Hindustan Times
If someone were to ask you, ‘Who is your all-time favourite Hindi movie music composer?’ would you be able to answer the question — quickly? Wouldn’t it be tough? I mean, there have so many great songs, right from the Forties and Fifties to the present day, by so many different composers that it’s near-impossible to choose one. Read more
(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Poonam Saxena on Monday, October 26, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Filed under Bollywood · Tagged Bollywood, Hindi movie, Kalyanji Anandji, Madan Mohan, music composer, Naushad, OP Nayyar
If someone were to ask you, ‘Who is your all-time favourite Hindi movie music composer?’ would you be able to answer the question — quickly? Wouldn’t it be tough? I mean, there have so many great songs, right from the Forties and Fifties to the present day, by so many different composers that it’s near-impossible to choose one.
For example: Naushad’s songs in Mughal-e-Azam. OP Nayyar’s music in Kashmir Ki Kali, Mere Sanam, CID. Madan Mohan’s incredible songs in Mera Saaya, Dastak, Haqeeqat (I still get goosebumps when I listen to Kar chale hum fida). Salil Chowdhury’s songs in Madhumati. Kalyanji Anandji’s score for Safar.
And so on and on, for all composers, not just the few I’ve mentioned above. I can’t think of a single music composer who hasn’t give us at least some great songs.?
And if you look at the scenario today, well, there’s Shankar Ehasaan Loy and of course, the staggeringly talented A R Rahman (I am a big fan).
But I know that if I were asked to name my all-time favourite composer, I would cheat a little (name two people instead of one) but I would have no problem answering the question: SD Burman, followed by RD Burman.
There are two reasons why SD is my No. 1. First, while I’m sure I haven’t heard each and every SD song, there isn’t a single SD song I know that I don’t like. (I can’t say this for any other composer). Second, usually when composers create music for a film, a couple of songs are really good, a few are average and a few forgettable. But in SD’s case, there are so many films where the <I>entire<I> score is masterful: Guide (his absolute best), Pyaasa, Bandini, Sujata, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Jewel Thief, Amar Prem, Abhimaan, and more.
He used Bengali folk music traditions to beautiful effect (Ore maajhi from Bandini). He did wonderful classical compositions (Poocho na kaise maine from Meri Surat Teri Aankhen). He created light-hearted, fun songs (Haal kaisa hai janaab ka from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi). He composed melancholic songs (Dekhi zamane ki yaari from Kagaz Ke Phool). He could create any mood: romantic, tragic, peppy, dark, yearning, haunting, anything, everything.
And his son? Has there been a more influential composer (they’re <I>still<I> doing tributes to him in our movies. In Mr and Mrs Khanna, RD’s Bade achche lagte hain crops up all the time – because Kareena’s character is called Raina). Also, just like SD, there are many films where RD’s entire score is superb. For me, top of the list is the amazing, path-breaking score of Teesri Manzil (from Tumne mujhe dekha to O haseena zulfonwali), and then the others: Yaadon Ki Baraat, Padosan, Masoom, Hum Kisise Kam Nahin, Kati Patang etc. And for all those who, when they think of RD, only think of racy numbers like Duniya mein or Piya tu ab to aaja, do remember songs like Raina beeti jaaye (Amar Prem), O mere dil ke chain (Mere Jeevan Saathi, one of my personal favourites), Rimjhim gire sawan (Manzil, the ultimate monsoon song) and so many others.
Just one thing though. Unlike his father, I don’t like every RD song that I’ve heard.(Also, since everyone spoke so much about RD’s collaboration with Gulzar in the last blog, I haven’t gone into that at all).
So, for me, it’s SD and RD all the way.
And for you?
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Poonam Saxena on Monday, October 26, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged Bollywood, Hindi movie, Madan Mohan, Mughal-e-Azam, music composer, Naushad, OP Nayyar
