Remembering RD Burman: 10 evergreen hits by the late composer

Today marks the 79th birth anniversary of legendary music composer

Today marks the 79th birth anniversary of legendary Bollywood singer and composer RD Burman. The late musician, who started his career back in the 1950s, worked on over 331 projects throughout his career and is widely regarded as one of the biggest talents ever witnessed in the Indian film industry.

Married to fellow singer Asha Bhosle, Burman was popularly known as Pancham Da. His USP was making music using several everyday products such as kitchen utensils, fans and bamboo sticks.

In Burman's honour, here are 10 of his most beloved. evergreen tracks that are still ruling the charts today.

1. 'Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko' (Yaadon ki Baraat)


The opening lines of Chura Liya Hai (1973) bare resemblance to the English song If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium from the 1969 film of the same name. Picturised on the lovely Zeenat Aman, it became a iconic number that would be revered for decades after.

2. 'Pyaar Humein Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya' (Satte Pe Satta)


This melodious 1982 track is testament to Burman's musical genius. And who can forget the video from Satte Pe Satta, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan, Sachin, Shakti Kapoor, Paintal, Sudhir, and Inderjeet.

3. 'Jai Jai Shiv Shankar' (Aap ki Kasam)


Although this particular song has been remixed plenty of times since its release in 1974, the original Jai Jai Shiv Shankar remains a timeless classic. The timeless track is proof that when Burman, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar collaborated, magic was created.

4. 'Baahon Mein Chale Aao' (Anamika) 


Bahon Mein Chale Aao is one of Mangeshkar's biggest hits with Burman, from the 1973 film Anamika. The new version of the romantic ballad is sung by Jyotica Tangri, while the music was re-created by Ravi Pawar and Mika Singh.

5. 'Piya Tu Ab Toh Aaja' (Caravan)


This song from Caravan (1971) is considered the ideal cabaret item number, picturised on Helen. The song was sung by Bhosle and Burman, who composed it as well. Piya Tu Ab To Aaja has been dubbed one of the most culturally important Indian film songs ever and "the catalyst" that made Bhosle "queen of cabaret numbers."

6. 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' (Sholay)


Mehbooba Mehbooba was sung by Burman, who received his sole Filmfare Award nomination for Playback Singing for it. The 1975 hit has been extensively anthologised, remixed, and recreated. It was also remixed and sung by Himesh Reshammiya, along with Bhosle, in his debut film Aap Kaa Surroor.

7. 'Gulabi Aankhein' (The Train)


We'd happily take Rajesh Khanna and Nanda grooving to this Mohabbat Rafi-sung track over Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan's 2012 version any day.

8. 'O Haseena Zulfon Waali' (Teesri Manzil)


O Haseena Zulfon Wali from Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (1966) is the ideal example of a peppy dance track with quirky lyrics and high octane music. No wonder Burman became known for creating music using random objects like keychains, coke bottles, books and fans.

9. Tere Bina Zindagi Mein Koi (Aandhi)


The music of Aandhi was composed by Burman and the lyrics penned by Gulzar. The duo first worked together in Parichay (1972), giving other popular songs like Beeti Na Bitai Raina and Musafir Hoon Yaaro.  The tune of Tere Bina, another Mangeshkar-Kumar duet, was originally created as a durga pooja song which Gulzar had liked.

10. 'Mere Sapno Ki Raani' (Aaradhna)


Khanna rose to stardom with 1969's Aradhana. The film was a blockbuster and so were its songs (especially the ones crooned by Kumar). Mere Sapno Ki Rani is one of the Indian film industry's most iconic songs — musically, as well as visually. It depicts Khanna on a jeep with Sharmila Tagore sitting by the window of a toy train in Darjeeling.

Happy listening!

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