A tribute to SD Burman on his 44th death anniversary with guest article by Moti Lalwani
(The month of October starts with SD Burman (b. 1 October 1906 – d. 31 October 1975) and ends with him. Around the time I was thinking of writing a review of HQ Chowdhury’s ‘Incomparable Sachin Dev Burman’, Moti Lalwani, a renowned authority on the maestro, sent me a number of his articles on him. Even though SD Burman is the most comprehensively covered artiste on the Songs of Yore, I decided to celebrate the month of October 2019 as the month of SD Burman, entirely with guest articles by Mr Lalwani. This is the fourth and the culminating article in the celebration, after his earlier articles on SD Burman’s role in the success of Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt, and his reputation as the pioneer of composing the tune first.
Mr Lalwani had long been passionate about the music of SD Burman, even when he was a Mechanical Engineer with L&T. After retiring from the company more than two decades ago, an octogenarian Mr Lalwani has since devoted his life to serious study and research on SD Burman. His channel on the YouTube has over 150 videos of interviews etc. of people associated with Burman Da. He manages a Facebook group on the maestro, which has about 7600 members. Mr Lalwani has been quoted a number of times in Mr Chowdhury’s book, and Sathya Saran’s ‘Sun Mere Bandhu Re’ is largely based on his material.
The Grand Finale of the series is a befitting article, a very poignant piece about Sachin Karta’s visit to Agartala in 1948-49, his ancestral Princely State, on the 12th day ritual of his elder brother’s shraddh. He had already given up his princely role and had surrendered himself to music. No more a royal, he nevertheless received a royal welcome as the King of Music. This turned out to be his last visit. – AK)
The news of a rare visit to Agartala by Kumar Sachin Dev Burman, aka Sachin Karta, used to spread like wild fire. After all, Sachin Karta was a scion of the royal family who had broken away from the mould to pursue his passion for music, a taboo in the royal family. The royals were supposed to encourage promotion of various arts including music, certainly not make a career out of it. In his case, Kumar Sachin Dev Burman had declined an offer to become a minister of education in the Tripura cabinet, where, once his late father was the Prime Minister.
The news of Karta’s arrival would travel fast. And there would be excitement all over Agartala, with residents gossiping about his whereabouts. Someone would say, ‘Karta had been seen fishing’. So, part of the crowd would leave to go around the nearby ponds of the kingdom to trace Karta for a look at his fair, lean and tall frame from a distance.
Someone else would comment, ‘There is no need to look for him everywhere’, adding that there was a football match scheduled in the evening at ‘Umakanta Academy’ school grounds, where Karta was to be the referee. He was bound to come there. And, the crowd would start collecting hours before the scheduled start of the match at the school grounds, eagerly looking forward to seeing their beloved Karta about whom they had heard a lot, but seen occasionally.
Karta was fond of playing a number of sports in his younger days, football being one of his great passions. As he grew up and became busy, he had started refereeing important matches whenever the opportunity arose. With a whistle in his mouth, sleeves of his white silk kurta rolled up, his white dhoti half folded up and tucked-in at the waist, Karta would run along the entire field, wherever the action shifted. He did a good job of refereeing, as the information goes.
Karta was very close to his elder brother Captain Prafulla Kumar Dev Burman, who had studied at ‘Shiksha Mandir’ in Gurudev Tagore’s ‘Shantiniketan’, and later at St Paul’s School in Darjeeling. He had become the military secretary to the king, and was considered his right hand man. During such visits, Karta would take out time to be with Prafulla Kumar, and try to meet others he was close to.
Then tragedy struck the family, when Prafulla Karta died in Agartala, sometime in 1948-49. Sachin Karta was away in Bombay (Mumbai) and could not be present for the cremation, but later flew in for the 12th day shraddha rituals.
On the 12th day, Sachin Karta, accompanied by some of the royal family members and friends proceeded barefoot to the ‘shmashaan ghat’ (cremation ground). After the rituals were over, the entourage proceeded to the temple to pray there. With eyes welled up in grief, Sachin Karta sang ‘biraha’ (separation) songs in Bhatiali and bhajans (devotional songs) during the entire route. Many others from the crowd too joined Karta in singing. Thousands of heartbroken people had lined up. Not one eye was dry anywhere, there was so much pathos in Karta’s voice.
