Happy Birthday Pancham Da: Rare and unseen pictures of RD Burman

Over two decades have passed since the charismatic music director RD Burman ascended from the realm of the mortals to heavens, but his legacy continues to live on. The prime time FM programmes today are incomplete without his numbers and musical reality shows often have an episode dedicated to him. On his 77th birthday, we bring to you some rare and unseen pictures of Pancham Da's journey. (Source: Express archive)

RD Burman with his singer wife Asha Bhosle and lyricist Gulzar. | RD Burman was born to composer/singer Sachin Dev Burman and his lyricist wife Meera Dev Burman in Kolkata in 1939. (Source: Express archive)

Singer Shailendra, RD Burman, Rekha and Lyricist Gulshan Bawra. | When he was nine years old, RD Burman composed his first song, Aye meri topi palat ke aa, which his father used in the film Funtoosh. (Source: Express archive)

Playback singer Kishore Kumar and RD Burman. | The tune of the famous song Sar jo tera chakraaye from Pyasa was also composed by him as a child. (Source: Express archive)

Second from left, Lyricist Anand Bakshi, Dev Anand, music director RD Burman and playback singer Asha Bhosle. | Burman's first hit movie as a film music director was Teesri Manzil (1966). (Source: Express archive)

Music Director RD Burman and Singer Jayshree Shivram at the song recording of film ZALZALA. | The super hit Kishore Kumar song Mere Sapnon ki Raani from Aradhana (1969), though credited to his father, is rumoured to have been RD Burman's composition. (Source: Express archive)

Singer Amit Kumar and RD Burman. | In the 1970s, RD Burman became highly popular with the Kishore Kumar songs in Rajesh Khanna-starrer movies. (Source: Express archive)

Actress Tina Munim (extreme left), Singer Kishore Kumar (centre) and Music Director RD Burman (extreme right). | RD Burman has been credited with revolutionizing the Bollywood music. (Source: Express archive)

Singer Kumar Sanu, Music Director RD Burman and Lyrics writer Swapan Chakraborty at the song recording of film LADAI. | Burman's career coincided with the rise of Rajesh Khanna-starrer youth love stories. He made electronic rock popular in these popular love stories. (Source: Express archive)

Writer director Prayag Raaj, music director RD Burman, playback singer Asha Bhosle and producer Suryararayan at the song recording of film HIFAZAT. | RD Burman was influenced by Western, Latin, Oriental and Arabic music, and incorporated elements from these in his own music. (Source: Express archive)

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, RD Burman, Mumtaz and Major RK Batra on the set of film BANDHE HATH. | He blew into beer bottles to produce the opening beats of Mehbooba, Mehbooba. Similarly, he used cups and saucers to create the tinkling sound for the song Churaliya Hai from the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat. (Source: Express archive)

Miss Goenka, playback singer Asha Bhosle, music director RD Burman, lyricist Gulzar at the HMV Party for release of DIL PADOSI HAI. | RD Burman's first wife was Rita Patel, whom he had met in Darjeeling. The two married in 1966, and divorced in 1971. He married Asha Bhosle in 1980. (Source: Express archive)

RD Burman and Asha Bhosle's wedding picture. | Together, they recorded many hit songs and also staged many live performances. Although, towards the end of his life, they did not live together. (Source: Express archive)

Dolly Jena with Music Director RD Burman on the set of film HUM KISISE KUM NAHIN. | Burman had financial difficulties, particularly later in his life. (Source: Express archive)

Gulzar, Asha Bhosle and music director RD Burman on the launching of NAMKEEN first song recording. | Burman suffered from a heart attack in 1988, and underwent heart bypass surgery a year later at The Princess Grace Hospital in London. During this period, he composed many tunes, which were never released. He composed music for Vidhu Vinod Chopra's movie Parinda in 1989. (Source: Express archive)

Music director RD Burman (C) rehearses with playback singer Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, producer Zaidi (extreme left standing) and director Sharan Kumar Chand listen to them at the song recording of film PARCHHANIYAN. | During the late 1980s, RD Burman was overshadowed by Bappi Lahiri and other disco music composers. (Source: Express archive)

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The filmmaker Subhash Ghai promised RD Burman Ram Lakhan (1989), but gave it instead to Laxmikant-Pyarelal, who had earlier played in Burman's orchestra. (Source: Express archive)

The music of 1942: A Love Story (1994) was released after his death, and was highly successful. It posthumously won him the third and last of his Filmfare Awards. (Source: Express archive)