S.D. Burman, the Man Who Gave Hindi Film Music Its Grammar

If you are the kind of person whose soul stirs and blood quickens if you hear even stray wafts of old Hindi film music somewhere around you, then this is the book for you. If, in addition, you are nostalgic for the classical era of Hindi cinema, this book will be a collector’s item. And if, like me, you are convinced that the greatest talent in Hindi film music was Sachin Dev Burman, then S.D. Burman: The Prince–Musician is a book you cannot miss.

The authors, Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal, are meticulous film historians. Their thoroughly researched R.D. Burman: The Man, The Music was not only a bestseller, it also won them the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 2011. Their new book turns the spotlight on R.D.’s father, who they believe gave Hindi film music its grammar. They bring vividly to life the man, his music, the Bombay film industry and his changing times.

There are glimpses in the opening pages of the book of the great historical events of his childhood and youth which shaped him indelibly: the struggle for India’s freedom, the Second World War, the catastrophic Great Bengal Famine, the horrors of the Partition riots and independence.

Amidst these, we encounter a boy born in a royal household in Tripura. The year, according to his own records was 1906, although his son believed that he was born earlier, in 1901. The boy Sachin Karta loved fishing and football, and was enraptured by the itinerant singers who would stop at his household and sing Bengali folk music – baul, kirtan, gajan and his favourite bhatiyali boatmen songs. As a lanky six-foot youth, he began singing in public performances. His father sent him to Calcutta in 1925 for his master’s degree, but there he resolved instead to make music his life’s vocation. His reluctant father ultimately bowed to his wishes.