S. D.

Burman
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Sachin Dev Burman

Background information
Native name
Also known
as
Burman da, Kumar Sachindra Dev
Barman, Sachin Karta, S. D. Burman
Born 1 October 1906
Comilla, Bengal Presidency,
(now Bangladesh)
Died 31 October 1975 (aged 69)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupations Composer, singer
Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 31 October 1975) was an Indian music composer. He was
one of the most well-renowned Bollywood music directors. S D Burman composed music for 100
movies, including Hindi andBengali films.
[citation needed]
Apart from being a versatile composer, he also
sang songs in the folk style of Tripura. His Son Rahul Dev Burman was also a music director.
S.D. Burman's compositions have been mainly sung to a large extent by the likes of Lata
Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar, Asha
Bhosle and Shamshad Begum. Mukesh and Talat Mahmood have also sung songs composed by
him. He also sang about 20 film songs.
Contents
[hide]
1 Background
2 Education
3 1930s
4 1940s
5 1950s
6 1960s
7 1970s
8 Relationship With Kishore Kumar
9 Cultural references
10 Filmography
11 Awards and recognitions
12 References
13 External links
Background[edit]


Sachin's abandoned house in Comilla
Burman was born on 1 October 1906, in Comilla, British India, now in Bangladesh to Rajkumari
Nirmala Devi, princess of Manipur and Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman, son of Maharaja
Ishanachandra Manikya Dev Burman, Maharaja of Tripura, (r. 18491862). His father was from the
royal family of Tripura while his mother was from the Manipuri-speaking Mantribari family of
Dhaleshwar Agrtala. Sachin was the youngest of the five sons of his parents, who had nine children
in all.
Education[edit]
Burman completed his BA from Comilla Victoria College and MA from Calcutta University
[1]
He
started his formal music education by training under the musician K. C. Dey from 1925 to 1930;
thereafter in 1932 he came under the tutelage ofBhismadev Chattopadhaya, who was only three
years his senior. This was followed by training from Kahifa Badal Khan,Sarangi player, and Ustad
Allauddin Khan.
[2]
Eventually he got K.C. Dey, Ustad Badal Khan and Allauddin Khan intoAgartala,
noted Bengal poet laureate, Kazi Nazrul Islam also spent time in their family home, Comilla House,
in Agartala and Comilla.
1930s[edit]
Burman started working as a radio singer on Calcutta Radio Station in 1932, where his early work
was based on Bengali folk-music, and soon made a reputation for himself in folk and light classical
music, consequently his film compositions were often influenced by his huge repertory of folk-tunes
from the Bengali, Bhatiali, Sari and Dhamail folk traditions of Bangladesh.His music also bore heavy
influences of Rabindra sangeet and Nazrul Geeti. In the same year, his first record was also
released (Hindustan Musical Product), with "Khamaj" semi classical, E Pathery Aaj Eso Priyo on one
side and the folk Dakle Kokil Roj Bihane on the reverse side" on 78 rpm for Hindustan Records.
[3]
In
the following decade he reached his peak as a singer, cutting as many as 131 songs in Bengali, and
also sang for composers like Himangsu Dutta, RC Boral, Nazrul Islam and Sailesh Das Gupta.
[4]

In 1934, he attended the All India Music Conference, at the invitation of Allahabad University, where
he presented his Bengali Thumri, all to an illustrious audience, with the likes of Vijaya Lakshmi
Pandit and the inimitable Abdul Karim Khan ofKirana Gharana. Later in the year, he was invited to
Bengal Music Conference, Kolkata, which was inaugurated byRabindranath Tagore, here again he
sang his thumri, and was awarded a Gold Medal.
[4]