That was the last time Sachin Karta visited Agartala.
(As narrated by Girindra Majumdar, who was a seven-year-old child when he had witnessed the proceedings of the tragic day. Besides being there as part of the crowd, this rare incident became etched in his memory as the elders in the family would regularly reminisce about it. Girindra Majumdar has done extensive research on Sachin Karta and his music. He is a recipient of the ‘Sachin Dev Burman Memorial Award’ conferred by Tripura government.)
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
On SDB’s Remembrance Day, I shall remember his beautiful Bhajan, the lyrics of which are apt for the incidents narrated in the post.
KAALA BAZAAR, 1960.
Geeta Dutt,Sudha Malhotra; Shailendra.
ना मैं धन चाहूं ,ना रतन चाहूं
तेरे चरणों की धूल मिल जाए
तो मैं ठहर (टर?) जाऊं …..
लाए क्या थे जो लेके जाना है ?
नेक दिल ही तेरा खजाना है
शाम होते ही पंछी आ जाए
अब तो घर जाऊं, अपने घर जाऊं…..
Moti ji,
I had read a post by Shubha Mudgal where she says SDB’s marriage to Meera Dasgupta against his family’s wishes was the cause for his alienation from his folk. But, thankfully, he had found his real soulmate in her. Are these facts or fiction?
SDB had recorded two songs in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
These remained obscure for many decades until they were reissued by Hindustan Records ( were they the first company to have recorded him in 1932?) in the year 2007.
Gundham hamare Gandhi Ji
Shubh naam hamare Gandhi Ji…
&
Sab desh ke Janta tumhe ro ro ke pukare..
It is a mystery why no SDB photograph shows him smiling. Not even the pictures posted today . The H Q Choudhury book cover also does not show him smiling. Perhaps he never smiled . But he gave great music .
One of the hon’ble members of this group has also stated that in his autobiography SDB never mentioned Rafi who was the singer in many of SDBs memorable compositions . Many questions remain unanswered about this great MD who had crores of followers.
A song on this day …
Film …’ Kaala Pani ‘ ,1958
Song … ‘ Hum bekhudi mein tumko…’
Singer … Rafi
MD …. SDB
https://youtu.be/7dtSD6hI-yI
So that brings to an end a fascinating remembrance of S D Burman in 4 episodes. Thanks Lalwani ji and thanks AK.
I have only one query. When and how “Kumar Sachin Dev Burman” became “Sachin Karta”. What is the story or background to that? I had never come across he being referred to as such.
Dr. Shetty @ 1
ना मैं धन चाहूं ,ना रतन चाहूं
तेरे चरणों की धूल मिल जाए
तो मैं ठहर (टर?) जाऊं …..
it is तो मई तर जाऊं
तर जाऊं is the Sufi concept of
तैर के पार उतर जाना
Gulzar has used it this item song 🙂
https://youtu.be/Zm48_yyiF-w?t=62
Mumbaikar ji,
Thank you for the information.
Learnt the proper meaning.
I knew I didn’t have the correct word and hence used the bracket and the question mark.
Much has been written about the great MD SD Burman in this month and postings from lot many blog members.
Which was the first hit song composed by SDB, In my opinion the song
– though a sad number – from the film Do Bhai released in 1947 –
” mera sundar sapna beeth gaya” sung by Geetha Dutt. I may be wrong
but correct it if so.
Moti Lalwaniji,
Thanks for sharing the write-up on Sachin Karta’s last visit to Agartala.
Six years ago AKji had posted the song ‘Shyam roop dhariya’ (lyrics Shailen Roy) in the post titled ‘The ultimate SD Burman: His pure Bengali songs’ with the English translation. I am re-posting it as my tributes to S D Burman.
Here is what AKji wrote then,
‘One of the Yaksha Prashna put to Yudhishthir was, “What is the greatest wonder?” Yudhishthir replied that everyone knew that whoever has come to the earth has to go one day, yet everyone wants to live for ever. Can anything be a bigger wonder than this? This is a song which expresses a mystical attraction for death. All the favourite imageries which defined the essence of SD Burman’s music – the river, boatman, flute – are here. “The boatman who helps me cross the river, plays the flute, hearing which we are enchanted. Let me then walk to the Yamuna of death”.’
