Golden Era of Bollywood: Sahir and S D Burman

S D Burman started his musical journey of Bollywood in 1946,got fame from 1947 film Do Bhai.Sahir Ludhinavi made his debut with four songs performed in the film Azadi Ki Raah Par (1949). The very first film in which they were teamed became a musical hit. The film was Baazi. If you recall those memorable numbers of Geeta Dutt picturized on Geeta Bali, you will just wonder how Sahir could accomplish that much in his very first film.The combination of Sahir and S D Burman after that gave one immortal song after another.In this Blog I talk about their combined creations and thus pay tribute to both.

After Baazi(1951) released Naujawaan (1951), with music by S.D. Burman, The song from that film ‘Thandi hawaein lehra kea yen’ has become an all-time great breezy number. Just see the depth in each word: ‘Thandi hawaen lehra ke ayen rut hai jawan, tum ko yahan, kaise bulayen… In the same year another song from Sazaa Tum Na Jane Kis Jahan Mein Kho Gaye was a super duper hit.The pair never looked back after 1951
Some of the Burman-Sahir creations have become masterpieces of all time – unbeaten, unmatchable. You cannot forget those classics from Jaal (Sunja dil ki dastan), ‘Taxi Driver’ (Jayen to jayen kahan),’Munimjee(Jeevan je safar mein rahi,), Funtoosh (Dukhi man mere sun mera kehna) House Number 44 (Teri duniya mein jeene se to behtar hai ke mar jayen).
In 1955 released Bimal Roy's Devdas.The most popular song was of course Sahir’s Lata-rendered hit, ‘Jise tu qabool kar le vo ada kahan se laaoon, tere dil ko jo lubhae vo sada kahan se laaoon’ Lines such as, ‘Jo murad ban kar aye vo dua kahan se laaoon’. There was another dancing number, ‘Ab aagey teri marzi ho more saiyan bedardi aage teri marzi’. The public swung in ecstasy when these songs came to which Vyjantimala added the magic of her dancing talents.
Both of them worked together in 18 films and gave many musical gems but their climax reached with Guru Dutt's Pyaasa
Just consider the romantic duet, ‘Hum aap ki ankhon mein is dil ko chhipalen to..’ The variation in the tune and the pause on ‘to’ was fantastic. Without that music the lyrics might have sounded flat. Of course Geeta and Rafi also played a magnificent role in making the songs a success.Then there was that solo from Geeta, ‘Jaane kya tu ne kahi, jaane kya mai ne kahi, baat kuch ban hi gai’. How can one remain unaffected by these melodies ? And then just recall that romantic pang:, ‘Aj sajan mohe ang laga lo janam safal ho jaae, Hriday ki peerra deh ki agni sab sheetal ho jae’ How meaningful are the lines. Fantastically true. And when Geeta sings, ‘Prem sudha..more sanwariya.ya.y.a.ya sanwariya’ya’ya prem sudha itni barsa do jag jal-thal ho jae’. From where could Sahir get that fluency in Hindi to churn out such a beautiful romantic cry coming from the heart of a beloved ?
The real gems from the same film are Jaane vo kaise log thhe jin ke pyaar ko pyaar mila,Hum ne to jab kaliyan maangi katon ka haar mila…’and Ye mehlon ye takhton yeh tajon ki duniya, ye insaan ke dushman rivajon ki duniya, ye duniya agar mil bhi jaae to kya hai..’And in the end he raises his voice to say,Jala do ise phoonk daalo yeh duniya, mere saamne se hata lo ye duniya, Tumhari hai tum hi sambalo ye duniya,Ye duniya agar mil bhi jae to kya hai…’

Pyaasa was the last film both worked together.Both entered into a controversy with the poet saying the songs became hits because of the lyrics while the musical wizard claimed that his tunes had achieved wonders. It was on this issue that they parted company—never to work with each other again.It was a loss to music lovers that no more Gems would be available by this combination.