyal. His first film as a singer was finally Sanjher Pidim (1935). He became a music director initially in Calcutta with Rajgee (1937). He moved to Bombay in 1944.

Sachin Dev Burman - 1940s

In Bombay, he began with Filmistan's Eight Days (1946) but his first major breakthrough came the following year with the company's Do Bhai (1947). The song Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya sung by Geeta Dutt is still remembered by Indian film music fans, and was her breakthrough song into the film industry.

Shabnam (1949) was his biggest hit with Filmistan with the multi-lingual song Yeh Duniya Roop ki Chor sung by Shamshad Begum becoming the rage of the day.

Sachin Dev Burman - 1950s

Disillusioned with the materialism of Bombay, S D Burman left the Ashok Kumar starrer Mashaal (1950) incomplete and decided to board the first train back to Calcutta. Fortunately, he was dissuaded from doing so.

In 1950s, S D Burman teamed up with Dev Anand's Nav Ketan Productions to create musical hits like Taxi Driver (1954), Munimji (1955), Paying Guest (1957), Nau Do Gyarah (1957) and Kalapani (1958). The songs sung by Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar became very popular. Burman da composed the music for Dev Anand's production company Navketan's first film Afsar (1950). With the success of their second film, Baazi (1951) he made it to the top and a long association with Navketan and Dev Anand was on its way. Baazi's jazzy musical score revealed a new facet of singer Geeta Dutt, who was mainly known for weepy, sad songs and bhajans. The sensuousness in her voice and the ease with which she went western was marvellous to behold. While every song in the film was a raging hit, one stood out for special appeal - Tadbir se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer, a ghazal that was occidentalized into a seductive song.

He also gave music for Guru Dutt classics - Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). The soundtrack of Devdas (1955) was also composed by him. House No. 44 (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Solva Saal (1958) and Sujata (1959) were other S D Burman hits. Burmanda could at once be a light and a serious in-depth composer. When Guru Dutt made comparatively light-weight films like Baazi and Jaal (1952), Burmanda reflected their mood with compositions like Suno Gajar Kya Gaye or De Bhi Chuke Hum and when Guru Dutt made his somber masterpieces - Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz ke Phool (1959), he was right on target with Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind and Waqt ne Kiya Kya Haseen Situm.

Burmanda's zest for life showed through his music. He was right there on the front bench to cheer his favourite football or hockey team. Such was his enthusiasm that he once offered music to go with a hockey match. The very name of his house 'The Jet' signified a composer who was up to date with the times.

In 1957, S D Burman fell out with Lata Mangeshkar and adopted Asha Bhosle as his lead female singer. The team of S D Burman, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri became popular for their duet songs. Thus, he was responsible along with O.P. Nayyar for shaping Asha Bhosle as a singer of repute.

In 1958, S D Burman gave music for Kishore Kumar's house production Chalti ka Naam Gaadi.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Music career", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki