S D Burman

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S D Burman was born on 1 October 1906 into a royal family. His parents were Rajkumar Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman, royal Prince of Tripura and Rajkumari Nirmala Devi, the royal princess of Manipur. His mother died when he was just two years of age but his father brought him up with love and affection. As a child, S D Burman loved fishing and football and was passionate about the music. Gifted by a golden voice he would sing Bengali folk music. At school at and college, he would win awards in singing. Watching his passion for Music his father imparted him Hindustani classical music by eminent musical gurus and this laid the seed of Burman becoming an accomplished Music Director and a good singer.

S D Burman was the Music Teacher of Meera Dasgupta but soon the duo fell in love and came close. However, there was a stiff objection from S D Burman's father as Meera did not hail from a royal family. Eventually, in a filmy style, S D Burman kicked royalty and instead embraced love. The couple married and gave birth to Pancham aka RD Burman in 1939.

1930

S D Burman won popularity as a singer

In the early 30's S.D. Burman began as a singer for Calcutta Radio Station. His first record was also released in 1932 and soon he gained popularity and released as many as 131 songs in Bengali. His songs were Bengali folk and light Hindustani classical music. He sang for some top music directors like Himangsu Dutta, RC Boral, Nazrul Islam, etc.

Later, after Burman Dada became a proficient music director in Bollywood he continued his passion for singing but sung only under his music own compositions. Few of the songs sung by him are 'Sun Mere Bandhu Re' — Sujata (1960); O Re Majhi' — Bandini (1963); Wahan Kaun Hai Tera' — Guide (1965) and the iconic song 'Kaahe Ko Roye, Safal Hogi Teri Aradhana…. — Aradhana (1969) for which S.D. Burman won National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

SD Burman started his career as Music Director from Theater

In the mid 30's SD Burman started his career as Music Director from Bengali theatre. One of his songs became so popular that the tune was used for the Bengali film Rajgee (1937). Soon Burman joined Bengali films. His First Film as Independent Music Director was Nirbashan (1940). The songs were hit and he became famous in Bengali cinema.

1940

SD Burman made his presence felt in Bollywood with the hit song Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya…

After gaining success in Bengali Cinema, Bollywood filmmaker S. Mukherjee of Filmistan Film Studio invited S. D.Burman to Bollywood and offered him two films Shikari (1946) and Aath Din (1946) both staring Bollywood star Ashok Kumar. Though the music of the film was not huge it but S. Mukherjee kept patience and finally with the film Do Bhai (1947) S.D. Burman hit the jackpot. The song Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya…… sung by Geeta Dutt, SD Burman became huge hit. SD Burman created a sensation with the next film Shabnam (1949). The song Yeh Duniya Roop ki Chor….sung by Shamshad Begum became a chartbuster.

1950

SD Burman's First Chartbuster song was Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aaye …. 

In the early 50's SD Burman's hit gold with his First Chartbuster song Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aaye sung by Lata Mangeshkar becoming a national craze.  Later the other hit song Yeh raat yeh chaandni phir kahaan, sun jaa dil ki daastaan… (Jaal) became another all-time classic. The song topped the '58 Binaca Geetmala charts, and it opened a flood gate for SD Burman. For the film Taxi Driver SD Burman won his First Filmfare Best Music Director Award. The song Jayen To Jayen Kahan … was a chartbuster and Top at Binaca Geetmala.

S.D. Burman played a pivotal role in making Kishore Kumar a singer

In the 50's S.D. Burman gave a new life to actor Kishore Kumar, who was struggling to find a foothold as a singer in Bollywood with songs Jeevan ke safar mein raahi in Munimji (1955). The song became so popular that Kishore Kumar became the voice of Dev Anand in the 50’s. The duo under the music direction of S.D. Burman gave many hit songs like Dukhi Mann Mere…. Funtoosh (1956); Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke………..( Nau Do Gyarah); Gata Raha Mera Dil….(Guide -1964), Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara…….(Jewel Thief – 1967), etc. But it was with S.D. Burman's Aradhana song Mere sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu …(1969) starring Rajesh Khanna that Kishore Kumar shot ahead of other singers.

SD Burman formed a long association with Dev Anand in '50s

In the 50's SD Burman gave music for Dev Anand's Home Production Navketan's Film Afsar. The film was hit. The song Mann Mor Huaa Matawaal… became a huge hit. Soon SD Burman did Baazi and the song Tadbir Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer…..became a chartbuster and thus began a never-ending long relation between Dev Anand and S.D. Burman. The duo produced many timeless classic musical hit films like Yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahaan (Jaal, 1952); Jayen To Jayen Kahan"; Khoya khoya chaand… (Kaala Bazaar); (Taxi Driver – 1954); Tere Duniya Mein Jeene Se …. (House No. 44); Dukhi Mann Mere…. Funtoosh (1956); Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke………..( Nau Do Gyarah); Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna….(Guide -1964), Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara…….(Jewel Thief – 1967), etc. Few other hits of S.D. Burman and Dev Anand association were Bombai Ka Baboo (1960), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Teen Devian (1965), Prem Pujari, etc.

