In today’s weekend blog, I am writing about a pair of lyricists and music directors who have given us many memorable songs. Friends, I am talking about GULZAR and RD BURMAN. Although both have worked with other stalwarts, what they created when they came together was sheer magic. Cine-goers believe that songs created by Gulzar and RD Burman team will far outlive Hindi cinema.
RD Burman shared a long-lasting creative friendship with film-makers like Nasir Hussain, Shakti Samanta, Dev Anand in whose films he created immortal songs, but none of RD’s collaborations was as rewarding and magical with Gulzar.
Gulzar’s closest friend in Bollywood was composer RD Burman.
Here are some of their best creations:
1 Musafir Hoon Yaaron, Na Ghar Hai Na Thikana– this song is from the film Parichay, and sung by Kishore Kumar. The story behind this song is-one night RD reached Gulzar’s bunglow (Bosikiana) in an excited mood. He dragged Gulzar into his car for a drive and played the tune he had composed for Parichay, full night they were listening to this tune, and later Gulzar wrote this song on that tune. YouTube link of the song is given below.
https://youtu.be/cHLgOcsngTI?si=DsuwrI_e8v9_1xQ7
2 Mera Kuch Saamaan Tumhare Paass Pada Hai– This song is from film Ijaazat, and ssung by Asha Bhosle. For this Gulzar first wrote lyrics, and when RD read the lyrics, he said it is not a poetry, it is a prose. Tomorrow you will bring some headlines of Times of India, and ask me to compose the same. But what he created was a genius. In this song there no rhyming meter, just random thoughts about broken relationship. It is said that he wrote this number as a hark back to his own broken marriage to Raakhee. YouTube link is given below.
https://youtu.be/OlvXDGJAMT0?si=iHBYqlmwuXAklWAw
3 Is Mod Se Jaate Hain Kuch Sust Kadam Raste, Kuch Tez Kadam Raahein– This song is from Aandhi, sung by Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar. The second line of mukhda of this song is-Pathar Ki Haveli Se, Sheeshon Ke Gharondon Mein, Tinko Ke Nasheman Tak. As RD was not very conversant with Urdu words, his reaction was ‘Where is this city called Nasheman’. The YouTube link of this song is given below:
https://youtu.be/STOM6NZfcrs?si=NmNw_aBaYdj6bqbN
4 Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa Toh Nahin
– This song is also from Aandhi, and sung by Lata Mangeshkar & kishore Kumar. RD had first composed this tune for a Bengali song for Durga Puja, Gulzar heard it and said ‘Now it is my time’ and he wrote the lyrics of this song based on the tune. When Lats sings ‘Jee Main Aata Hai Tere Daaman Mein Saar Chuppake Hum Roten Rahen Raat Bhar, you feel time has stopped still. The mukhda and first two verses are sung by Lata, and when in third verse Kishore starts with “ Tum Jo Jehdo Aaj Ki Raat Chaand Doobega Nahin Raat Bhar”, and again time stand still. In the film music this song is considered as one of best song of Gulzar-RD partnership. YouTube link of the song is given below:
https://youtu.be/8-HnmVg0-O8?si=iLb-6kqxrCx8iCcF
5 Aap Ki Anhon Mein Kuch Mehke Hue Se Khwab Hain- This song is from film Ghar sung by Lata mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar. In the antra there is one line which goes like ‘ Aapki Badmaashiyon Ke Yeh Naye Andaz Hain’, which RD thought was too flirtatious to be sung by Lata. RD was too afraid to tell Lata to sing in the tone he wanted, he requested Gulzar to do the same, this was not the first time RD chickened out when it came to briefing Lata on Gulzar lyrics.. Lata not only readily accepted the word, she even added a flirtatious giggle it during recording. The YouTube link of the song is;
https://youtu.be/NbqCWwlNKrA?si=sdv4CvGMgX9RVpQZ
Here are some other songs of Gulzar-RD
Beeti Na Bitayee Raina– from Parichay sung by Lata mangeshkar and Bhupendra Singh.
https://youtu.be/MjVRG2VV1kA?si=C12jUgyc9Y-9nTMl
Naam Gum Jaayega, Chehra Yeh Badal Jaayega– from Kinara sung by Bhupendra Singh.
https://youtu.be/6hE2NUPewB8?si=pdkn-N8ngB3THBxL
Lakdi Ki Kaathi, Kaathi Pe Ghoda– from Masoom sung by Gauri Bapat, Gurpreet Kaur & Vanita Mishra.
https://youtu.be/wSs2n5abdmg?si=JppGDj-Yp5BORbTn
Salaam Keejiye Aali Janab Aaye Hain, Yeh Paanch Saalon Ka Hisaab Dene Aaye Hain– from Aandhi. I have chosen this song because this may be the only song I know which Gulzar wrote on election/politics. It is sung by Mohd. Rafi, Bhupendra and Amit Kumar.
https://youtu.be/pn0szF61OUM?si=5mlW0Ccvdfy63Iey
Tujhese Naaraz Nahin Zindagi, Hairaan Hoon Main– from Massom, this song is two versions (male and female) sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Anup Ghoshal.
https://youtu.be/LZ_YUOr-tYw?si=zwQUUKwGEqvI3bYm
Lastly, in the song Mera kuch Samaan Tumhare Paas Pada Hai’, in the antra there is one line “ Ek Sau Solah Chand Ki Raatein, Ek Tumhare Kaandhe Kaatil”. Those 116 moonlit nights that Gulzar wrote proved prophetic, that is the exact number of his songs that were composed by RD Burman.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
31st January 2025