Gulzar and RD Burman: A combination in contrast and excellence

Celebrating 91st Birth Anniversary of the lyricist, poet, story-writer, director and producer Gulzar (b. 18 August 1934) with his combination with RD Burman

No two persons can be more different than Gulzar and RD Burman – one was known to be a serious, sensitive poet; the other, bit of a Chhote Nawab, hyper, carefree, impatient. Yet their friendship was legendary. There are many short videos on YT with the title, Gulzar Remembers Pancham. Some are on their close friendship – Dosti mein jaise dost milte hain gaali galauj ke saath, zaahir hai sharafat se to pesh nahin aayenge. Many can relate to such sentiments with their close friends.

You also get an insight into their creative process:

“We shared the best of years growing together. Those days we were also looking for work, which also meant apni talash. If RD Burman was going for some recording, he would call me out what are you doing, he would open the door of the car, and ask me, Aa baith ja. In the car itself some tune was buzzing in his brain, then he would suddenly start thumping the door or roof of the car, or start playing the beat on any object as if he did not want to lose the tune. At these moments he was an inspired person. He would catch the tune by humming it, and ask me how was it, please give a suitable bandish to hold on to the tune. As we reached the studio, he would drop me like hot potato, Ab tu ja. He would instruct the driver to drop me home, Nahin to tang karega upar baithkar. I have shared those moments of impatience with him. There was restlessness in him, but there was also a stillness after the process of creativity. After that thahraao the tune gets garnished and becomes complete.”

Some shorts are pure poetry:

“Tumhari ek dil ki dhadkan band hui, aur tum laakhon dilon mein dhadakane lage. Achcha lagta hai jab log mujhe tumhare marfat yaad karte hain, aur main tumhare maarfat logon se baatein karne laga, kyonki log mujhe tumhara dost samajhane hain. Main ab bhi tumhare saath gana banaane ke liye tadapata hun….Kuchh nahin thaharata. Na tum thahre na main rukoonga… Kya tumhein pata tha, ki tum chup ho jaaoge aur main tumhari aawaz dhoondta phirunga.”

Gulzar, was born Sampooran Singh Kalra on 18 August 1934, in a Sikh family, in Deena village in Punjab (present day Pakistan). The partition split his family, and he had to stop his studies and come to Bombay to eke out a living. He started as a car mechanic in a motor car garage. But his passion was literature, and had disdain for films. From literature how did he stray into films? Gulzar was a few years senior to RD Burman, and his entry into films, first as a lyricist predates his association with RD Burman by several years. What was his first song as a lyricist? Most sites, including respected ones like his interview with Irfan on Rajya Sabha TV under the series, Guftgoo, and his interview on DD National; his profile on Rekhta.org give an impression that his first song in films was, Mora gara rang lai ja, in Bimal Roy’s Bandini (1963). This is narrated by Gulzar himself as an interesting story:

“Because of my great interest in literature, I used to go to PWA meetings as a young aspirant to hear masters of the era like Kishan Chander and Rajinder Sigh Bedi. There I met Shailendra who told me we are not all illiterates in films and introduced me to Bimal Roy who was making Bandini (1963). Bimal Roy himself had interest in literature and most of his films were based on literary sources in Bengali. But SD Burman shared his doubts with Bimal Roy in Bengali about this Sardarji’s familiarity with Bengal’s Vaishnav poetry. Sampooran Singh interjected in chaste Bengali that he understood Bengali culture perfectly having been initiated into it by translations of Tagore and then going deep into the original language. Thus was born his first song in films, Mora gora ang layi le.”

But I always felt uncomfortable at this story because I remember a discussion on this site that his entry as a film lyricist was several years earlier, first as Gulzar Deenvi (based on his village Deena) and then as Gulzar. A deep research indicates his songs predating Bandini (1963) are as follows:

No. of songs written by Gulzar before Bandini (1963)

Thus Gulzar wrote at least nine songs before Bandini. The music directors of the first two films and the songs may be unknown, the third film and the music director are quite well-known, though two other songs written by Hasrat Jaipuri became very popular. But omission of the song from Kabuliwala is very surprising, because the film was made by Bimal Roy Productions (though directed by Hemen Gupta); Salil Chowdhury was one of the doyens from Bengal Gulzar highly respected. Equally respected was Hemant Kumar who sang the well-known song, Ganga aaye kahan se Ganga jaaye kahan re, written by Gulzar.

