Bolly Songs & Movies: S D Burman

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50 Years of Navketan's 'Tere Mere Sapne'

Recall the song “Hey, Maine Kasam Li” where the hero Dev Anand on a Bicycle and the heroine Mumtaz sitting on the crossbar riding across green fields singing the song with very little action and lots of cuddling. What a picturization.

Tere Mere Sapne is one of my favorite movies. It has substance. Commercially, it did not do very well at the box office but I believe it is one of the most sensitive Bollywood movies by Goldie Vijay Anand. He also acted in this film, he plays a doctor and gave a memorable performance.

The film is based on the novel “The Citadel” by A.J.Cronin, published in 1937 in UK. based on his own experiences as a doctor. Dedicated to the medical community, the film starts off with a young, idealistic MBBS doctor Anand Kumar (Dev Anand) moving to a village near a coal mine. He attains his degree in medicine and re-locates to a small village to assist the local doctors there. Upon arrival, he is met by the ailing Dr. Prasad and his wife, and hired on a salary of Rs.250/- per month. He meets with the other doctors namely Dr. Kothari (Vijay Anand), an alcoholic, and Dr. Bhutani, a dentist. Anand finds that he is saddled with all of Kothari's work as well his own due to the reason that Kothari is drunk every night. He nevertheless carries on, aided by the local school-teacher, Nisha Patel(Mumtaz), who he eventually marries. Then one day a proud father, Phoolchand, gives a baksheesh to Anand for the safe delivery of his first-born. This does not auger well with Mrs. Prasad and she fires Anand. Anand and Nisha re-locate to Bombay, and after sometime Anand establishes himself as a leading doctor, is honored for his thesis, and gets to be the personal doctor of a leading Bollywood actress Maltimala. When Dr. Kothari and Dr. Bhutani go to visit them, they find while Nisha is still the same good-natured woman, who is expecting a child, Dr. Anand is a changed individual, who has no time for friends, personal life, or even his wife, and is not even aware that she is pregnant. The two return home disappointed, followed by Nisha, who has decided to separate from Anand.

There are many beautiful songs and several great dances featuring Hema Malini. Vijay Anand’s direction keeps things moving along at a good pace. There are so many wonderful characters in this film too. Mumtaz gave a stunning performance. Music by S D Burman and lyrics by Neeraj is superb.

Song	Singers	Picturised on
"Phurr Ud Chala"	Asha Bhosle	Hema Malini
"Mera Saajan Phool Kanwal Ka"	Asha Bhosle	Jayshree T.
"Jaisa Radha Ne Mala Japi"	Lata Mangeshkar	Mumtaz, Dev Anand
"Ae Maine Kasam Li"	Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar	Mumtaz, Dev Anand
"Jeevan Ki Bagiya Mehkengi"	Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar	Mumtaz, Dev Anand
"Tha Thai Thatha Thai"	Asha Bhosle, Chorus	Hema Malini
"Mera Antar Ek Mandir Hai Tera"	Lata Mangeshkar	Mumtaz
"Zamaane Dhat Tere Ki"	Manna Dey	Agha

Song of Tere Mere Sapne 1971

'Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina'- The Song based on Rabindra Sangeet

This Classic song from the 1973 film Abhiman was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by S D Burman was influenced by the song 'Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki 'of Rabindra Tagore. Over the years, the original Song Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki has been performed by various artists – Kishore Kumar, Shaan, Anwesha, Shrabani Sen, Shreya Ghoshal, Hemant Kumar, and many more. While I was researching for this song, I found a very rare version sung by the great K L (Kundan Lal) Saigal.

This song appears when the movie reaches its climax when the couple Subir (Amitabh) and Uma (Jaya -Bhaduri) get separated, Uma has a miscarriage, and finally they, fortunately, reunite – what an emotional reunion celebrated with this beauty of a song “Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina” rendered in public by both.

Though this song was influenced by Rabindra Tagore, S D Burman gave his magical touch to the original tune made this song immortal. We must also appreciate Mazrooh Sultanpuri to give lyrics for the wonderful tune. He was awarded the Filmfare Award as Best Lyricist. S D Burman was awarded the Best Music Director.

