R. D. Burman
Film composer who modernised Hindi film music
- Lived
- 54 yrs
- 1939 – 1994
- Works listed
- 6
- Film score
- Honours
- 3
- Most recent 1995
- Profile views
- 3
- 0 followers
R. D. Burman was a Hindi film composer whose experiments with Western pop, rock, jazz and Latin rhythms transformed Indian film music in the 1970s. Known as Pancham, he composed scores for more than 300 films. He died in 1994.
Biography
Son of a composer
Rahul Dev Burman was the only son of composer S. D. Burman. He trained in sarod under Ali Akbar Khan and worked as an assistant to his father, playing the harmonica on “Hai Apna Dil To Awara” from Solva Saal (1958). His first film as composer was Chhote Nawab (1961).
A new sound
Teesri Manzil (1966), with its rock-and-roll songs for Shammi Kapoor, made his name. In the 1970s he dominated Hindi film music with scores for Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Hare Rama Hare Krishna — whose “Dum Maro Dum” became a counterculture anthem — Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Sholay, Aandhi and Golmaal.
Inventive arranger
Burman was known for unusual sounds: blowing into beer bottles, rubbing sandpaper or using his own gravelly voice, as in “Mehbooba Mehbooba” from Sholay. He worked closely with singers Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, whom he married in 1980, and lyricist Gulzar, with whom he made Ijaazat (1987).
Decline and revival
His popularity faded in the late 1980s, but his final score, for 1942: A Love Story (1994), was a huge success and won him a posthumous Filmfare Award. He died on 4 January 1994, aged 54. Since then his music has been widely remixed and sampled, and he is regarded as one of the most influential composers in Indian film.
Timeline
-
1939
Born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata)
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1961
First film as composer: Chhote Nawab
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1966
Teesri Manzil
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1971
Amar Prem and Hare Rama Hare Krishna
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1975
Sholay
-
1980
Marries Asha Bhosle
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1987
Ijaazat
-
1994
Dies; 1942: A Love Story released
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1994
Died, aged 54
Notable works
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1966
Teesri Manzil Film score
-
1972
Amar Prem Film score
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1971
Hare Rama Hare Krishna Film score
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1975
Sholay Film score
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1987
Ijaazat Film score
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1994
1942: A Love Story Film score
Awards and honours
-
Filmfare Award for Best Music Director
1983 · Sanam Teri Kasam.
-
Filmfare Award for Best Music Director
1984 · Masoom.
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Filmfare Award for Best Music Director
1995 · 1942: A Love Story (posthumous).
Did you know?
-
1
He played the harmonica on one of his father’s famous songs.
-
2
He once used beer bottles to create a sound effect.
-
3
He sang “Mehbooba Mehbooba” in Sholay himself.
Connections
Related people
-
Asha Bhosle
Film & TV · Playback singer known for her versatility across eight decades
Spouse and collaborator
-
Kishore Kumar
Film & TV · Playback singer and actor, one of the greatest voices of Hindi cinema
His favourite male singer
-
Gulzar
Film & TV · Poet, lyricist and film director
Frequent lyricist
-
Lata Mangeshkar
Music · Playback singer whose voice defined Hindi film music for seven decades
Frequent collaborator
Frequently asked
Who is R. D. Burman?
R. D. Burman was a Hindi film composer whose experiments with Western pop, rock, jazz and Latin rhythms transformed Indian film music in the 1970s. Known as Pancham, he composed scores for more than 300 films. He died in 1994.
When did R. D. Burman die?
R. D. Burman died on 4 January 1994 at the age of 54.
Where is R. D. Burman from?
R. D. Burman was born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata).
What is R. D. Burman known for?
R. D. Burman is best known for Teesri Manzil, Amar Prem, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Sholay, Ijaazat, 1942: A Love Story.
What awards has R. D. Burman received?
Notable honours include Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (1983), Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (1984), Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (1995).
Who is R. D. Burman married to?
Spouse: Asha Bhosle (m. 1980).
References
- R. D. Burman — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- R. D. Burman — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- R. D. Burman — Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- R. D. Burman — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- R. D. Burman (Q3351160) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “R. D. Burman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“R. D. Burman.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/r-d-burman
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