Let us presume the underplay or omission was not deliberate. These narratives are only meant to emphasise his association with Bimal Roy and SD Burman, where he also met with Pancham (RD Burman) and struck a friendship with him.

Gulzar continued his literary pursuits, earning the highest accolades, Sahitya Academy Award and Gyanpeeth Award. In the film world he graduated as director with Mere Apne (1971), and went on to direct several classic films, such as Parichay, Koshish, Aandhi, Khushboo, Mausam, Angoor, Namkeen, Ijaazat, Libaas, Lekin and Maachis. He went on to produce and direct films Kinara and Kitaab. In the process he got all the possible awards – several Filmfare and National Awards, culminating with Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He got Grammy Award, and Oscar Award for original song in Slumdog Millionaire. He was also honoured with civilian honours like Padma Bhushan.

Thus Gulzar’s work as a creative person is much larger than his association with RD Burman. But the combo has a special place in RD Burman’s work. Their association started in 1972 with Parichay and, thereafter, continued with most of his films creating some of the most melodious tunes in film music. A loud person RD Burman, considerably mellowed down with Gulzar, and as contrasting was their friendship, RD Burman’s music with Gulzar was a contrast from his usual style.

Toady we are celebrating Gulzar’s 91st Birth Anniversary (some sources mention his year of birth as 1936, but most sources mention 1934). We are also celebrating the year as the year of RD Burman. I pay my tribute to them with some of my favourites from their combination.

1. Musafir hun yaaro, na ghar hai na thikana, mujhe chalte jana hai by Kishore Kumar from Parichay (1972), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Parichay was the first opportunity of their coming together, and what music they created in a poignant, sad, happy movie, loosely inspire from the cult film Sound of Music. There is something timeless about a homeless traveller perpetually on the move to an unknown destination. This song has appeared at least twice on SOY. The most recent was in Dr Rajesh Deshpande’s post on RD Burman and the 70s, but I didn’t want to choose a different song, though the film had other well-known songs too, such as, Sa re ke saare ga ma ko lekar gaate chale, and Beeti na bitaayi raina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLgOcsngTI&list=RDcHLgOcsngTI&start_radio=1

2. Tum aa gaye ho noor aa gaya hai nahin to chiraagon se lau ja rahi thi by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Aandhi (1975), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Next high point of Gulzar-RD Burman combination was Aandhi, which Gulzar also directed. This was again a poignant story of a politically ambitious wife separating from her husband, and many years later coming together in a surprise coincidence. With vague resemblance of Suchitra Sen’s mannerisms with Indira Gandhi, the film had provoked some controversy, but Gulzar-RDB combination came up with superb songs.

3. O majhi re apna kinara nadiya ki dhara hai by Kishore Kumar from Khushboo (1975), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

In this remake of a Bengali film based on a Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Pandit Mashai, Gulzar and RD Burman get a chance to create a scene from Bengal countryside with a boatman song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxhRnk367DE&list=RDMxhRnk367DE&start_radio=1

4. Naam gum jayega, chehra ye badal jayega by Bhupinder Singh and Lata Mangeshkar from Kinara (1977), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Gulzar not only produced the movie, he was responsible for the entire creative aspect of the film: Direction, story and lyrics. The result was this song which speaks for any great singer – Meri aawaz hi pehchan hai.

5. Masterji ki aa gayi chitthi by Shivangi Kolhapuri and Padmini Kolhapuri from Kitab (1977), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Also produced by Gulzar, he directed and wrote lyrics for this film based on his favourite Bengali writer Samresh Basu’s story Pathik. Gulzar had some felicity in writing ad creating songs for small kids. He understood the shortcomings of Hindi film songs on kids – they were made to mouth profound philosophical songs, such as the futility of unnecessary fights and the importance of lovers or Papa Mummy to stay together. Instead children in Gulzar’s films or songs were normal kids of their age – mouthing meaningless words, and singing songs of joy at the prospect of chhutti from the school.