He built a house, in Southend Park, Ballygunge, Kolkata, and in 1937, at the All India Music
Conference, Allahabad, he met a music student at Rabindranath Tagores Shantiniketan, Meera
Dasgupta (19232007), the granddaughter of J ustice Raibahadur Kamalnath Dasgupta from Dhaka;
soon she became his student and they married on 10 February 1938 in Calcutta,
[5][6]
though
according to some,having married a non-royal, created a furore within the royal family, and
subsequently he severed his ties with the family, and forfeited his inheritance.
[7][8]
According to some
others, S.D.Burman severed his ties with the royal family because he was frustrated with the unjust
and unfair treatment meted out to his father and his brothers by the royal family of Tripura.The
couple's only child, Rahul Dev Burman was born in 1939, and later, both Meera Devi and Rahul
assisted, S.D. Burman with some of the musical compositions.
[9][10]
S. D. Burman also did a singing
role in Urdu film Selima (1934) and another role in Dhiren Ganguli's film, Bidrohi (1935)
[2]

As a music composer, he started with Bengali plays, Sati Tirtha and Janani, and eventually gave his
first score in film,Rajgee in 1937, his second film Rajkumarer Nirbashan (1940) became a hit, there
was no turning back after that. He gave successful music in Bengali films like, Jevaan
Sangini, Protishodh (1941), Abhoyer Biye (1942), and Chaddobeshi (1944), he continued giving
music in Bengali cinema, even after he moved to Mumbai in 1944, and started the second inning of
his musical career, giving music for over 17 Bengali films in the all.
[4]

He made his film debut singing in Yahudi ki Ladki (1933) but the songs were scrapped and re-sung
by Pahari Sanyal. His first film as a singer was finally Sanjher Pidim (1935).
1940s[edit]
In 1944, Burman moved to Mumbai, at the request of Sasadhar Mukherjee of Filmistan, who asked
him to give score for twoAshok Kumar starrers, Shikari (1946) and Aath Din,
[11]
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 was his breakthrough song into the film industry. In 1949,
came Shabnam, his biggest hit yet with Filmistan, especially noticeable for its multi-lingual hit
songYeh Duniya Roop ki Chor, by Shamshad Begum, which became a rage in those days
[12]

1950s[edit]
Disillusioned with the materialism of Mumbai, Burman left the Ashok Kumar starred Mashaal (1950)
incomplete and decided to board the first train back to Calcutta. Fortunately, he was dissuaded from
doing so.
In 1950s, Burman teamed up with Dev Anand's Nav Ketan Productions to create musical hits
like Taxi Driver, Nau do Gyarah (1957) and Kala Paani(1958). In addition, he gave music
for Munimji (1955) and Paying Guest (1957). The songs sung byMohammed Rafi and Kishore
Kumar became popular. Burman da composed the music for Dev Anand's production
companyNavketan'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
melancholy songs and bhajans. While every song in the film was a hit, one stood out for special
appeal "Tadbir se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer", a ghazal that was occidentalised into a seductive song.The
'jaal' song 'Yeh raat Yeh chandni' by Hemant Kumar is an all time great classic.
He also wrote music for the 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),
and Solva Saal (1958) were other S. D. Burman hits. In 1959 came Sujata, a masterpiece by Bimal
Roy, and S. D. created magic again with "J alte hai jiske liye" by Talat Mamood.
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 Sitam. In 2004, the
soundtrack for Pyaasa was chosen as one of "The Best Music in Film" by Sight & Sound, theBritish
Film Institute magazine.
[13]

In 1957, S. D. Burman fell out with Lata Mangeshkar and adopted her younger sister 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, who became his daughter-in-law after she
married Rahul Dev Burman.
In 1958, S. D. Burman gave music for Kishore Kumar's house production Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, the
same year he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Music direction of Lajwanti and
remains the only music director to have won the prestigious award.
[14]

