Highlights
- Musician Sachin Dev Burman was terribly upset with his son Rahul Dev Burman's composition in Hare Rama Hare Krishna and walked out of the studio when he heard the recording of the song Dum Maro Dum.
- This and several other interesting facts about the legend find mention in a book 'S D Burman: The World of His Music' by writer Khagesh Dev Burman.
- Published by Rupa and translated to English by the author and S K Ray Chaudhuri, the book has a detailed list of Mr Burman's songs and analysis of his unique style and music.
- Quoting extensively from the musician's memoir, 'Sargamer Nikhad', the author delves into his childhood, things that shaped his character and musical talent, the days of struggle - and the rise of the maestro.
- Even though RD Burman cut a path of music very different from his father's for himself, he could not escape the influence of his father. Sachin groomed him as a composer and encouraged him to learn to play different instruments, says the author.
- He was not hurt with the music of Dum Maro Dum not because he had to pave the way for his son when Dev Anand, in spite of their long association, ignored him and appointed RD Burman as music director Hare Rama Hare Krishna but because he thought his son had forsaken him.
- "He was dismayed when he heard the recording of the song Dum Maro Dum in the studio. He was upset; he thought his son who carried his flag, whom he had taught music from childhood, had forsaken him.
- "Was it a repudiation of inherited culture? Was it an attempt to disown his father? Rahul saw his father slowly walking out of the studio with his head bowed down. It looked as if a defeated king was retreating from battle," the book says.
- SD Burman also had great love for football and tennis and was quite adept at these games.
- "Nothing could keep him away from the football ground if there was a match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. A diehard supporter of East Bengal, he would stop eating if the team lost a match, weep copious tears in anger and sorrow, and it would take days for him to get back to his jovial mood," the author says.
- He narrates an incident regarding Mr Burman's attachment to football during the time he suffered from a paralytic attack during the recording of the songs for Mili, which was completed by RD Burman.
- "Sachin was in deep coma and efforts to revive him were of no avail. It was only once that he is reported to have opened his eyes. The day East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan 5-0 in a league match; Rahul shouted the news to his father who opened his eyes for one last time and never thereafter," he writes.
- The book also describes how SD Burman had to struggle to create a name for himself in the music world.
- "Forty-five long years of disappointments, humiliations and rejection, of continuous hard work, incessant practice and constant experimentation with his art led to victory, the sweet smell of success and international fame."
- When Mr Burman approached His Master's Voice (HMV) in the 1930s, the recording company asked him to undergo an audition test. He, however, failed in the test.
- "Sachin was informed that his nasal voice was not fit for recording and that the market would not accept it... He was shattered," the author says.
- But despite HMV's refusal, SD Burman would not be denied his rightful glory. He cultivated folk music and established it in the highest throne of the durbar of world's music.
Musician Sachin Dev Burman wasterribly upset with his son Rahul Dev Burman's composition in
HareRama Hare Krishna and walked out of the studio when he heardthe recording of the song
Dum Maro Dum.
This and several other interesting facts about the legendfind mention in a book 'S D Burman: The World of His Music' bywriter Khagesh Dev Burman.
Published by Rupa and translated to English by the authorand S K Ray Chaudhuri, the book has a detailed list ofMr Burman's songs and analysis of his unique style and music.
Quoting extensively from the musician's memoir, 'SargamerNikhad', the author delves into his childhood, things thatshaped his character and musical talent, the days of struggle- and the rise of the maestro.
Even though RD Burman cut a path of music very different fromhis father's for himself, he could not escape the influence ofhis father. Sachin groomed him as a composer and encouragedhim to learn to play different instruments, says the author.
He was not hurt with the music of
Dum Maro Dum notbecause he had to pave the way for his son when Dev Anand, inspite of their long association, ignored him and appointedRD Burman as music director
Hare Rama Hare Krishna but becausehe thought his son had forsaken him.
"He was dismayed when he heard the recording of the song
Dum Maro Dum in the studio. He was upset; he thought his sonwho carried his flag, whom he had taught music from childhood,had forsaken him.
"Was it a repudiation of inherited culture? Was it anattempt to disown his father? Rahul saw his father slowlywalking out of the studio with his head bowed down. It lookedas if a defeated king was retreating from battle," the booksays.
SD Burman also had great love for football and tennis and wasquite adept at these games.
"Nothing could keep him away from the football ground ifthere was a match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Adiehard supporter of East Bengal, he would stop eating if theteam lost a match, weep copious tears in anger and sorrow, andit would take days for him to get back to his jovial mood,"the author says.
He narrates an incident regarding Mr Burman's attachment tofootball during the time he suffered from a paralytic attackduring the recording of the songs for
Mili, which wascompleted by RD Burman.
"Sachin was in deep coma and efforts to revive him were ofno avail. It was only once that he is reported to have openedhis eyes. The day East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan 5-0 in aleague match; Rahul shouted the news to his father who openedhis eyes for one last time and never thereafter," he writes.
The book also describes how SD Burman had to struggle tocreate a name for himself in the music world.
"Forty-five long years of disappointments, humiliationsand rejection, of continuous hard work, incessant practice andconstant experimentation with his art led to victory, thesweet smell of success and international fame."
When Mr Burman approached His Master's Voice (HMV) in the1930s, the recording company asked him to undergo an auditiontest. He, however, failed in the test.
"Sachin was informed that his nasal voice was not fit forrecording and that the market would not accept it... He wasshattered," the author says.
But despite HMV's refusal, SD Burman would not be denied hisrightful glory. He cultivated folk music and established it inthe highest throne of the durbar of world's music.