The R D Burman Quiz

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Wrong! The correct answer is A. Even though he was the son of legendary musician S D Burman, R D trained under Ali Akbar Khan, and later Ashish Khan. Initially, he assisted his father and often played the harmonica for him. When he later began composing on his own, his first break was Guru Dutt's 1959 Raaz. But in spite of shooting some scenes and recording the songs, the movie was shelved.

Finally, the actor Mehmood gave him his first break with 1961's Chote Nawab. Its Ghar aja ghir aaye was a hit, and he followed this up with Aao twist karein in Mehmood's Bhoot Bangla, a smash hit. There was no looking back.

Correct!
Even though he was the son of legendary musician S D Burman, R D trained under Ali Akbar Khan, and later Ashish Khan. Initially, he assisted his father and often played the harmonica for him. When he later began composing on his own, his first break was Guru Dutt's 1959 Raaz. But in spite of shooting some scenes and recording the songs, the movie was shelved.

Finally, the actor Mehmood gave him his first break with 1961's Chote Nawab. Its Ghar aja ghir aaye was a hit, and he followed this up with Aao twist karein in Mehmood's Bhoot Bangla, a smash hit. There was no looking back.

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Wrong! The correct answer is B. R D Burman got his nickname Pancham from Ashok Kumar. In 1956, when Panchamda was nine, he created a tune his father liked and used for the Fantoosh song Ai meree topee palat ke aa. Again, in 1957, Sachinda used Pancham's tune for the evergreen Pyaasa song Sar jo tera chakraaye, a huge hit.

Dev Anand, Shakti Samanta, Ramesh Sippy, Ramesh Behl, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Nazir Hussain and Gulzar were all great followers of R D Burman. But when Sagar failed at the box office, his staunch supporters vanished. Two people who stood by him like pillars were Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna. He was further shattered when Subhash Ghai, who had promised him Ram Lakhan, gave it to Laxmikant-Pyarelal: the duo who once played instruments in Panchamda's orchestra.

Correct! R D Burman got his nickname Pancham from Ashok Kumar. In 1956, when Panchamda was nine, he created a tune his father liked and used for the Fantoosh song Ai meree topee palat ke aa. Again, in 1957, Sachinda used Pancham's tune for the evergreen Pyaasa song Sar jo tera chakraaye, a huge hit.

Dev Anand, Shakti Samanta, Ramesh Sippy, Ramesh Behl, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Nazir Hussain and Gulzar were all great followers of R D Burman. But when Sagar failed at the box office, his staunch supporters vanished. Two people who stood by him like pillars were Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna. He was further shattered when Subhash Ghai, who had promised him Ram Lakhan, gave it to Laxmikant-Pyarelal: the duo who once played instruments in Panchamda's orchestra.

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Wrong! The correct answer is A. R D Burman often used different sources to create unique sounds for his songs. In Chura liya, he used the sound of a spoon hitting a glass; in Master jee ki aa gayi chitthi, he used desks in a classroom as percussion; in Abdullah he used a bamboo whistle with a balloon tied to it; for O manjhi re he blew into bottles with water filled at different levels to create the hollow sound; Once, a song needed the sound of raindrops, so he spent an entire night sitting in his balcony recording the sound.

Correct! R D Burman often used different sources to create unique sounds for his songs. In Chura liya, he used the sound of a spoon hitting a glass; in Master jee ki aa gayi chitthi, he used desks in a classroom as percussion; in Abdullah he used a bamboo whistle with a balloon tied to it; for O manjhi re he blew into bottles with water filled at different levels to create the hollow sound; Once, a song needed the sound of raindrops, so he spent an entire night sitting in his balcony recording the sound.

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Wrong! The correct answer is C. Pancham made his acting debut in Mehmood's Bhoot Bangla, and also featured in Pyar Ka Mausam, in a comic role as Mr Popat Lal.

Apart from film music, he also composed four non-film music albums of which two were notable -- The international album Pantera in collaboration with Latin American composer, Jose Flores, and Dil Padosi Hai, sung by Asha Bhonsle with lyrics by Gulzar. The others, which were not as well received, were Dil Tera Hua and Tera Mera Pyar Jawan.

R D Burman composed music for a great number of movies, of which 331 were actually released. 292 were in Hindi, 31 in Bangla, 3 in Telugu, 2 each in Tamil and Oriya and 1 in Marathi. He also composed for 5 television serials in Hindi and Marathi, and did a song for a documentary, Maa Ki Pukaar.

Correct! Pancham made his acting debut in Mehmood's Bhoot Bangla, and also featured in Pyar Ka Mausam, in a comic role as Mr Popat Lal.

Apart from film music, he also composed four non-film music albums of which two were notable -- The international album Pantera in collaboration with Latin American composer, Jose Flores, and Dil Padosi Hai, sung by Asha Bhonsle with lyrics by Gulzar. The others, which were not as well received, were Dil Tera Hua and Tera Mera Pyar Jawan.

R D Burman composed music for a great number of movies, of which 331 were actually released. 292 were in Hindi, 31 in Bangla, 3 in Telugu, 2 each in Tamil and Oriya and 1 in Marathi. He also composed for 5 television serials in Hindi and Marathi, and did a song for a documentary, Maa Ki Pukaar.

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Wrong! A lot of R D Burman's hits were inspired by famous international songs. Some of these are:

Tumse hai dil ko pyaar (Teesri Manzil): The Beatles' I wanna hold your hand
Mehbooba O mehbooba (Sholay): Demis Roussoss' Say you love me
O jabtak hai jaan (Sholay): Iranian singer Googoosh's The prelude of Jomeh
Tumse milke (Parinda): Leo Sayer's When I Need You
Milgaya hum ko sathi (Hum Kisise Kam Nahin): ABBA's Mamma Mia
Aao twist karein (Bhoot Bangla): Chubby Checker's Come lets twist
Sapna mera toot gaya (Khel Khel Mein) from Ennio Morricone's The story of a soldier (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
O Maria (Saagar): Opening line inspired by Paul McCartney and Wings' Mamunia
Aa dekhe zara (Rocky): Partly from Jeff Wayne's Eve of the war

Correct! A lot of R D Burman's hits were inspired by famous international songs. Some of these are:

Tumse hai dil ko pyaar (Teesri Manzil): The Beatles' I wanna hold your hand
Mehbooba O mehbooba (Sholay): Demis Roussoss' Say you love me
O jabtak hai jaan (Sholay): Iranian singer Googoosh's The prelude of Jomeh
Tumse milke (Parinda): Leo Sayer's When I Need You
Milgaya hum ko sathi (Hum Kisise Kam Nahin): ABBA's Mamma Mia
Aao twist karein (Bhoot Bangla): Chubby Checker's Come lets twist
Sapna mera toot gaya (Khel Khel Mein) from Ennio Morricone's The story of a soldier (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
O Maria (Saagar): Opening line inspired by Paul McCartney and Wings' Mamunia
Aa dekhe zara (Rocky): Partly from Jeff Wayne's Eve of the war