Sachin Dev Burman

Infobox actor
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name = Sachin Dev Burman


imagesize = 200px
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birthdate = Birth date|1906|10|1|mf=y
location = Comilla, British India (now Bangladesh)
deathdate = death date and age|1975|10|31|1906|10|1|mf=y
deathplace = Bombay, Maharashtra, India
yearsactive = 1933-1975
birthname =
othername =
homepage =
awards = 1958: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Sachin Dev Burman ( _bn. শচীন দেব বর্মন)(October 1, 1906 - October 31, 1975) (also credited as Burman da, Kumar Sachindra Dev Barman, or S. D. Burman) was one of the most famous Bollywood music composers and an all-time great Bengali singer and composer. His son Rahul Dev Burman also achieved great success as a Bollywood music director in his own right.

Early days

S. D. Burman was born on October 1, 1906, in Comilla, British India, now in Bangladesh, to Nirmala Devi and Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman, the second son of 'Ishanachandra Dev Burman', Raja of Tripura, (r. 1849-1862). Sachin was the youngest of the five sons, of his parents, who had nine children in all.

He began his training in classical music under his father, who was a sitarist and Dhrupad singer [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/t/tripura.html Tripura Genealogy at Queensland Univ] ] [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/tripura5.htm] .

He did his B.A. from Calcutta University He started his formal music training under famous musician, K. C. Dey (1925-1930), thereafter in 1932 he came under the tutelage of Bhismadev Chattopadhaya, though only three years his senior, this was followed by training from Kahifa Badal Khan, Sarangi player, and Ustad Allauddin Khan . Eventually he got K.C. Dey, Ustad Badal Khan and Allauddi Khan into Agartala, noted Bengal poet laureate, Kazi Nazrul Islam also spent time in their family home, Comilla House, in Agartala.

Music career

S D Burman composed music for 100 movies (inclusive of Bengali films). "Agneepath" (1990) had an uncredited song composed by him - "Nazar lagi raja tore bangle par" from "Kalapani" (1958). He also sang about 20 film songs (inclusive of Bengali films) for which he composed music though he may not have been the music director of the films. 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,Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle and Shamshad Begum. Mukesh and Talat Mahmood have also sung songs composed by him. He has also sung a number of private songs and bhajans, notable ones being "Dheere se jana bagiyan mein" and "Kaun nagariya javun re Bansiwale..".

1930s

He started working as a radio singer on Calcutta Radio Station in 1932, where his early work was based on East Bengali and Tripuri 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 traditions of Tripura Kingdom. 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". 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 .

In 1934, he attended the All India Music Conference, at the invitation of Allahabad University, where he presented his Bengali Thumri, at to an illustrious audience, with the likes of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and the inimitable Abdul Karim Khan of Kirana Gharana. Later in the year he was invited to Bengal Music Conference, Kolkata, which was inaugurated by Rabindranath Tagore, here again he sang his thumri, and was awarded a Gold Medal [http://www.sdburman.net/sachin_karta.html Sachin Karta] ] .

He built a house, in Southend Park, Ballygunge, Kolkata, and in 1937, at the All India Music Conference, Allahabad, he met a music student, trained in Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan, Meera Devi (1923-2007); soon she became his student and they married in the same year [ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/17/stories/2007101753250500.htm S.D. Burman’s wife dead] "The Hindu", Oct 17, 2007.] [ [http://www.musicindiaonline.com/n/i/top_stories/2396/ S.D. Burman's wife Meera dead] ‘Music India OnLine’. ] , their only child Rahul Dev Burman was born in 1939. Both Meera Devi and Rahul assisted S.D. Burman with some of the musical compositions [ [http://www.themusicmagazine.com/sdburmantrib.html Bondhu rangila re -- a tribute to S D Burman] "theemusic magazine", 31 October, 2002.] [ [http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/nov/30dinesh.htm The minimilistic melody of Sachin Dev Burman - Biography] "Rediff.com".] . S D Burman also did a singing role in Urdu film "Selima" (1934) and another role in Dhiren Ganguli's film, "Bidrohi" (1935) [http://www.filmreference.com/Writers-and-Production-Artists-Bo-Ce/Burman-S-D.html SD Burman] "filmreference.com".]

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 Bombay in 1944, and started the second inning of his musical career, giving music for over 17 Bengali films in the all .

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

In 1944, he moved to Bombay, at the request of Sasadhar Mukherjee of Filmistan, who asked him to give score for two Ashok Kumar starrers, "Shikari" (1946) and "Aath Din" [ [http://www.downmelodylane.com/sdburman.html SD Burman] "www.downmelodylane.com".] , 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 her breakthrough song into the film industry. In 1949, came "Shabnam", his biggest hit yet with Filmistan, especially noticeable for its multi-lingual hit song "Yeh Duniya Roop ki Chor", by Shamshad Begum, which became a rage in those days [ [http://www.upperstall.com/people/sd-burman SD Burman] "Upperstall.com".]