S.D. Burman rose to dizzy heights in the '50s

In the 50's S.D.Burman rose to dizzy heights of popularity with exceptional music in Bimal Roy's Devdas starring Dilip Kumar. Songs like Aan milo aan milo Shyam sanwre ………brought alive the folk music alive on screen. Songs like Jaane woh kaise log the .. (Pyaasa -1957), Waqt ne kiya kya hasin sitam… (Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959),  Hai Apna Dil To Aawara …..(Solva Saal -1958) and the classic romantic number "Jalte hai jiske liye…… (Sujata).

S.D. Burman ruled the Binaca Geetmala Hit Parade in '50s

Interestingly in the '50s RJ Ameen Sayani started a hit song parade Radio Show Binaca Geetmala from Radio Ceylon and the show became an instant hit. In the 50's S.D. Burman had 4 songs at Top One Position. The program started in 1953 with the song Ye Zindagi Usi Ki Hai….(Anarkali) topping the annual countdown. Later S.D. Burman won top position 4 times viz. Jayen To Jayen Kahan … (Taxi Driver in 1945); Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yaha…….( C.I.D. in 1956); Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara ( Solva Saal in 1958)and Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka…( Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi in 1959).

1960

S.D. Burman proved his mastery in the 60's with his musical score in Guide 

In the '60s when Shanker Jaikishen ruled the roost S.D. Burman proved his genius with the musical score of Guide (1964). The film is regarded as Burman Dada's greatest work. Every song in the film was a hit, be it Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai……, Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hai……..., Din Dhal Jaye, Gaata Rahe Mera Dil….., Piya Tose Naina Lage Re…., Mujhse Chhal Kiye Ja….. and Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya …and  Wahan Kaun Hai Tera ……… But shocking Burman Dada lost out on the Filmfare Award to Shankar-Jaikishan for their populist score in Suraj (1966).

Despite health issues S.D. Burman gave timeless music in ‘60s

 In the 60's S.D. Burman suffered health issues but his music did not lose its gleam. He gave a row of hits Bombai Ka Baboo (1960), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), and Jewel Thief (1967). In 1963, he composed yet another musical masterpiece Meri Surat Teri Aankhen and stunned the world with timeless classical Hindustani Music "Poochho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitaayi...and Naache Man Moraa Magan Dhigadhaa Dhigi Dhigi… In Bandini (1963) the song "Mora Gora Ang lai le, mohe shaam rang daai de …written by debutant Gulzar became a huge hit. 

The '60s ended on a high note with Aradhana becoming a huge hit

The '60s ended on a high note for S.D. Burman as filmmaker Shakti Samanta's experimental film Aradhana created sensations at the box-office. It not only made Rajesh Khanna a Superstar and Kishore Kumar a Star Singer but it brought out the talented R.D.Burman (son of S.D. Burman) on the fore when his composition Roop Tera Mastana……won the Filmfare award to Kishore Kumar for Best Playback singer. The music of Aradhana was the key reason for the film’s success.

The year also ended with another musical blockbuster Talash (1969) starring Rajendra Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. Each song was a super hit Palkon Ke Peechhe Se…Khayi Hai Re Humne Kasam… Aaj Ko Junli Raat Maa……….

1970

S.D. Burman won his last Filmfare Best Music Director Award for Abhimaan

In the 70's S.D. Burman had reduced his work due to falling health condition yet he gave several hit films like Gambler (1971); Naya Zamana (1971); Sharmilee (1971); Tere Mere Sapne (1971); Jugnu (1973); Chupke Chupke (1975). However, the music that lifted his morale was of course Abhimaan (1973). Each song was a real gem – Remember songs like Piya Bina Piya Bina…Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina….Teri Bindiya Re…

S.D. Burman in 1974 won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award for Abhimaan by toppling Laxmikant-Pyarelal for his best score in Bobby and R. D. Burman’s best score in  Yaadon Ki Baaraat. Few other hit films that S.D. Burman scored in the '70s were Anuraag (1972); Prem Nagar (1974); Sagina (1974) and Mili (1975)

S.D. Burman died on 31 October 1975

S.D. Burman died on 31 October 1975 due to prolonged sickness.