Top 20 Bollywood Songs of R. D. Burman and Gulzar combination

R. D. Burman was a musical genius whose compositions can never be tagged into particular style or genre, and Gulzar is a very talented writer, poet and film director. Since early 1970s R. D. Burman frequently worked with Gulzar for several projects till late 1980s, and most of their works together have been critically well appreciated. Before joining hands with R. D, Gulzar worked with Madan Mohan most. Parichay was their first work together, which gave singer Lata Mangeshkar National film award for best female playback singer for “Beeti Na Bitai Raina“. Years later their song, “Mere Kuch Saman” gave Asha Bhosle her final National award too. Please visit my R. D. Burman page.

It’s known to everyone, when R. D and Gulzar work together as composer and lyricist respectively, R. D’s tunes and musical arrangement are far away from his western influences, and their works give a lot of importance to melody, Indian classical music, ghazals and similar genres of music, which can be marked as Indian. Even while R. D was going through the bad phase of his career, he gave some of his finest works in association with Gulzar. Gulzar too worked on low budget films mostly dealing with middle class and rural themes, and R. D’s tunes well reflected the same.

Needless to say Pancham da gave some of his finest tunes in association with Gulzar, and most of those films were scripted and directed by the poet. Pancham and Gulzar shared an amazing creative relationship and hence the composer reserved some of his finest compositions for the poet-director since his early films. In this list let me list a few of them. I have listed 20 of my favourite tunes of R. D. Burman – Gulzar combination and sorted them according to the year of release. I have also listed a few beneath the list. Sadly I couldn’t list any Rafi song, though he rendered a very few songs for the duo.

R. D. Burman and Gulzar – Top 20 Bollywood songs

1. Musafir Hoon Yaaro from Parichay (1972) – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar

This travel song, bit philosophical featuring Jeetendra was listed at #25 on Binaca Geetmala annual list 1973. Music credits have been given to Burman and guitarist Bhanu Gupta combined. Parichay marked the beginning of a new style of Bollywood music, where Gulzar provided lyrics and R. D. Burman tuned them. Gulzar was the screenwriter and director of the film too.

2. Beete Na Bitayi from Parichay (1972)  – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Bhupinder

The song gave National award to Lata Mangeshkar. Beete Na Bitayi along with Raina Beeti Jaaye from Amar Prem, both composed by Pancham da and released in the same year are widely regarded as the best classical based songs sung by Lata in the decade of 1970s. Both these songs, along with other tunes of both these albums were enough to prove that R. D. Burman can also handle classical raga based tunes ease, just like he tunes fast tracks and peppy numbers with western instruments. The song featured actor Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri, who played father and daughter in the film.  

3. Sa Re Ke Sa Re from Parichay (1972)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle

The song featured Jaya Bhaduri and Jeetendra who played the lead roles in the film, alongside 4 kids, who played Jaya’s younger siblings. The gang is on a picnic, and this fun filled song was filmed on different locations. Gulzar’s lyrics explain the meaning of 7 syllables of Indian ragas – ‘Sa Re Ga Pa’. The movie also included one track of Bhupinder – Mitwa Bole Meethe, filmed on Sanjeev Kumar.

4. O Majhi Re Apna Kinara from Khushboo (1975)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar

This Kishore Kumar solo song featuring Jeetendra was penned by its director and got noticed for its intense lyrics as well as powerful rendition. Jeetendra owns a few glimpses of his very popular ‘Musafir’ song from Parichay, composed by Burman and directed by Gulzar.

5. Ghar Jayegi Tar Jayegi from Khushboo (1975)  – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

The song explores the dreams of an unmarried girl and Hema Malini made it memorable through her natural acting skills. The song had a popular remixed version in the 2000s. Bechara Dil Kya Kare and Do Nainon Mein Ansoo Bhare Hai are other known female tracks sung by Asha and Lata respectively.

6. Tere Bina Zindagi Se from Aandhi (1975)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

Aandhi is definitely one of the 10 best works of R. D. Burman as a composer. But he didn’t receive nomination at Filmfare awards. The movie featured three duets of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, filmed on Sanjeev Kumar & Suchitra Sen. In this particular song, estranged couple met after years and emotions came pouring in.

