New Delhi: Genius ideas often strike at random times and this held true for Rahul Dev Burman who seemed to have a penchant for composing some evergreen classics of the Hindi film music while travelling.
It was during a flight from Bombay to Delhi with the then reigning superstar Rajesh Khanna that RD composed the scintillating Ye jo mohabbat hai song for the 1971 film Kati Patang, says a new book.
"R D Burman - The Prince of Music", further reveals that the airborne composition was appreciated so much by Khanna that he specially created space for the song in the film.
"Once, Rajesh Khanna and RD were travelling together on a short flight to Delhi and Rajesh asked RD to hum something to soothe his frayed nerves. RD obliged to the unconcealed delight of co-passengers!
"Rajesh liked what he heard and prevailed upon producer-director friend Shakti Samanta to create a situation in Kati Patang, which was on the floors at the time, to accommodate RD's airborne melody. And that's how the song Ye jo mohabbat hai was added to Kati Patang and went on to become a classic," says Khagesh Dev Burman, the author.
The song struck gold with listeners and became an instant hit.
Kishore Kumar even received a Filmfare Best Singer Award nomination for this airborne number but was outdone by Manna Dey with his Ae Bhai zara Dekh ke chal from the Raj Kapoor-starrer Mera Naam Joker.
In a similar incident the next year RD composed another evergreen gem Musafir hoon yaaron for the 1972 film Parichay when he drove on the streets of Bombay well past midnight along with Gulzar only to come up with this gem.
"Once Gulzar and RD met at Rajkamal Studio where RD was so busy he had no time even to speak. Gulzar took out a piece of paper out of his pocket and said, 'Here is the mukhra of a song. Let me listen after the tune is set.'
"Now look at the madness of RD" writes Khagesh, "it was midnight when he drove all the way to Gulzar's place, woke him up at 1.00 am and took him out in his car around the city, playing the tune of Musafir hoon yaaron all along. He had recorded the tune on a cassette already. The dashboard of the car was used as tabla, as usual. Gulzar's sleep vanished because he got the tune he wanted. He was happy."
This was one of the initial songs which were followed by a long association between the two. "A long drive at midnight was Pancham's passion. Gulzar had to accompany him on many such occasions," says Khagesh.
"R D Burman - The Prince of Music" published by Rupa brings to fore chapters from the life of the legendary music composer, and highlights his relationships with other artists of his time.
(With Agency inputs)