An unpredictable music composer who defied the conventions of his time, a trendsetter who introduced a fusion of Western rock and jazz with Indian classical music—R.D. Burman’s life and career make him one of the most important and versatile artists to dominate the Indian film music scene from the 1960s to the ’80s. Whether the film itself was a blockbuster or a flop, his music always stood out—from the peppy ‘Dum maro dum’ and the evergreen ‘Chand mera dil’ to the soulful ‘Tum aa gaye ho, nur aa gaya hai’ and ‘Tujhse naraz nahin zindagi’. It is said that some films became hits on the strength of his songs alone! But while he was hailed as the reigning prince by all when he created one chartbuster after another, towards the end of his career he was labelled ‘luckless’ and subjected to indignities when his films started failing.
In R.D. Burman: The Prince of Music, Khagesh Dev Burman fondly remembers this exceptional talent with an eccentric streak, who still inspires universal awe, admiration and nostalgia. Replete with several personal moments from the maestro’s life, this book not only discusses his career in loving detail, but also throws light on his relationships with many other artistes of his generation—his legendary camaraderie with Kishore Kumar and his defiant involvement with Asha Bhosle and, most significantly, the strained yet respectful bond that he shared with his father, S.D. Burman. With a chronological analysis of most of his important works, R.D. Burman: The Prince of Music is a collector’s edition that should adorn the shelf of every music lover.