Translation
Death has come in the avatar of Shyam (Krishna)
The bird soul just cannot be restrained
Let me then walk to the Yamuna of death.
The boatman who helps me cross the river,
Plays the flute, hearing which we are enchanted,
Let me then walk to the Yamuna of death.
Let the earthly body and earthly pride remain behind.
Death comes draped in all finery,
The mystic regards the earthly life as shackles on his feet,
He would never trade the priceless gem for a plain piece of glass,
It is the preponderance of the “I” that causes the problems,
Let me walk to the Yamuna of death.
The bird soul just cannot be restrained
The bird soul would without hesitation, discard the bodily dwelling
And given a chance, ascend upwards to the blue heavens,
Having first encountered the blue of the Yamuna of death
It would readily leave the wedding feast, leaving the forlorn groom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=175&v=Yrdq2ro37X8
N Venkataraman ji @9;
Yourself…..”….All the favourite imageries which defined the essence of SD Burman’s music – the river, boatman, flute – are here. “The boatman who helps me cross the river, plays the flute, hearing which we are enchanted. Let me then walk to the Yamuna of death”.’……
A great appraisal for this beautiful folk song beautifully composed by Burman da . Boats , flutes and shores fascinate me too. After hearing this song I am reminded of one such folk song from Goa …whose lyrics matches translation of the posted Bengali song …..will post when found .
Meanwhile very close one of Goa folk song is from western side …and here it is …..
Red Sails in the Sunset by Nat King Cole W/ Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNjhE0uXFnY
Some where reference came about SDB not smiling most of the time and his appearance in fotos ….not smiling . But for me if you hear his songs and watch his foto simultaneously …. that is going to bring many smiles on you. His smile is not less than Mona Lisa that hides many secrets !! His music is sailing of hidden smiles in Nautical miles. I will rate his face as Post card smile . Post card …..as they grow old….becomes expensive ….like vintage tastes . SDB music will always remain collectors items ….a pedestal for fireplace to cherish .
Moti Lalwani:
The series of articles by Moti Lalawani in the Blog of SoY created by AK has the crowning glory to enrich the members and the connoisseurs of film music and especially those who become touched deeply at the heart by the rare musical treasury of S.D.’s all kinds and categories of music.
Mr Moti Lalawani to our fortune brought to our perspective, the aspects and opulence, I in particular am very grateful to him for this luxury. I thank thee sir the sage of “SD Musicality” for your great gift of studiousness and easy writing art.
It is sad the series now finished but this October will be always remembered by the autumnal colours of SD the prince of Tripura.
I often remember the film “Manzil” 1960 Directed by Mandi Burman, Music by S.D.Burman well acted by Nutan and Dev Anand set on the backdrop of the Himalayan Simala had a theme from an England returned hero ‘s fight to prove himself and also raise up the issue that music is as prestigious as other professions.
The father of the hero condemns music as the beggars’ estate and not of the cultivated gentlemen of higher apparel. The theme I tried to touch in my post “Would there ever be another Lata Mangeshkar?” opus.
Apart from giving rich musical experience throughout SD’ numerous experiments in music there was a sub-line in his life to create dignity to the film music as princely as possible and I think he has achieved it.
In this long journey there probably were many tragic scenes behind the silver lining about his wife’s mental health, his sons R.D’s want of good family support in his childhood etc. when he dismally needed it.
Perhaps Mr Lalawani could explore following themes which play in my mind:
S.D.Burman and Dev Anand
S.D.Burman and the Mental Health of Meera Dasgupta
S.D.Burman and R.D.Burman
S,D.Burman and Lata Mangeshkar (this probably will include Asha and Suman)
S.D.Burman and his journeys into his creativities in various categories of the film music he enriched by his own energetic aesthetics.
S.D. Burman and his Rival Salil Chowdhury (critical study)
Shalan Lal
N.Venkatraman @-09 & kasbhatia @ 10
You both have enriched the comment column by giving very good examples of the Boatman & River.