1960s[edit]
Early on in his career, Burman refused to allow his voice be lip-synced on film by actors,
[4]
as a
result, even later on, in Hindi cinema, his thin yet powerful voice was often used
as bardic commentary to haunting results, as in Ore Majhi Mere Sajan Hai Us
Paar Bandini (1963), Wahaan Kaun hai Tera from "Guide" (1965) and finally Safal Hogi Teri
Aradhana fromAradhana (1969),
[15]
for which he received the National Film Award for Best Male
Playback Singer for the year, 1970 .
Ill health caused a slump in his career in the early 1960s but he gave many hit films in late 1960s. In
1961, S. D. Burman andLata Mangeshkar came together during the recording of R.D. Burman's first
song for the movie Chhote Nawab (1961). They reconciled their differences and started working
again in 1962.
The Dev Anand-S. D. Burman partnership, under Navketan banner, continued to churn out musical
hits like Bombai Ka Baboo (1960), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Teen Devian (1965), Guide (1965)
and Jewel Thief (1967). In 1963, he composed songs for Meri Surat Teri Aankhen and Manna
Dey sang the song "Poocho Na Kaise Maine" in raga Ahir Bhairav. This song is based on a Bengali
composition by Kazi Nazrul Islam, Aruno-kaanti ke go jogi bhikaari, based on ragabhairavi (morning
ragaa). That movie also had a song, 'Nache Mann Mora Magan',sung by Rafi,which songs Sachin
Da's capability to compose classical songs.
Other S D Burman hits from this period were Bandini (1963) and Ziddi (1964). In Bandini,
Sampooran Singh (well known asGulzar), made his debut as a lyricist with the song "Mora Gora Ang
lai le, mohe shaam rang daai de", although other songs were written by Shailendra. Guide (1965)
starring Dev Anand, was probably the best
[citation needed]
of his work during the time with all the songs
super hit as well as the film; but unfortunately it did not receive the Filmfare Award in best music
director category for that year, which remained always a discussion among the Bollywood film
pandits.
Aradhana (1969) is considered a landmark score in the Bollywood history. The music of the movie
shaped the careers of singer Kishore Kumar, lyricist Anand Bakshi, filmmaker Shakti Samanta
and R.D. Burman (associate music director). For the song "Mere Sapno ki raani", Sachin Dev made
R.D play the mouth organ
[citation needed]
.Dev Anand and S. D. Burman continued their musical
partnership in Prem Pujari (1969).
S. D. Burman was a frank and outspoken man, with a strong sense of self-pride. He openly criticised
people whom he disliked or whose abilities he suspected (like the singer Mukesh).
[citation needed]
But he
was widely respected by the industry as a cranky genius.There was a time when Lata
Mangeshkar refused to sing duets with Mohammed Rafi due to a dispute arising from sharing of
royalty, and it was at the insistence of S. D. Burman, the two decided to reconcile, and again sing
duets together.
1970s[edit]
Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Sharmeelee (1971), Abhimaan (1973), Prem
Nagar (1974), Sagina (1974), Chupke Chupke(1975), and Mili (1975) are other classics from this
period.
S D Burman went into a coma soon after rehearsing the song Badi sooni sooni (sung by Kishore
Kumar) for the film Mili. He died on 31 October 1975 in Mumbai.
On 1 October 2007, marking his 101st birth anniversary, India postal department released a
commemorative postage stamp, in Agartala, where an exhibition on his life and work was also
inaugurated; the state government of Tripura, also confers the yearly, 'Sachin Dev Burman Memorial
Award' in Music
[16][17]

