Rahul Dev Burman, popularly known as RD Burman was born on 27th June in 1939. Also fondly known as Pancham Da, the legendary music composer and singer gave Indian Cinema some of its best creations with albums like Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Amar Prem, 1942: A Love Story, and so many more. He was simply a genius who is credited to have introduced new arrangements from world music into Hindi songs.
Although the masses are well acquainted with the work and achievements of Pancham Da, there are some lesser-known facts about his life that are quite interesting. On the occasion of RD Burman’s 79th Birth Anniversary, here are some interesting facts about the legend:
1. RD Burman also created Latin American Album:
Usually, known for his Bollywood songs, the composer also created a Latin American Rock Album named Pantera which was released in 1987. In this album, Burman combined Latin American music with elements of rock and jazz. Although the album didn’t receive a great response in India, he used the theme music in the song Rang Rangeeli Raat from Gardish (1993) which worked out well.
2. He wrote an English Song that was used in Deewar
Deewar was a huge hit in India but not many people know that in one of its scenes where Amitabh Bachchan and Parveen Babi are seen sitting in a bar, an English song plays in the background. This song ‘I am falling in love with a stranger’ was penned down by Pancham Da.
3. He could make music out of anything
As per the book, written by film Journalist Chaitanya Padukone dedicated to RD Burman, in the song ‘Raat Gayi Baat Gayi’, from the film Darling Darling (1977), there is a beat at 2:22 which doesn’t resemble with any musical instrument. This beat was created by Burman on the bare back of one of his percussionist. It was okayed in just one take and was later used in the song.
4. He could create music in his dreams
RD Burman claimed that he composed the entire song Kancha Re Kancha Re entirely in his dream. As per the journalist Chaitanya Padukone, Burman often used to get up in the middle of an interview and tell his arranger about the kind of music to be used in a song.
5. Dev Anand Refused to include the full song by Burman in the movie
RD Burman’s songs used to have such an impact on the audience that often his songs outperformed the movie itself. As a result, when he composed the song Dum Maro Dum for Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Dev Anand refused to include the full song in the film fearing that it would overpower the film. Even today after so many years, you may listen to the remix created in 2011 once or twice but the original still remains priceless.
