The RD X-Factor

The bassist plucks the opening notes and the percussionists,drums octopads and bongos join in. The trumpet comes in next,held tight by keyboard harmonics. At the end of the introductory piece,the vocalist breaks in,emulating RD Burman’s signature baritone,with Meri jaan tune kaha from The Burning Train (1980).

Rehearsing for Manohari Pancham,a theme show to commemorate Burman’s 75th birthday,on June 27 in Pune,these musicians share their memories of working with the master himself. They will be led by music arranger Vivek Paranjpe,who has played on stage and in studio for over two decades with the biggest names from India’s playback history. He recalls a Kishore Kumar concert where Burman noticed him for the first time. During Chingari Koi Bhadke,Paranjpe was playing the flute part,originally played by Hari Prasad Chaurasia,on his keyboard. “When Kishoreda called Panchamda on stage,he asked who played the flute parts. When he learnt it was me,Panchamda appreciated my work,” he says. Soon after this,Paranjpe visited Burman’s studio for a recording session. “I was 27 years old and just starting out,Panchamda put his hand around my shoulders and said I could watch the recording with him. I was elated,” he says.

Guitarist Ramesh Iyer recorded with Burman for 25 years. The title track of Betaab was what he enjoyed the most. “The song,like his others,was crafted intricately with interwoven layers of melody,” he says. Burman was a visionary who was ahead of his time by over two decades,he says,“He was an innovator and brought a new perspective to Indian music. He was a master at blending musical styles and used ingenious techniques to produce sounds unheard of.” Iyer recalls a time when he had to use a ball pen to pluck the guitar strings for the “unique sound it produced”.

Trumpeter Baba Khan credits Burman for bringing the brass-section to Indian music. “I can’t name another music director who has used the trumpet better,” says Khan,to whom Burman’s music defines the ambit of Indian music. Khan goes on to say “Jab tak duniya hai unka music chalta rahega (His music will live till the end of time).” The organisers of the show manifest Khan’s prophecy by hosting tribute concerts twice a year. In the past,they have awarded music arranger Kesri Lord and lyricist Gulshan Bawra with the Panchamratna award.