Relationship With Kishore Kumar[edit]
Sachin Da was the only composer who had used both Kishore and Rafi in almost equal number of
songs. He regarded Kishore as his second son. Kishore confessed that it was Sachin Da, who had
given him the first chance. Even after the rehearsal of Badi Sooni Sooni from Milli, when Sachin Da
had a stroke, Kishore went up to the hospital and said to him that "Dada, Please don't worry, your
recording is after three days, you just see how well it goes..", and the song is considered as one of
the best songs of Kishore Kumar. Sachin Da also used to telephone Kishore in the dead of night and
on the telephone, he would start to sing the new tunes which he composed and ask Kishore to sing
with him.
Cultural references[edit]
British singer of South Asian heritage, Najma Akhtar, recorded a Shanachie Records CD of
Burman's work, Forbidden Kiss: The Music of S.D. Burman, an album of covers of Burman
compositions.
The Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was named after the composer by Sachin's grandfather, who
was an ardent fan of Burman.
The singer and mimicry artist Sudesh Bhonsle frequently parodies the nasal high-pitched voice and
quixotic singing style of S. D. Burman.
Burman paired with tabla maestro late Brajen Biswas for his Bengali songs. The beats or 'thekas'
created by Brajen Babu for these songs are unique and no one in the world can sing these songs in
the original 'thekas'. All the thekas are according to the mood of the songs. But recently, painter,
sculptor and singer Ramita Bhaduri sang the tough songs of Burman like 'Ami chhinu aka',
'Rangeela', 'Aankhi Duti J hare' etc. in the original theka on the taleem of Brajen Biswas. The CD
from 'Raga Music' (Symphony) was released at Kolkata Press Club. The CDs are available in M.
Biswas & Symphony.
Burman had a unique style of composing film songs. While most of the composers used harmonium
or piano to compose the tune, he composed tunes using rhythm such as clapping hands. He was
very fond of "Paan" (Beetle leaf) and would not share the same with anybody.
[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]
Sudurer Priye (1935)
Rajgee (1937)
Jakher Dhan (1939)
Amar Geeti (1940)
Nari (1940)
Rajkumarer Nirbashan(1940)
Pratishodh (1941)
Ashok (1942)
Avayer Biye (1942)
Jibon Sangini (1942)
Mahakavi Kalidas (1942)
Milan (1942)
Jajsaheber Nathni (1943)
Chhadmabeshi (1944)
Maatir Ghar (1944)
Pratikar (1944)
Kalankini (1945)
Matrihara (1946)
Eight Days (1946)
Shikari (1946)
Dil Ki Rani (1947)
Do Bhai (1947)
Chittor Vijay (1947)
Vidya (1948)
Shabnam (1949)
Kamal (1949)
Mashaal / Samar (In Bengali) (1950)
Afsar (1950) (Navketan's first production)
Pyar (1950)
Buzdil (1951)
Sazaa (1951)
Naujawan (1951)
Baazi (1951)
Bahar (1951)
Ek Nazar (1951)
Jaal (1952)
Lal Kunwar (1952)
Armaan (1953)
Shahenshah (1953)
Babla (1953)
Jeevan Jyoti (1953)
Taxi Driver (1954)
Angaarey (1954)
Radha Krishna (1954)
Chalis Baba Ek Chor(1954)
Devdas (1955)
Munimji (1955)
House No.44 (1955)
Society (1955)
Mad Bhare Nain (1955)
Funtoosh (1956)
Paying Guest (1957)
Pyaasa (1957)
Nau Do Gyarah (1957)
Miss India (1957)
Solva Saal (1958)
Lajwanti (1958)
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi(1958)
Kala Pani (1958)
Sitaron Se Aage (1958)
Sujata (1959)
Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)
Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)
Manzil (1960)
Kala Bazar (1960)
Bombai Ka Babu (1960)
Miyan Biwi Razi (1960)
Apna haath jagannath(1960)
Bewaqoof (1960)
Ek Ke Baad Ek (1960)
Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)
Dr.Vidya (1962)
Naughty Boy (1962)
Bandini (1963)
Meri Surat Teri Ankhen(1963)
Tere Ghar Ke Samne(1963)
Ziddi (1964)
Kaise Kahoon (1964)
Benazir (1964)
Teen Devian (1965)
Guide (1965)
Jewel Thief (1967)
Talash (1969)
Aradhana (1969)
Jyoti (1969)
Prem Pujari (1970)
Ishq Par Zor Nahin(1970)
Gambler (1971)
Naya Zamana (1971)
Sharmilee (1971)
Chaitali (Bengali Film)(1971)
Tere Mere Sapne (1971)
Yeh Gulistan Hamara(1972)
Zindagi Zindagi (1972)
Anuraag (1972)
Abhimaan (1973)
Jugnu (1973)
Chhupa Rustam (1973)
Phagun (1973)
Us Paar (1974)
Prem Nagar (1974)
Sagina (1974)
Chupke Chupke (1975)
Mili (1975)
Barood (1976)
Arjun Pandit (1976)
Tyaag (1976)
Deewangee (1976) only one song, remaining songs were composed byRavindra J ain
Aradhana (Bengali Film)(1976)
Saaz (Unreleased)