If you listen to all the versions of 'Jodi Tare Nai' you will find how beautifully the Abhiman song was composed. The song starts with a hmmm. by Kishore Kumar, a divine hmmm unmatchable. The song is a duet of Kishore and Lata Mangeshkar, one of the immortal duets of both.

This tune was again used in the 1985 film Jhoothi's song set in Rupak Taal (that's the name for the beats on the Tabla). Bappi Lahiri has set his Chanda Dekhe Chanda from Jhoothi.

Song of Abhiman 1973

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by Kishore Kumar

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by Hemant Kumar

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by K L Saigal

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by Shaan

Song of Jhoothi 1985

50 Years of Sharmilee

Sharmilee was released on 23rd March 1971. The film was a hit with hit music given by S D Burman and lyrics by Neeraj. Shashi Kapoor was the hero and Rakhi was in a double role, one a shy mellow young woman, and the other a spontaneous extrovert.

The film was based on a novel of Gulshan Nanda, who was a very popular Hindi novelist of that time, almost all the films based on his novels were successful. The film was produced by Subodh Mukherjee and directed by Sameer Ganguly

It's the story of twin sisters - Kanchan and Kaamini, Kaamini is an extrovert, and the ultramodern girl whom any boy may fall for whereas, on the contrary, Kanchan is a shy girl who speaks very less and is hesitant to interact with strangers.

Shashi Kapoor, the prospective groom and his family members come to see Kanchan decide on a matrimonial alliance, Shashi Kapoor who met Kamini once misunderstood Kanchan as Kamini , he agreed to the proposal.

When he came to know of the fact it's Kaamini whom he had met and got smitten by, he refuses to marry Kanchan. Kaamini who was earlier ready to marry Shashi Kapoor who was an army officer flees away from her house on the D-Day and it is known after some time that her car met with an accident. Though her dead body is not found, there's enough evidence that she is no more. Now to save the prestige of the family, the parents of the sisters marry Kanchan to Ajit. Though Kanchan tells this fact to Ajit in a letter prior to the marriage, Ajit remains unaware of it because that letter is not allowed to reach him. He marries Kanchan mistaking her for Kaamini and comes to know the truth on their first conjugal night. Feeling betrayed and heartbroken, he returns to the army base, leaving a weeping Kanchan behind.

One fine day Ajit ( Shashi Kapoor) was assigned the responsibility by his superior to catch some traitors spying for the enemy country. These traitors include a young female also and Ajit is shocked like anything to find that her face is the same as that of his sweetheart. Who is she - Kanchan or Kaamini ?

Shashi Kapoor and Raakhee have done brilliantly in lead roles. Raakhee deserves special mention for her superb performance in the twin roles which are polar apart from each other.

The highlight of the film is its music The film has 7 songs, Khilte Hain Gul Yahaan is the most popular song sung separately by both Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar for Shashi Kapoor and Raakhee respectively. Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat (Lata singing beautifully in the classical Raag - Madhuranjani), Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaaye Re Mera Mann (Lata-Kishore), Reshmi Ujaala Hai Makhmali Andhera Hai (Asha Bhosle), Kaise Kahen Hum Pyar Ne Humko Kya Kya Khel Dikhaaye (Kishore) and the title track (O Meri Sharmilee) sung again by Kishore Da; all are quality songs

#	Title	Singer(s)
1	"Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat"	Lata Mangeshkar
2	"Reshmi Ujala Hai Makhmali Andhera"	Asha Bhosle
3	"Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaye Re"	Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
4	"Kaise Kahen Ham"	Kishore Kumar
5	"Khilte Hain Gul Yahan" (Male)	Kishore Kumar
6	"O Meri Sharmilee"	Kishore Kumar
7	"Khilte Hain Gul Yahan" (Female)	Lata Mangeshka

Song of Sharmilee 1971

Phaili Hui Hai Sapnon Ki Bahen- The Song Takes You In Different World

This song from House No 44 is a gem polished by three genius music greats of the Golden Era of Bollywood. The lyrics are one of the finest of Sahir Ludhiyanvi.The music composed by SD Burman and the song sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Picturized on Kalpna Kartik

If you close your eyes and listen to this song with concentration, you will find yourself in a different world. You go into a trance The song takes you for a quick look at the world over the rainbow. The lyrics of this song is marvellous. Every single line of the song is inspirational and stirring.