7. Tum Aa Gaye Ho from Aandhi (1975)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

The song featured Sanjeev Kumar & Suchitra Sen as a young couple. The movie included one more duet of Lata and Kishore, Is Mod Se Jate Hain, and a less-known Rafi track – “Salam Kijiye“. Amit Kumar & Bhupinder also rendered their voices.

8. Naam Gum Jayega from Kinara (1977)  – Playback singers: Bhupinder and Lata Mangeshkar

After Anand Bakshi and Majrooh Sultanpuri, Gulzar remained the most successful lyricist in association with R. D. Burman. While Bakshi and Majrooh were mostly associated with main stream commercial movies, Burman’s association with Gulzar for offbeat and parallel movies remained equally successful. Kinara too belonged to this genre. The song was filmed on Jeetendra and Hema Malini, and Bhupinder has sung in many Gulzar films irrespective of its composer. Abke Na Sawan Barse and Meete Bol Bole are noted songs.

9. Tere Bina Jiya Laage Na from Ghar (1978)  – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

The movie starring Rekha and Vinod Mehra is known for some wonderful tunes sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, and this song tops the list.

10. Aaj Kal Paon from Ghar (1978)  – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

This is the single Lata Mangeshkar solo of the album, and features Rekha in a very happy mood aside Vinod Mehra.

11. Phir Wohi Raat Hai from Ghar (1978)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar

I would like to include this Kishore solo also into this list of songs, featuring the lead pair. This song was inspired by the Carpenters’ song “Sing“. The movie included one of Kishore-Lata duet, Aap Ki Aankhon Mein.

12. Aanewala Pal from Gol Maal (1979)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar

This song featuring Amol Palekar and Bindiya Goswami from 1979 comedy film is absolutely classic and my most favourite Kishore song. This haunting tune is a favourite of many who love wonderful 1970s and R. D. Burman tunes. Gulzar received Filmfare awards for penning its lyrics. It’s quite strange that both Kishore da and Pancham da didn’t win any nomination at Filmfare awards.

A few years back I heard one contestant singing this song in a reality show. Though he had a strong classical base, he was taking too much effort for its rendition which surprised me a lot. Is this fun-filled song this much difficult to sing? Then came one of the judge’s comment – Some tunes and renditions look simple when we listen to them. But they are not the same. That’s the effortless singing talent of Kishore da who made others feel that it’s a very simple song.

13. Hamein Raston Ki Zaroorat from Naram Garam (1981) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

R. D. Burman used his father’s tune Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aayein from 1951 movie, Nav Jawan to compose some of his best works of 1980s. Those songs include – Hamein Raston Ki from Naram Garam, Sagar Kinare of Sagar and Title track of Agar Tum Na Hota. He first used the tune for Nagama Hamara of Bundal Baaz (1976) which went unnoticed. He became so much attached to the tune that he reused the tune three times later. Hamein Raston Ki Zaroorat filmed on Amol Palekar and Swaroop Sampat was not so popular when got released. But I became addicted to this song soon after hearing it for the first time.

14. Phir Se Aaiyo Badaraa Bidesee from Namkeen (1982) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

It’s one of the wonderful ghazals sung by Asha Bhosle composed by Burman. How can this Gulzar poem miss our list of some of the best songs of 1980s! The song was filmed on Shabana Azmi. “Baankee Chalee Zhaankee Chalee” sung by Asha Bhosle and “Raah Pe Rahte Hai” by Kishore Kumar also got noticed. Despite having some of the finest tunes of the year, this Gulzar film couldn’t find any distributor and was released on Doordarshan. Same was the case of another film of R. D. Burman – Gulzar team, Libaas with some amazing melodies, which never had a theatre release, though it was showcased at many film festivals.