I believe that there are a few songs in the “Geeatanjali” about Boatman, river and crossing over, in the spiritual sense.
In Greek mythology, Charon is the is the ferryman who carries souls of the newly deceased across the river Styx into Hades, the realm of the dead. A coin to pay Charon for passage, was placed on the eyelids or in the mouth of a dead person.
For me a disbeliever following song is my forever friend:
Ferry Me Across the Water
by Christina Rossetti
“Ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.”
“If you’ve a penny in your purse
I’ll ferry you.”
“I have a penny in my purse,
And my eyes are blue;
So ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.”
“Step into my ferry-boat,
Be they (eyes) black or blue,
And for the penny in your purse
I’ll ferry you.”
Christina Rossetti was a famous Victorian children’s and adult’s poems writer. She also belonged to the famous art movement called ”
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood”, her artist brother
called “Dante Gabriel Rossetti (painter, poet) did the covers of her poetry books which themselves became great artworks.
Shalan Lal
Shalan Lal ji,
Hope you are doing fine.
Winter must be fast approaching.
Call it serendipity or coincidence. I happened to read a Boat Poem from Gurudev Tagore’s GEETANJALI just a few days back.
I MUST LAUNCH OUT MY BOAT.
I must launch out my boat
The languid hours pass by on the shore_ Alas for me!
The Spring has done it’s flowering and taken leave.
And now with the burden of faded futile flowers I wait and linger.
The waves have become clamorous
And upon the bank in the shady lane
The yellow leaves flutter and fall.
Little gloomy scenario,I should say,but a vivid description, nevertheless!
I will come back with my first encounter with Christina Rossetti….in my school text books!
Ms. Shalan Lal ji @12;
The folk song of Goa I was referring to at #10 is quite similar to Christina Rossetti song posted by yourself . In Goa song the girl is offering ring to boatman to take across the river which is in spate…and her lover is at other bank of the vast river. Perhaps inspired from this folk song seems to be the one from Chori Chori….us paar saajan is paar dhhare…a beautiful song …favorite of mine and Hans ji .
Such songs happen to touch core of our heart and take refuge in our folds . In my youth days I was always fascinated with that beautiful word …Patwar. ….and used to imagine what will happen if it gets slipped from the hands of Maajhi !
My interests in such subjects do leads to western side immediately . Right now I am thinking of another of my favorite song …..River of no return . The lyrics , the song and beautiful filming along the high and low waves is fantastic . Two versions are there and both are worth weighing in gold .
River of No Return 1)Robert Mitchum/Marilyn Monroe- Rivière sans retour (En/Fr Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCbECNhSPII
River of no Return 2)Marilyn Monroe/Finale- Rivière sans retour (En/Fr Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWH89fbKWa0
Thanks you for your complements and comments.
Dr Pradeep Kumar Shetty @13;
I MUST LAUNCH OUT MY BOAT……This simple quote has brought many memories of my posting at Assam during 79/80 . I was head there …responsible for flood forecasting of rivers of the north east and issuing flood warnings to state and district administrations . Monsoon in north east start early and leave late till mid October . The monsoon season always witness five or six high floods and require great machinery to help locals to move to safer places.
So the flood season was a tough job for all of my staff ….some of them had to be 24 hours alert watching and reporting river water levels every hour……from remote places…some working in the dark forests of north east like Darranga and Muttanga wild forests. Large Boats were required to measure gigantic Brahmaputra river bed for sediment erosion and deposition of eroded soils.
But after mid October ….having river receded…staff gets into relaxed mode….writing monitoring and appraisal reports getting it into binding presentation. The data so prepared was shared with central agency and some of it was passed on to neighboring countries.
In relaxed mood my outings were generally famous bazaars of gawahati . The fancy bazaar and others used to have loud speaker system and all the time playing Burman Da and Bhupen Hazarika’s folk songs ….mainly on rivers , boats and religious connected songs. The atmosphere was a great one as you travel thru the bazaar . Myself on Jeep always got respect from all and was famous as myself was the only Sikh among all of the central govt offices located at gawahati . Of course Punjab and sind bank and Gurudwara was there where one could find many of sikhs from punjabi community.