There is a story behind this song that all the three creators of this song wanted to be paid one rupee more than each other just to justify with their ego, however, they created a gem for us to relax and enjoy. We should also appreciate the director of the film Raj Khosla, how beautifully the song was picturized.

Kalpana Kartik – the heroine of the film stands in front of a mirror and start imagining. Swinging and dancing around tall and picturesque trees surrounded with mist …..The scene is breathtaking.

S D Burman composed this song in Raga Shuddha Kalyan, this raga is a combination of raga Bhopali and raga Yaman. This raga is used by very intelligent musicians as this raga is aesthetically challenging with melodic subtleties. Dada Burman used this raga again in the 1957 film Paying Guest in the song 'Chand Fir Nikala'

Song of House No 44

Jaidev- He was Initially Signed for Guide

Jaidev was a disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, who took Jaidev as his music assistant when he composed music for Navketan's “Aandhiyan” and “Hum Safar”. After that, he became the assistant of S D Burman, he assisted him in almost all the Navketan films till Guide. In fact, he worked as his assistant even becoming an independent composer with Chetan Anand's Joru Ka Bhai(1955) and Chetan Anand's next Anjali(1957).

Hum Dono(1961) was the first film he worked for Navketan as an independent composer. After Hum Dono’s success, a promise was made by Dev Anand that every alternate film of Navketan will have music by SD Burman and Jaidev. Accordingly, SD Burman was entrusted the baton of “Kala Bazaar” and Jaidev ‘signed’ for the music of “Guide” for which he is believed to have composed a couple of tunes too (‘Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hain’, and ‘Din dhal jaaye haye raat na jaaye); however, the film was made and released finally with music by S D Burman, his career-best.

Probably, for the first time, Jaidev felt exploited and stifled at Navketan and “Guide” marked the end of his long and fruitful musical association with both Dev Anand and SD Burman. Navketan, too, never called him back, which was the unkindest cut of all. Though the hurt feeling lurked in his mind for long, his respect and reverence for SD Burman remained the same till his last. Besieged by a chain of misfortunes, Jaidev made “Jo kho gaya main usko bhulata chala gaya” the mantra of his life with his spiritual character to ‘guide’ him.

It is said that Dev Anand insisted Jaidev to work as S.D. Burman’s assistant in Guide but he didn't. Jaidev was never again invited by Navketan to compose songs. Dev Anand used both the Jaidev songs in his film Guide. It is said that those two songs were ‘Din Dhal Jaaye Haye Raat Na Jaye’ and ‘Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hai’ sung by Mohammad Rafi. Being cast out of Guide was a very big setback in Jaidev’s film music career. He never really recovered from the shock. Jaidev used to frequently narrate such incidents to his friends, wracked by inconsolable grief.

Jaidev had a unique capability to mix traditional and folk music into Hindi film situations, giving him a unique advantage to other music directors of his times. He is also known for his non-film album of the couplets of Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan's classic work Madhushala set to music and sung by singer Manna Dey.

Jaidev never married. He remained close to his sister's family who later settled in the United Kingdom. He died on 6 January 1987 at the age of 68. His last work was for the television series Ramayan.

Song of Hum Dono 1961

'Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aayein'- The Tune Clicked in a Restaurant

This immortal song from 'Naujawan' film created waves in 1951 continued to mesmerize music lovers and creators for decades. Music Director Roshan used the same tune in the song Rahein Na Rahe Hum from Mamta (1966). R D Burman used the same tune in the song 'Saagar Kinare Dil Yeh Pukare' from Ramesh Sippy's Saagar (1985).

The birth of this song is quite interesting. Sachin Dev Burman, the composer of this film made one tune which was not liked by Director Mahesh Kaul, Sachin Da made one tune after another but none of the tunes clicked to the director. Dada got irritated and moved out of that place and went for a walk at Juhu Beach. He kept humming one tune after another but was not getting satisfaction.

After walking for a bit, he decided to have a break, he went to a restaurant for a cup of tea. When he was sipping the tea, he suddenly heard a tune on a Piano,' Sa-Re-Sa-Sa-Pa'. it clicked to him, he immediately went to the Piano to see who is playing. He saw a waiter at that Restaurant was playing the Piano and keeping on repeating the same keys.