15. Tujhse Naraz Nahi from Masoom (1983)  – Playback singers: Anup Ghoshal/Lata Mangeshkar

The compositions earned Burman his second Filmfare award. All the tunes are matchless, particularly this sad track by Anup Ghoshal. The song had a Lata Mangeshkar version too, yet the male version became popular. Gulzar-Burman duo gave opportunity to a few less heard voices and their experiment proved successful. The songs – Lakdi Ki Kaathi and Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani are also remarkable. Naseeruddin Shah was featured in ‘Naaraz’ song aside young Jugal Hasraj.

16. Roz Roz Aankhon Tale from Jeeva (1986)  – Playback singers: Amit Kumar and Asha Bhosle

It’s one of the top songs of Amit Kumar’s career, and was filmed on Sanjay Dutt and Mandakini. In the 1980s, R. D. Burman composed some of the finest melodies with ghazal touch, and this song is worth listening a thousand times or more.

17. Sili Hawa Choo Gayi from Libaas (1988)  – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

The soft songs of the film composed by Burman are timeless, and done during his low phase of professional career. The movie showcased at two film festivals never had a theatre release for public in India. It was shown twice in 1992 and in 2014. The movie also came to spotlight on the occasion of Gulzar’s 83^rd birthday in 2017 that the film will have a theatre release distributed by Zee Studios. But I am not sure if the movie was released or not. Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Raj Babbar played lead roles based on human relationships.

18. Khamosh Sa Afsana from Libaas (1988)  – Playback singers: Suresh Wadkar and Lata Mangeshkar

This track of Suresh Wadkar and Lata holds a fragrance of a sweet ghazal, and R. D should be praised for tuning such a lovely composition in an era fully dominated by loud music.

19. Mere Kuch Saman from Izzazat (1988)  – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

Lyricist Gulzar and singer Asha Bhosle received National award for this particular song, though Burman couldn’t win any. But Burman was praised for tuning the lyrics which didn’t have any rhythm or pattern. Gulzar received Filmfare award too. The song featured Naseeruddin Shah and Anuradha Patel.

20. Katra Katra from Izzajat (1988)  – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

This Asha Bhosle track featuring Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah was recorded in a unique way and was well appreciated too. Chhoti Si Kahani Se is yet another popular Asha track. After the works of Ijaazat and Libaas, Gulzar started working with Hridayanath Mageshkar. By that time Burman’s active career also came to seize with a series of less-noticed works and flops. With his death in early January 1994, an iconic era came to an end.

After the era of R. D. Burman, Gulzar joined hands with Rahman to produce some of the finest Bollywood songs for more than two decades since 1990s. Needless to say, Rahman is the true successor of Burman, in many angles. 

A few more popular R. D. Burman tunes penned by Gulzar for your playlist

1. Dhanno Ki Aankhon Men Hai Raat Kaa Suramaa from Kitab (1977) – Playback singers: R. D. Burman

2. Daakiya Daak Laya from Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein (1977) – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar

3. Tu Jahan Mile Mujhe from Doosri Seeta (1974) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

4. Bechara Dil Kya Kare from Khushboo (1975) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

5. Do Nainon Mein Ansoo Bhare Hai from Khushboo (1975) – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

6. Abke Na Sawan Barse from Kinara (1977) – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

7. Meete Bol Bole from Kinara (1977) – Playback singers: Bhupinder and Lata Mangeshkar

8. Chand Churake Laya Hoon from Devta (1978) – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

9. Gulmohar Gar Tumhara Naam Hota from Devta (1978) – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

10. Aap Ki Aankhon Mein from Ghar (1978) – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

11. Piya Bawri from Khubsurat (1980) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

12. Jahanpe Sawera Ho Basera Wahi Hai from Basera (1981) – Playback singers: Lata Mangeshkar

13. Is Mod Pe from Aandhi (1975)  – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

14. Baankee Chalee Zhaankee Chalee from Namkeen (1982) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

15. Raah Pe Rahte Hai from Namkeen (1982) – Playback singers: Kishore Kumar

16. Chhoti Si Kahaani Se from Ijaazat (1988) – Playback singers: Asha Bhosle

Please visit my R. D. Burman page to know more about the musical genius. Here is the page link. Click on the images to read.