The 5th note - Pancham

Rahul Dev Burman popularly known as Pancham da needs no introduction. He is known to both the older generations and the millenials thanks to the versatility of his music. June 27th is his birth anniversary and being an ardent follower of his music I wanted to share a drop from the ocean of his music with you.
Music was in his genes - he was born to Sachin Dev Burman (also referred to as Dada Burman) who was a maestro himself and Meera Dev Burman who was a lyricist in Bengali films and assistant to Dada Burman.

He dominated the music industry in 70's and 80's- music of most popular movies from these years like Sholay, Hum Kisise Kum Nahi, Love Story, Yaadon ki Baarat, was composed by him. Some of his most popular songs include Chura Liya hai, Do Lafzon ki hai, Mehbooba Mehbooba, Dum Maro Dum. The very popular and infamous remix Kaanta Laga was originally a sweet composition of Pancham da that was later remixed and unfortunately given a sleazy feel. Many of the remixes that we hear today are songs that were originally composed by him. You may recall the title song of the TV serial Subah made on drug addiction. This title song 'Aye zamane tere saamne aa gaye' - was composed and sung by Pancham.

Let us relive a few of his songs in this post. I have again selected those tracks that are less played in comparison to his more popular soundtracks.

Roz Roz Aankhon Tale

What can one say about the trio of Pancham, Gulzar sahab and Asha Bhosle. And this song has Amit Kumar's voice like icing on a cake. I can listen to it endlessely; with their voices like soft breeze, and with Gulzar sahab's lyrics filling your being- what else does one need. Released in a not so known movie, Jeeva in 1986, this song for me is one of the best of this trio.

जब से तुम्हारे नाम की मिश्री होंठ लगायी है
मीठा सा ग़म है और मीठी सी तन्हाई है ...

There is nothing further to say, just listen to this masterpiece and be lost in your dreams:

Raina Beeti Jaaye

My all time favourite written by Anand Bakshi and sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the 1971 Amar Prem, this song has a deep devotional quality to it. You can feel it the moment Lata ji starts the aalaap.
For years, I used to think that it was Dada Burman's composition only to learn much later that it was Pancham's. He was as adept at Indian classical compositions as he was at composing westernized music.

श्याम को भूला शाम का वादा
संग दिए के जागी राधा
निन्दिया न आये
रैना बीती जाए, श्याम न आये

Kya Janoo Sajan

Pancham had tried many different techniques while composing music whether it was using the sounds of spoon on a glass in Chura Liya Hai or using clap sounds on a wet back in Tu Tu hai wahi. With this song he introduced the twin track effect. The song written by Majrooh Sultanpuri was released in Baharon Ke Sapne in 1967 and Lata Mangeshkar's voice did complete justice to the haunting melody. I have an unmatched admiration for this song both for its music and the lyrics - "जल उठे सौ दिए जब लिया तेरा नाम "

क्या जानूं सजन, होती है क्या ग़म की शाम
जल उठे सौ दिए जब लिया तेरा नाम

Hamein tumse pyaar kitna 

Kishore Kumar's version of Hamein tumse pyaar kitna is highly popular along with other songs from the 1981 movie Kudrat. The underrated gem though is Parveen Sultana's version which is sung in Thumri style. Pancham da composed it in Raag Bhairavi and Parveen Sultana's voice complemented the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri like it was written for her. She starts the song with an aalap and with that itself, the listener is lost in the thoughts of the beloved.

मैं तो सदा की तुम्हरी दीवानी
भूल गए सैयां प्रीत पुरानी
कदर न जानी, कदर न जानी
हमें तुमसे प्यार कितना, ये हम नहीं जानते
मगर जी नहीं सकते तुम्हारे बिना

Phir se aayio badra bidesi

This song released in the year 1982 in the movie Namkeen is my go to song on any day. A masterpiece from the trio, it transports you to the world of clouds, fog, mountains and longings. It is a haunting melody created by Pancham which beautifully describes the longing for the one you love who is away and the hope to see him again. She asks:

तेरे जाने की रुत मैं जानती हूँ
मुड़ के आने की रीत है के नहीं
काली दरगाह से पूछूं के जाके
तेरे मन में भी प्रीत है के नहीं

The list is endless and I took forever to shortlist my top 5. Some of the other songs that I would have loved to include are:

Tum Jo mile to laga hai jaise mili zindagi from Drohi
Suhaani Chaandi raatein, hamein sone nahi deti from Mukti
Tum Bin Jaaoon Kahaan - Mohammed Rafi version from Pyar Ka Mausam
Jis Gali mein tera ghar na ho baalma - Kati Patang
Pyaar ke mod pe chodoge jo baahein meri - Parinda

Credits: Thanks to panchamonline.com for some of the details that I have mentioned in this post.