Remembering SD Burman on his 117th birth anniversary - A legend who delivered timeless classics

Bollywood music has been enriched by the compositions of some of the greatest, legendary music directors. The songs of these legends continue to have a huge following and are enjoyed by both young and old alike. One such big legend from the Bollywood music industry was Sachin Dev Burman also known as S.D. Burman.

Born in Comilla, Bengal Presidency which today is located in Bangladesh, Sachinda as he was fondly called in the B-town was a son of the Maharaja of Tripura, Ishanchandra Manikya Dev Burman, and Princess of Manipur, Rajkumari Nirmala Devi. He started his career as a singer during his 20s by performing Bengali folk songs on Calcutta Radio Station. His first Bengali film was Sanjher Pidim released in 1935. He also acted in this movie.

SD Burman’s wife Meera Devi. To her right, poets Sahir Ludhianvi and Kavi Pradeep. And to her left, composers Naushad & SD Burman. pic.twitter.com/dP7qd4SuQL

— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) September 15, 2023

It took him a decade more to debut as a composer in Bollywood with the movie Shikari released in 1946. The movie starred Ashok Kumar and was also the debut movie of Kishore Kumar. S.D. Burman was very fond of Kishore Kumar and always considered him as his son and was the first leading music director in Bollywood to trust Kishore’s voice and give him some good songs. His last rehearsed song was Badi soni soni of Kishore Kumar for the film Mili after which he went into a coma and eventually breathed his last in Mumbai.

SD Burman decided to wake up one day and create the greatest soundtrack for a Hindi film ever. How can one album have so many classics! You want to perpetually relive that experience of discovering this masterpiece for the first time ❤ pic.twitter.com/gHDnPKmN1o

— 🎩 (@iFunkaar) August 30, 2021

The legendary music director had a bad fallout with Lata Mangeshkar during the 50s and started collaborating with Asha Bhosle who later on became his daughter-in-law. During the early 60s, Didi and SD patched up and then gave some very big hits. Incidentally, he did not know Hindi and hence asked the lyricist to share the meaning of the song and then accordingly composed it.

He married Bengali singer Meera Dasgupta but never gave her a break in the film industry. She however used to manage all his funds and taxes.