He immediately went to his home and improvised the tune. Next day he called the director of the film to his workplace and presented the new tune. Mahesh Kaul liked and approved the song. This is how an immortal tune was created.

The song became a great hit and remains one of Lata’s and S D Burman's career bests. This song is picturized on Nalini Jaywant.

Song of Naujawan' 1951

Over the years, many composers used the first few notes and made minor changes to them to compose many more mellifluous songs each of which was popular in its own right.

Roshan (father of Rajesh & Rakesh Roshan) who was so inspired by the music of the song that he formally requested S D Burman’s permission to recreate the tune and use it for the initial part of his composition Tera Dil Kahaan Hai which was sung by Asha Bhosle for the movie “Chandni Chowk” in 1954 with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Song of Chandni Chowk 1954

Roshan used it again in 1966 for the movie “Mamta”. Picturised on the beautiful Suchitra Sen and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Rahe Na Rahe Hum had two versions. The more popular version was sung by Lata Mangeshkar

Song of Mamta 1966

Ten years later in 1964, legendary Madan Mohan used the same few notes for the initial lines of the composition Yehi Hai Tamanna Tere Dar Ke Saamne sung by Mohammed Rafi and penned by Raja Mehndi Ali Khan for the Dharmendra-starrer “Aap Ki Parchchaiyan”.

Song of Aap Ki Parchchaiyan 1964

In 1983 R D Burman used this tune for Hame Aur Jeene Ki Chaahat with lyrics by Gulshan Bawra in the Rajesh Khanna, Raj Babbar and Rekha-starrer “Agar Tum Na Hote”.

Song of Agar Tum Na Hote 1983

Two years later Pancham used the same tune for Saagar(1985) song

Song of Saagar 1985

S D Burman- He believed in simple Tunes

Shikari(1946) was the first Hindi film of Dada Burman as a composer. The songs of the film were not very popular but they received good reviews from music critics. He wanted to create music that would be part of the common man's everyday life, his joy, and sorrow.

In his biography, he said "When I was composing the music of Shikari, everybody in the studio was praising its music but he was not satisfied because the common man present in the studio was not responding. Sometime after the release of his film, another film "Rattan" was released. The songs of that film became so popular that one day he was composing music for another film he heard his servant was singing the song of Rattan while preparing tea for him.

It made him think that day in day out he listens to my compositions but I have never heard him humming my tunes. I made up in my mind that from now onwards I will make a simple tune for his songs so that a common man could sing and understand.

I was composing the songs for Do Bhai whose first line was 'Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gata'. Suddenly i heard my servant humming the same song. It made me realized that this song is going to click with the masses. My first Guru in the film music direction was that servant of mine.

He combined Indian classical music with folk music to create songs that had a lasting impact on the audience. He also started a trend of making a tune first and then ask lyricists to write on his tune.It provided space for a conversational style of music for songs like Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, 1958). He didn't believe in a heavy orchestra, he emphasized more on its melodic content. He believed in the perfect coordination of the words and tunes. ‘Natural poetry would naturally create a worth-humming tune, He abandoned intricate twists and turns in his songs, preferring simplicity that touched the heart of the listeners..

Sachin da had the honesty and integrity of character to acknowledge the sources of his music and the genuine inspiration that he received and how he internalized it into his song/s. For example, once at the age of nineteen, he stumbled upon a rare tune sung by a group of village-women in Chittagong (now in Bangladesh). He liked the tune immensely and it stayed with him to bloom into Sahir Ludhianavi’s ‘Thandi hawaein lahra ke aayeen‘ (Naujawan, 1951). Some discerning connoisseurs of western classical and popular music feel that this was inspired by C’est la vie from the movie Algiers (1938).

Dada was a hard taskmaster but he also expressed his joy if a singer, lyricist, or instrumentalist performed exceptionally well and would reward the person in some form or the other.

SD Burman continued to work through the end of the 1960s and well into the 1970s. "Abhiman" (1973), "Chupke Chupke" (1975), and "Mili" (1975), are a few compositions from this period which stands out. However midway through his work on "Mili", he goes into a coma. He died on October 31, 1975.