BENGALURU: RD Burman’s music keeps me employed even after his death, says Kishore Sodha, who used to play trumpet for the legendary musician. He has worked with Pancham da in The Burning Train, Shalimar and Sanam Teri Kasam.
Computers make music
Things were different in the 80s, recalls Kishore. “ Music was recorded live after rehearsals in the studio with the help of a music arranger earlier,” he says, adding that instead of writing music, today the programmer just digitises the process.The trumpet player laments that today, the music directors fail to keep him in loop on who the composer or the singer of the track is.Kishore adds that music studios these days do not have enough space to accomodate the 25 to 30 musicians who are part of the recording.
He believes that when musicians assemble to play on a composition, the music is soulful and strikes an emotional connect. “Unless the songs are being constantly played on TV, one wouldn’t remember Bollywood songs these days,” he says, adding that that isn’t the case with Pancham da’s songs.
Method to the madness
Around 60 musicians would work with Pancham da at a time, who was creative and systemic in his operations. The film producers would explain Burman the song situation and the actors involved. “He would then sit with the script writer, musicians, rehearse and then record the songs. He could compose a song in a day in his sitting room,” says Kishore. Singers Abhijeet and Kumar Sanu got their first break in Bollywood through Pancham da.
Kishore says Burman’s approach to music was modern and the musician was open to experiments. Pancham da would experiment with tone and instruments. “He loved bass instruments”, he says adding, “He would use a saxophone or a trumpet in one out of every five to six songs he would compose”.
Jazz music was growing increasing popular in the film songs in the 80s, says Kishore. There were only five well known trumpet players in the Hindi film industry, he adds. “I learnt the instrument from my father, brother and other musicians. We used to play a new song every day,” he says adding that it takes close to 15 years to master the instrument. “It is difficult to play melodious songs in this instrument. To play the instrument, you need to know to sing as well,” he says. The way one plays this instrument has changed over the years. It has modernised now and Kishore has adapted to it.
Kishore will play his favourite Pancham da’s songs such as Gulabi aankhein and Kya yahi pyaar hai at ‘LoRD Burman Rhythms & Blues’ event, hosted by Rotary Bangalore Peenya on October 28 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. The proceeds from the concert will go towards providing better infrastructure at rural government schools supported by the T.E.A.C.H Mission of the Rotary Club. The show will feature singers such as Gaurav Bangia, Govind Kurnool, Samanvitha Sharma, Sanjay Sawant and Shruti Bhide.