Back to Burman da ‘s songs , here are two of my favorite songs from Devdas ….which I passionately watch for its beautiful picturisation. Mind always dictates thoughts. For best thoughts one’s feets should be dust free too.
Mitwa Lagi Re Yeh Kaisi (HD) – Devdas (1955)…Talat at his best and so also SDB and Dilip Kumar closeup expressions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=218py1kN1AU
Manzil Ki Chaah Mai (HD) – Devdas….Rafi in great form ….simple lyrics great meaning . Bimal Roy’s exceptional work of art . beautiful…simply beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtcnkjlduDw
….will come back with more…..
Dr Shetty @ 13
I admire you for all your film songs and other references at your figure touch or I should say one click away.
Your choice of the song from Geetanjali hits the nail on the head.
There are many references in Mahabharata and Ramayana which are said epic poems and also were sung by the various poets during their time.
There is one immediately comes to the mind when Rama was exiled to the forest he and his brother Laxman and Sita came to the river Ganges to cross over and there is a short dialogue between the boatman and Ram.
Similar also in Mahabharata as well. And I am sure similar crossing over was done by Buddha and Mahaveer Jain as well.
I do not know if similar crossing over was done by Guru Gobindsing as well. Perhaps kasbhatia may like to throw some light on it.
Crossing the river is a spiritual experience. Once I was going to Madras and the train stopped right on the bridge of a huge river probably Krishna river. And the passengers in our compartment and other compartments uttered some religious words and also pronounced as “jai Ganga Bhagirthi” etc and threw coins in the river.
Later on from some regular travellers I heard the train always stopped on the bridge for the passengers to pay their tribute to the river and crossing over.
Strange thing is that once I took a visitor on the Thames river boat and saw Indians in the Thames boat doing the similar kind of ritual and throwing pennies in the river Thames.
There were many documentaries on the River Thames. One was about Thames in the time of Roman period. The commentator of this programme mentioned that Romans also threw coins in the River Thames when they crossed it. And occasionally when there is low tide in the sea the river becomes dried up showing sandy and muddy sides and some people walk and collect lot of ancient things dropped in the river and they also find Roman coins and old English coins as well.
Incidentally the name Thames means dark river closer to the meaning of the River Tamasa. Thames is a Gallic name and the English kept it as it was.
Shalan
When I learnt that Sh Lalwani ji has uploaded over 150 YouTube interviews I have started searching for some index on this collection as it would become easier to select and listen from this mountain of information. Years back when I started exploring the working involved in the world of HFM I was a beginner but howsoever more I read , I am still at the same position as a beginner/learner. The music that we hear is not only the voice of some singers . Sh Lalwani ji has done great work and not only enlightened the public about SDB but also given credit to and shown us many unsung musicians and their life and other realities of the HFM world. The pleasant music of any HFS is from so many instruments played in coordination along with the singer . Many of the beautiful instruments I have not seen and do not know about their characteristics and specifications. Also no idea about the great accompanying skilled musicians on these instruments. HFM industry does not give credit to the so many unsung musicians who contribute to the song.
Boatmen songs are very popular in HFM . Where rivers are used in daily life , boatmen songs are common . Here is a song in the voice of SDB based on perhaps a boatmen folk song …
https://youtu.be/XurZtjUhhAs
SDB always sings in the background. The reason for SDB not allowing his voice to be on the lips of any actor is not very convincing to me and only he knew the real reasons for this .
There are so many songs referring to boatmen but I do not know if they are based on some real boatmen songs , like …from ‘Char Paise’ ,1955 , MD BD Burman , ‘ Maajhi meri nayya ko ji chahe ..’
https://youtu.be/O3x7ZhWU2uA
Another from ‘ Hum Hindustani ‘ 1960 , MD Usha Khanna , ‘ Maajhi meri kismet ke ji chahe…’
https://youtu.be/P_nHtNFe6XY
The Volga river (mainly in Russia), which is the greatest river in Europe has its Volga boatmen song which is extremely popular and based on a Russian folk song which was eventually developed by many celebrity composers and played under many great conductors across the world. Also played on many instruments . The song is related to boat haulers along the Volga river who had to do extremely hard labour. Here is one accordion version of the song …
https://youtu.be/5YmhzF0Ec0k
30 years back I would just hear one version of this song but now the YouTube and Google gives a lot of variety and information on this Volga boatmen song.
