December 2, 2018

Raga Based Gems from SD Burman

The King of Manipur married the princess of the royal family of Tripura. They had five children. When the youngest prince was born on 1st October 1906, the prince was named Sachin. He was barely two years old, his mother passed away. Sachin grew up in boarding schools but his obsession was music. In 1924 after graduation he decided to get trained in music. The legendary musician KC Dey was the first musical guru for SD Burman. He also learned from Bhishmadev Chattopadhyay and Ustad Allauddin Khan.

SD Burman was a very successful composer and singer in Bengali cinema when he decided to move to Bombay to try his luck as a composer for Hindi films – a language he barely knew. He brought in the sound of folk music of the East to Bollywood.

I would love to know which five songs of SD you would choose as the finest examples of folk music in popular melodies? Today I want to play some raga based gems composed by SD.

Raga Jhinjhoti: The film Guide (1965) has a few raga based gems. SD was nominated for the Film fare award for the Best Music Director but never won. This film has two Jhinjhoti based songs – Kya se Kya Ho Gaya and my favorite, Saiyyan Beiman is one of the finest examples of this evening raga.

Raga Patdeep: This raga sounds is at its best between 4pm and 6pm and depicts the pangs of separation from the beloved. SD used it in the film Sharmilee. The song Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat is a good example of Rag Patdeep. The song begins with a Western sound and then moves to a classical sound with the sitar leading. The antara has a small segment of the Rabindra Sangeet Laho laho tule laho in the antara. https://youtu.be/2aQDjbwc-v83.

Raga Pilu: During the years 1958-62, SD Burman and Lata Mangeshkar parted ways. During this time Asha Bhosle sang one of the finest examples of Raga Pilu. According to folklore, SD Burman asked him to imagine the feeling of isolation and homesickness a woman feels when she is not allowed by her in-laws to visit her parents. Ab ke baras

Chhayanat: This is a late evening raga that sounds its melodious best between 8pm and 10pm at night. SD Burman gave us one of the gems that Manna Dey sang to perfection. This song from Talash is one such example Tere naina talaash kare jise

Ahir Bhairav: According to legend, this raga was inspired by the sound of the cowbells as the Ahirs take their cattle to the fields to graze. Read more about the Charm of Ahir Bhairav <click here>. This song Puchho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitayi written by lyricist Shailendra and set to Raga Ahir Bhairav by SD Burman and sung by Manna Dey for the film Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (’63) will always remain the best example of this raga being used in Bollywood. Poocho na Kaise

Let me end with a small quiz:

This Raga Pahadi based hit Bengali song was later adapted by SD for Dev Anand’s film Prem Pujari. It is the MOST popular song sung by Kishore Kumar fans. Name the Bengali song .For the answer listen to the first track in this compilation of SD compositions. https://youtu.be/nsy4MJ5eiBI

Use the samay chakra to find out when your favorite raga will sound its melodious best …

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12 Comments

Smita says:

December 3, 2018 at 4:35 AM

Phoolon ke rang se?How wonderful to read this piece in your blog. Hope it inspires all of us to embrace and showcase our whole and true selves.

Reply
- Abhijit Bhaduri says:
  
  December 3, 2018 at 5:45 AM
  
  Yes that is correct! Check out Mono Dilo Na Bodhu to see which Hindi song was a remake of this song
  
  Reply
  - Sharmila says:
    
    March 2, 2020 at 5:25 PM
    
    jaane tu ne kya kahin, maine kya suni .. baate kuchh banhee gayee
    
    Reply
  - S CHAKRAVARTY says:
    
    May 26, 2023 at 5:57 AM
    
    Jaane kya tune kahi, jane kya maine suni, baat kuchh ban hi gayi FILM PYAASA of GURU DUTT
    
    Reply
Human Engineers | Raga Based Gems from SD Burman says:

August 29, 2019 at 3:39 PM

[…] Republished with permission and originally published at abhijitbhaduri.com […]

Reply
Namita Gupta says:

March 1, 2020 at 1:38 PM

What a fantastic article! Would you know which raga is this song based on?নয়ন সরসী কেন ভরেছে জলে?https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YnvW9WTEdfw

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Shrinivas Bhatwadekar says:

May 14, 2020 at 11:22 AM

Thanks for wonderful article. Film Talaash has two songs based on ragas not commonly found in Hindi films.’Tore Naina ‘in Raag Chhayanat & ‘Khai hai re hum ne kasam sang rahene ki’ in Raag Barva. What a composition !! The songs still appear so fresh.

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Aditya Ashok Prabhu says:

July 6, 2020 at 5:29 AM

Thank you for this lovely article. Opened my ears to a lot of unexplored sounds.

Reply
MANOJ WADHWANI says:

July 19, 2020 at 6:19 AM

What is the Bengali version of the song MEGHA CHAYE ADHI RAAT ? Can’t find but I have heard .

Reply
- Abhijit Bhaduri says:
  
  July 22, 2020 at 1:01 AM
  
  This Rabindra Sangeet is also on Raga Patdeep.https://youtu.be/-lXdM8Q0JbMNot sure of a SD Burman composition in Bengali that translated to Megha Chhaye. If anyone knows please share. Thanks
  
  Reply
Anita Javir says:

September 5, 2020 at 1:51 PM

Very informative.. fabulous article

Reply
संदेश प्रधान says:

December 16, 2021 at 12:56 PM

बहुत बढिया लिखा है ।
धन्यवाद ।

Reply