Rahul Dev Burman

Rahul Dev Burman, also known as Pancham or Pancham da (June 27, 1939 - January 4, 1994) was a music composer for Bollywood films. He was the son of music composer Sachin Dev Burman.

According to stories, Rah

Rahul Dev Burman, also known as Pancham or Pancham da (June 27, 1939 - January 4, 1994) was a music composer for Bollywood films. He was the son of music composer Sachin Dev Burman.

According to stories, Rahul Dev Burman was nicknamed "Pancham" because, as a child, whenever he cried, it sounded in the fifth tone (Pa) of the Indian musical scale. The word Pancham means five (or fifth) in Sanskrit. Another version is that when the veteran Indian actor Ashok Kumar saw a newborn Rahul Dev Burman uttering the syllable "Pa" repeatedly, he nicknamed the boy Pancham. Pancham was born in Calcutta. After coming to Mumbai, he learnt sarod from Ustad Akbar Ali Khan. When he was nine years old, he composed his first song, Aye meri topi palat, which his father used in the film Funtoosh (1956). The tune of the song Sar jo tera chakraaye was composed by him as a kid. His father loved the tune and included it in the soundtrack of Guru Dutt's Pyasa. As a child, Pancham also played the mouth organ in the famous Hai apna dil to aawara song. Pancham began his music career as an assistant to his father. His first film as a music director was Chhote Nawab.