How a simple boatmen song attains importance and becomes popular across the globe !!
SDB , Rafi , Lata , Madan Mohan, SJ , Salil Choudhury and so many others of HFM who had crores of fan followers , all were geniuses. They were special and rightly deserve respect. SDB tirelessly worked for giving his best compositions that were easy and appealing for the common people.
I wish Lalwani ji continued success in his mission.
N Venkatramanji,
Bhatiaji,
Dr Shetty.
Shalan Lalji :
This clip from the movie Siddharth,based on the novel of the same name by Nobel Laureate Hermann Hesse, may be of interest to you all. Hemanta Kumar was the MD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBAw2cTve1s
arvind ji @18;
Thanks for the clip . Hemant, SDB voice is like a Boatman/ Majhi heart core voice that sails as smoothly as the boats on calm rivers. Remember Hemant’ s soul rendition in Kabuliwala…..Ganga aaye kahan se.!
Nauv, Kishti, Patwar , Kinara ….and so many connected words ….varying in themes with happy …..and some time not so ….sailing over troubled waters ….do bring a nostalgic feelings as we explore thru our own past .
Two songs ….when wind is favorable and sailing is smooth…
Taaron Ki Jubaan Par Hai Mohabbat Ki Kahani…Rafi , Lata… Nausherwa E Adil…..C Ramchandra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCPs7QvjTSE
Dam Bhar Jo Udhar (HD) Mukesh, Lata – Awara 1951 – Music Shankar Jaikishan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UCotytkQc
Er.Moti Lalwaniji,
Dev anand starer one of the movie …..Yeh gulistan Hamara….was made in North east some time in early 70s with SDB as MD . There is one unique song which was sung by Lata, SDB and RDB . I have a doubt whether SDB actually sang along with Lata and RDB.
Yeh Gulistan Hamara (1972)- Raina Soyi Soyi Naina Jage (Lata Mangeshkar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gycEjcD6M1c
In another song from the same movie ….who sang …and what words are spoken in its interludes….
Kya Yeh Zindagi Hai – Lata and chorus – Yeh Gulistan Hamara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2m8CspvtNw
Bhatiaji @ 10 & Shalanji @ 12,
I have just repeated what AKji had posted 6 years back. The credit goes to AKji.
Bhatiaji,
“Red Sails in the Sunset” made good listening in Nat King Cole’s voice. Thanks for posting the romantic song.
And again you are at your poetic best in expressing your thoughts on SDB’s appearance in photos. You have a special way with words.
Shalanji,
Christina Rossetti’s “Ferry Me Across the Water” sent my thoughts back to my school days. Thank you for sharing the Poem and the details of the author and alsothe information on its connection with the Greek mythological background on ferrying across the river.
You say you are a disbeliever. Do you really need a god/ gods to be truly spiritual?
Pradeepji @13,
As Shalanji as said there are a few songs in the “Geeatanjali” about Boatman, river and crossing over, in the spiritual sense. And you have posted a wonderful poem of Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur. There is one more stanza which may not have been there in the translated version that you read.
Here is the translation of the last stanza,
What emptiness do you gaze upon!
Do you not feel a thrill passing through the air
With notes of the far away song
Floating from the other shore?
The poet celebrates “Death”.
Here one more poem from his repertoire to in celebration of “Death”
I was not aware of the moment when
I first crossed the threshold of this life.
What was the power that made me open
out into this vast mystery
like a bud in the forest at midnight!
When in the morning I looked upon the light
I felt in a moment that I was no stranger in this world,
that the unfathomable without name and form
Had taken me in its arms
in the form of my own mother.
Even so, in death the same unknown will appear
as ever known to me. And because I love this life,
I know I will love death as well.
The child cries out when from right breast the mother takes it away,
In the very next moment to find
in the left one its consolation.
Dr Pradeep Kumar Shetty @ 2
After the marriage to Meera, SD took her to the palace. The ladies from the royal family did not give the same welcome that a new bride should get. His father who had encouraged him all along was no more, and I don’t have reason to believe that his brothers or their wives behaved badly.