6. Chaand chura ke laya hun by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Devta (1978), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

The film may have sunk unknown, but the song rose above the film. The other song that I remember from the film is, Gulmohar tumhara naam hota.

7. Aapki aankhon mein kuchh mahke huye se raaz hain by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Ghar (1978), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

This was a sensitive film of a husband assaulted by some goons, and the wife gang-raped while walking home after late night movie show. This is a story of trauma, distrust, and reconciliation. A sweet duet between Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, written by Gulzar, and composed by RD Burman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daxuKHBWiKE&list=RDdaxuKHBWiKE&start_radio=1

8. Aanewala pal jaanewala hai by Kishore Kumar from Golmal (1979), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Golmal directed by Hrishikesh Mukherji was a film of crazy comedy of the same character playing two different persons at the same time by simply changing the appearance and dress – one a dandy in modern clothes without moustaches who loves sports, and the other a simple person in traditional clothes with moustaches who is clueless about sports because that is what Utpal Dutt admires in a man. This became a cult movie inspiring many remakes in Hindi and other languages. Though no site mentions it, but I am sticking my neck out that it must have been inspired by Molière (17th century French playwright who became renowned for such crazy comedies all over the world. The similarity is too close to Molière’s style to miss it). In this comedy caper this is a meaningful soft song.

9. Hothon pe beeti baat aayi hai vada nibhane ki raat aayi hai by Asha Bhosle from Angoor (1982), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Among several adaptations of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors of two sets of twins carrying two sets of identical names, Angoor, directed, written and lyrics by Gulzar, became the most popular and enjoyable that you can watch any number of times without getting bored. In this film of double mixed identities, cross-mixed identities, Maushmi Chatterjee plays the role of a tantrum throwing wife to perfection. This Asha Bhosle song is picturised on her as a romantic wife trying to seduce her bored husband to get her a necklace.

10. Tujhse naaraz nahin zindagi, hairan hoon main by Anup Ghoshal from Masoom (1983), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi’s happy married life is thrown into a turmoil when he receives a letter from someone in Nainital that his casual love affair some years ago during a visit to Nainital had given birth to a child. The lady had sworn the guardian to keep it a secret from him as she didn’t want to disturb his married life. Now she is no more, and it is time to hand him over his son for his care and education. On the one hand the charming kid Jugal Hansraj attracts him, on the other he is traumatised by the thought how his wife would take it. In this state of dilemma, this beautiful song by Anup Ghoshal is picturised on Naseeruddin Shah as an atmospheric song. This song also has a twin version by Lata Mangeshkar later picturised on Shabana Azmi, but my favourite is this male version.

11. Roz roz aankhon taley by Asha Bhosle and Amit Kumar from Jeeva (1986), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

Late 1980s was the period when RD Burman’s popularity was nose-diving. But during this period too, Gulzar-RD Burman combination continued to create beautiful songs. This is one of the best romantic duets from this period from a gangster and revenge film.

12. Mera kuchh saaman tumhare paas pada hai, mera wo saaman lauta do by Asha Bhosle from Ijaazat (1987), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

This film is based on a Bangali story Jatugrih by Subodh Ghosh, which had already been adapted in a Bengal film by the same name in 1964. It is a story of strained marriage between two adults who accidentally run into each other after many years who realise they still have soft feelings for each other. My Bengali friends swear that the original in Bengali is much superior, I have not yet been able to lay my hands on an online platform with English sub-titles. This song is picturised on Naseeruddinn Shah and the other woman.

13. Seeli hawa chhoo gayi seela badan chhil gaya by Lata Mangeshkar from Libas (1988), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman

I remember this song for decades, and regarded it as one of the best by Lata Mangeshkar from the late 1980s when her best was long over. But I was surprised to known that the film did not have a commercial release in India, though it made waves in International Film Festivals. Based on Gulzar’s story from his collection Raavi Paar, this is a film on marital discord in urban families because of the husband being always engrossed in his career, leading to the wife getting attracted to another man.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
The song links have been given or embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of music lovers. This blog has no commercial interest. It does not claim or suggest directly or indirectly any copyright over these songs which vest with the respective rights owners.