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 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 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 occidentalized into a seductive song.

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 "Jalte 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 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, and remains the only music director to have won the prestigious award [ [http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_films_musicdirection.html Music Direction] " Sangeet Natak Akademi Award" Official listing.] .

1960s

Early on in his career, he refused to allow his voice be lip-synced on film by actors , 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" from Aradhana (1969) [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2006/07/28/stories/2006072801380100.htm Agartala palace is lit - Centenary celebrations] "The Hindu", Jul 28, 2006.] , 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 and Lata 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 "Bambai Ka Babu" (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 raga bhairavi (morning raga)Fact|date=June 2008.

Other S D Burman hits from this period were "Bandini" (1963) and "Ziddi" (1964). In "Bandini", Sampooran Singh (well known as Gulzar), made his debut as a lyricist with the song "Mora Gora Ang lai le, mohe shaam rang daai de". "Guide" (1965) starring Dev Anand, was probably the best 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 organFact|date=June 2008. It was responsible in Kishore Kumar's second coming and went on to make him the top male playback singer of Hindi Films.

Dev Anand and S D Burman continued their musical partnership in "Prem Pujari" (1969).

1970s

"Tere Mere Sapne" (1971), "Sharmilee" (1971), " Abhimaan" (1973), "Prem Nagar" (1974), "Sagina" (1974), "Zameer" (1974) "Chupke Chupke" (1975), and "Mili" (1975) are other classics from this period.

S D Burman went into coma soon after recording the song "Badi sooni sooni" (sung by Kishore Kumar) for the film "Mili". He died on October 31, 1975 in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Filmography

* Rajgee (1937)
* Jakher Dhan (1939)
* Jevaan Sangini (1940)
* Protishodh (1941)
* Abhoyer Biye (1942)
* Chaddobeshi (1944)
* Shikari (1945)
* Aath Din (1946)
* Shabnam (1949)
* Baazi (1951)
* Jaal (1952)
* Baaz (1953)
* Taxi Driver (1954)
* Devdas (1955)
* Pyaasa (1957)
* Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
* Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)
* Sujata (1959)
* Bambai Ka Babu (1960)
* Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963)
* Bandini (1963)
* Ziddi (1964)
* Guide (1965)
* Jewel Thief (1967)
* Prem Pujari (1969)
* Aradhana (1969)
* Ishq Par Zor Nahin (1970)
* Sharmilee (1971)
* Naya Zamana (1971)
* Tere Mere Sapne (1971)
* Anuraag (1972)
* Jugnu (1973)
* Chhupa Rustam (1973)
* Abhimaan (1973)
* Phagun (1973)
* Prem Nagar (1974)
* Zameer (1974)
* Sagina (1974)
* Chupke Chupke (1975)
* Mili (1975)
* [http://www.bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_search.tcl?key=movie&music_director=s+d+burman Complete list]

Awards and recognitions

* 1934: Gold Medal, Bengal All India Music Conference, Kolkata 1934
* 1958: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
* 1958: Asia Film Society Award
* National Film Awards
** 1970: National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: Aradhana: "Safal Hogi Teri Aradhana"
** 1974: National Film Award for Best Music Direction: "Zindagi Zindagi"
* 1969: Padma Shri
* International Jury on Folk Music
* Filmfare Awards
** 1954: Filmfare Best Music Director Award: "Taxi Driver"
** 1973: Filmfare Best Music Director Award: "Abhimaan"
** 1959: Filmfare Best Music Director Award: "Sujata": Nomination
** 1965: Filmfare Best Music Director Award: "Guide": Nomination
** 1969: Filmfare Best Music Director Award : "Aradhana": Nomination
** 1970: Filmfare Best Music Director Award: "Talaash": Nomination
** 1974: Filmfare Best Music Director Award: "Prem Nagar" : Nomination
* BFJA Awards
** 1965: Best Music (Hindi Section): "Teen Deviyan"
** 1966: Best Music (Hindi Section): "Guide "
** 1966: Best Male Playback Singer (Hindi Section): "Guide"
** 1969: Best Music (Hindi Section): "Aradhana"
** 1973: Best Music (Hindi Section): "Abhimaan"

Further reading

* "The Hundred Luminaries of Hindi Cinema", by Dinesh Raheja, Jitendra Kothari. India Book House Publishers, 1996. ISBN 8175080078, "page 1919".

References

External links

*
* [http://www.sdburman.com A website dedicated to Sachin Dev Burman]
* [http://www.sdburman.net Another website dedicated to Sachin Dev Burman] ;Audio & Video links
* [http://www.indianmelody.com/sdburman.htm Best of Sachin Dev Burman compositions]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8687360525898870173 Famous Bhatiyali song, "Rongila Rongila" sung by S.D. Burman]
* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Sachin+Dev+Burman&emb=0&aq=f# Sachin Dev Burman songs]
* [http://www.bollango.com/cgi-bin/akf_search.tcl?key=song&singer=s+d+burman S. D. Burman songs]