I understand from those who worked with SD, that she was a hot tempered lady. You may have to view some of our interviews on YouTube. I don’t remember part numbers, but Manohari Singh, Anandji, Yogesh, Dubey, Ranjit Gazmer, among others, have spoken about it. Initially, I used to edit it out, but latter as a researcher, I let it pass.
S Joseph @ 4
I have couple of his pics with a smile. He had a good sense of humor, as narrated by others including Majrooh, Manna, KK, RD. Having said that, I would share from what I can say about him.:
– He was much senior by age to others around him.
– By nature he was reserved.
– He was not very fond of being photographed.
– Entire day he was busy in his music. His life and music were one, and music was only thing for him.
– He would keep on composing tunes, finally archiving in cassette tapes for son Pancham to use them. Please view our upload on YouTube, ‘Biography of S.D. Burman by Girindra Majumdar in Bangla, with sub-titles in English. (Part No. no idea?)
– He did not believe in gossip.
– Even though he sometimes attended CMDA (Cine Music Directors Association), he was not interested in their discussions on royalties, etc..
All of above, and more, is supported by solid proofs, any one can have them.
Seeing the present interesting discussions on rivers , majhi , boatmen and such songs , I glanced through the index and notice that long back in 2012 the beautiful themes ‘ Kinare ‘ , ‘ Naiya ‘, ‘ River ‘ have been covered in SOY and a lot of interestig songs and information was brought in by the contributors . Somewhere AK ji even said that ‘ Majhdhar ‘ theme would be taken up. Sadly many of the very hon’ble contributors of those days appear to have retired from SOY and no longer contribute. I always believed that the average age of SOY members will not decrease .
Dinesh K Jain @5
Karta is equivalent of the head of a family, head of a household’, head of a village, and so forth. S. D. Burman was called Boro Karta, or senior Karta, by Bengali gentry in Bombay.
Venkatramn @21
Your reference: You say you are a disbeliever. Do you really need a god/ gods to be truly spiritual”
To me spiritualism means the joy of finding the knowledge through logical argumentations and not religious revealing as often great saints of all religions meet.
Even Gandhi wrote that “he saw his mother when at Brighton he was indulging in the card games and was about to relax with the lady of the house.” This prevented him to break his promise to his mother as he wrote in his “Experiments with Truth.”
I am always Marxist in my outlook. If anything like Gandhi saw I saw I would immediately question my state of mind and my own history of logicality in my life.
But I do give allowances to other who had Gandhian experience. If they are happy or felt they are divinely blessed it is up to them to keep up with such understanding. Many will find it is difficult to live up with it.
And I am free from these kinds of responsibilities and I am blessed with my logicality and that is my spirituality!
Shalan Lal
Shalan Lal ji,
Thank you for your kind words.
N Venkataraman ji,
Thank you so much for the missing verse. It changes the whole poem from being gloomy/ dreary to celebratory,as you rightly pointed out.
Now that Shalan Lal ji has mentioned the Ganga Maiya crossing in the Ramayana, I will add a few more points.
The केवट ( ferryman) was an employee of the Nishad King Guha ( some versions of Ramayana portray Guha himself as the केवट. On being summoned by Guha to ferry Shree Ram, Seeta Maiya and Lakshman across Ganga Maiya, the केवट is overcome with joy because he had all along been a Ram Bhakt, though he had never met him. As Shree Ram was about to board his boat, he stops him with the words:
I have heard that the touch of your feet brought a rock into life and a woman emerged from it! If my boat also turned into a woman on coming into contact with your holy feet, I would lose my only means of livelihood! So, before you board the boat let me wash your feet.
( This, of course,was his pretext for touching the Bhagwan’s feet.)
Having washed Shree Ram’s feet and having ferried them to the other bank of Ganga Maiya, he waits expectantly as they were departing. Thinking that he is waiting for his fare, Seeta Maiya removes the only ring she was wearing on her finger and Shree Ram offers the same to the केवट.
Then , the केवट says:
I don’t take fares from my brethren in the same profession. I ferry people from one shore of Ganga Maiya to the other, while you ferry the Mankind across the ocean of life ( भवसागर). The only thing that I pray for is that you grant me Mukti from the eternal cycle of life and afterlife!
