One of the greatest music composers of all time in the Hindi Film Industry, R. D. Burman is a name, everyone remembers. A music director, a composer, and a knack for creating everlasting scores and mixing disco-rock with Bengali folk music, R. D. Burman composed music scores in over 331 movies. To this date, R. D. Burman is considered the most celebrated music composer in the Hindi Film Industry. 

He paved the way for a lot of music composers and gave birth to mixing disco and rock music in love stories. He also had a creative knack for getting the right scores, he produced the score of the famous Bollywood song Mehbooba Mehbooba with beer bottles.  

Rahul Dev Burman was born on the 27th of June 1939 to Bollywood composer Sachin Dev Burman, and his lyricist wife Meera Dev Burman in Kolkata (then Calcutta). After finishing his early education in West Bengal, he composed his first melody Aye Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa which his father used in the movie Funtoosh (1956). The famous song Sar Jo Tera Chakraaye was also composed by a young R. D Burman which his father used in the movie Pyaasa (1957). 

Moving to Mumbai, as his father was a well-established Bollywood composer, Pancham Da worked as his father’s assistant while also taking training from Gurus like Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Samta Prasad, Salil Chowdhury.  

Burman’s first hit film as a music director was Teesri Manzil (1966). In the 1970s, Burman became popular with Kishore Kumar songs in Rajesh Khanna Starred films. He worked with singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle who he later married.  

Some of his famous compositions include, Aaja Aaja, Ek Chatur Naar Badi Hoshiyaar, Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko, Karvatey Badalte Rahe, Ek Ajnaabi Haseena Se, Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Kuch Na Kaho, Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha, Tere Bina Zindagi Se, Chala Jata Hoon, Tujhse Naraaz Nahi Zindagi, Piya Tu Ab Toh Aaja, Kyh Hua Tera Waada, Meri Saamne Waali Khidki Mein. 

He has composed scores for all-time famous films like Seeta Aur Jeeta, Bombay To Goa, Parichay, Sholay, Satte Pe Satta. The famous trio, Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar, R. D. Burman worked together in 32+ movies and some of their compositions are still famous to this date. Apart from movies, Burman was a prolific contributor to the Bengali tradition of composing songs for the Durga Puja festival, many of which he later established for Hindi films. This features songs like Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai from Kati Patang and Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi from the film Aandhi.  

Burman laid the foundation for numerous music directors to pave the pathway for the future music industry. But in his lifetime, he was awarded only three Filmfare Awards, one of which was awards posthumously after his untimely demise.  

According to the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar who considered him her brother-in-law, R. D. Burman died too young and too unhappy. Despite being one of the best music composers, he struggled to find work after a rough patch of back-to-back box office flops. He died on the 4th of January 1994 aged 54 after suffering health complications and being hospitalized. During the period he spent in the institution, R. D. Burman composed scores but they were never released.  

On the birth anniversary of this legendary music composer, Saregama celebrates his life ad contributions to Hindi Music Industry. 

Now you can stream and download all your favorite R. D. Burman songs on Saregama Carvaan. Saregama Carvaan is a portal audio speaker that comes with 5000 evergreen Hindi songs that you can listen to without ad breaks or internet connection. It also has other features like Bluetooth, USB, and Aux connectivity.