Pleased with him, Bhagwan Shri Ram grants him his wishes.
I think this episode is not in this form in the Ayodhya Kand of Valmiki Ramayana,but added in the later texts.
Mahabharata has a few very important river crossings that are vital to the later developments. I shall come back.
8R Vasudevan @ 8
‘Mera aunder sapna’ was the first song of SD Burman, though he had some hit songs in the earlier films.
N Venkataramanji @ 9
Thanks for bringing to my attention what AK had shared ‘Shyam roop dharia’ song, and the translation was superb. I had not read it earlier, and must thank you for bringing it to my attention. The entire thing is like a piece of art.
Regards.
ksbhatia ji @ 10, and N Venkataraman ji @9
I am sharing two excerpts from SD Burman’s autobiography which was serialised in Desh Magazine in 1969. I am sure you will love it.
“In the Royal Palace of Tripura everyone sings, from the King to the Servants.” Nobody is born there who cannot sing: Farmers, boatmen, fishermen, weavers, labourers, all sing there while doing their jobs. People there have god-gifted voice and music-sense. I am from that soil of Tripura; probably that is why my life passed by singing. Music is my first love.”
“In Calcutta, I always remembered the old days of home. I recalled the days of singing and playing flute around the three lakes at home. Another proverb is that, “Everybody at Tripura can play flute”. Since the days of early awareness, I used to play the typical “Tiprai flute.”
Dr Shetty @ 29
You have brought the story very alive and in a true lover of Ram-Katha from Ramayana whatever version it might be. Thank you very much.
As a reward I quote a verse from Bhagvadgita Chapter 18 for you:
मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि ।
अथ चेत्त्वमहङ्कारान्न श्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि ॥ १८-५८॥
Măchchĭttăḥ sărvădŭrăgāṇĭ mătprăsādăttărĭṣyăsĭ
Ăthă chèttvămăhăṃkārānnă śhroṣyăsĭ vĭnăṅkṣhyăsĭ 18.58
With the mind on me and by my grace you will climb all the mountains.
In the hauteur, heed me not and you will be self-destroyed.70 18.58
मत् = of Me चित्तः = being in consciousness सर्व = all दुर्गाणि = impediments
मत्प्रसादात् = by My mercy तरिष्यसि = you will overcome, swim through etc
अथ = but चेत् = if
त्वं = you अहङ्कारात् = by false ego न श्रोस्यसि = do not hear
विनङ्क्ष्यसि = you will be lost. 18-58
Note the word “तरिष्यसि ” =swim through ”
This is just in case people may think that the word “Tairana, Tir” has come to India from Arabic or Farsi origin.
Shalan
Shalan Lal ji @ 11
Thank you very much for encouraging words. I am humbled.
During my research on SDB, I have been picking some unknown facts about everyone. I hope one day they see light of day.
Regards.
S Joseph @ 17
Thanks for kind comments.
If you share with me your Email address, I will share with you the links along with the titles.
Regards.
ksbhatia ji @ 20,
In ‘Raina soyi soyi’, besides Lata, SD and RD both have contributed their vocals.
In ‘Kya yeh zindagi hai’, it is SDB for sure who has sung ‘Ek ??? lage na’. The film is of North East as rightly stated by you, so they could local pahadi words. Incidentally, Lata has gone on record that this is one of her favourite songs.
Regards.
Arvindji @ 18
Thanks for posting this nice song on the theme of rivers. Originally, the song was written for the film “Neel Akasher Neeche” (1959) by Gauriprasanna Majumdar. Hemanta Mukherjee was the MD for this film too.
Here is the link to the song from Neel Aakasher Neeche (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TigG9ldixbc
Thank you Arvind ji for the beautiful clip from ‘ Siddhartha ‘ (4/11/19) . Brings back old memories of when I had seen this movie during the IFFI screening in the 70s but I do not recollect the words spoken here … these profound words are out of the real life experience of someone else ahnd cannot stay long with a common man.
I also thank Venkatraman ji for posting the original song (7/11/19) with the subtitles.