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Today, it is the 101st Birthday of a giant among music directors - SD Burman, my most favourite composer. From this article, I just came to know that his wife is still alive!
Tripura Celebrates 101st Birth Anniversary Of S.D. Burman
Monday 01st of October 2007 A commemorative postage stamp on Sachin Dev Burman was brought out Monday, coinciding with the 101st birth anniversary of the legendary music maestro and scion of the Tripura royal family that was celebrated with much fanfare here.
'To keep the maestro's memory alive, the Tripura government, as part of the ongoing S.D. Burman centenary celebrations, has renamed the state's music college here after him, and released a music cassette containing 20 of his best songs in Bengali and Kokborok (the state's official tribal language),' said Anil Sarkar, Tripura's information and cultural affairs minister.
The state government has said that besides preserving and promoting his music, it would also support research on the maestro.
'He is very much alive within us ... in our mind and soul through his music,' Sarkar said.
The minister had on behalf of the Tripura government recently led an official delegation to Mumbai to felicitate Meera Dev Burman, the music composer's 84-year-old ailing widow.
The 101st birth anniversary was observed with a daylong programme, which included an exhibition depicting the life and work of Burman, grandson of Tripura's 180th erstwhile king Ishan Chandra Manikya.
On the occasion, the Sachin Dev Burman Memorial Award was presented to well-known singer Sadagar Debbarma, who has composed over 400 songs and played a pivotal role in popularising traditional tribal songs and culture.
Born in Comilla's Chortha village, 85 km south of Dhaka (now in Bangladesh), on Oct 1, 1906, Burman was a noted Bollywood music composer and an all-time great Bengali singer and composer. His son Rahul Dev Burman also made it big in Bollywood as a music director.
S.D. Burman was born in the royal family of Tripura and began his training in classical music under his father Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman.
'S.D. Burman's mother Nirupama Devi, who was a princess of the Manipuri royal family, also played a key role by giving inspiration, encouragement and assistance to make him famous,' the minister stated.
'The death of his father in 1930 upset him. He left the Tripura palace and went to Kolkata and took shelter in a small rented accommodation and thus began his struggle for existence,' said Pannalal Roy, a senior official and editor of a commemorative book on the maestro.
'It still remains a mystery as to why the great singer turned his back on Tripura despite being a scion of the royal family,' said Roy.
Roy said that after his father's death, the then Tripura king Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur offered Burman the post of education minister, but he preferred to remain in the world of music.
Sarkar said: 'The Tripura government, following a recent resolution of the state legislative assembly, has urged the centre to request the Bangladesh government to take steps for conservation of S.D. Burman's ancestral residences in Comilla.'
According to him, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has come forward to declare Burman's north Kolkata house a 'heritage building'.
S D Burman's wife felicitated Agartala, Sept 16: Marking a break in the loneliness of her life in the confines of an old-age home, ailing Meera Deb Burman, lyricist and wife of legendary music composer Sachin Deb Burman, was felicitated by Tripura Goverment in the house of his late son Rahul Deb Burman in Mumbai.
Tripura information and culture minister Anil Sarkar felicitated Meera yesterday, presenting a cheque of Rs one lakh and gifts.
Meera's 74-year-old daughter-in-law and eminent playback singer Asha Bhosle, who reportedly shifted her to the old-age home, was also was present at the felicitation.
Octogenarian Meera, suffering from health problems and bed-ridden for years, could neither speak nor respond to the gesture of the state government.
She was shifted to R D Burman's house for the felicitation function but it is not immediately clear whether this is a permanent arrangement for her or she would go back to the old-age home. Once an accomplished singer and dancer herself, Meera was shifted to the old-age home "Sharan" for rehabilitation of paraplegics in Mumbai.
------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- Her is another article on her:
S.D. Burman's wife 'unhappy' at old age home By Sujit Chakraborty, Agartala, Sep 9 : Her lineage belies the secluded life she is leading now. Octogenarian Meera Deb Burman, the wife of legendary Bollywood music maestro Sachin Deb Burman, is passing unhappy days at an old age home in Mumbai.
Once an accomplished singer and dancer herself, Meera was shifted by S.D. Burman's daughter-in-law Asha Bhosle to 'Sharan', an old age home for the rehabilitation of paraplegics in Mumbai's Vashi area, about seven months ago, knowledgeable sources say.
"I shall die in the old age home. I will not go anywhere, although I am not happy here," Meera, 84, was quoted as saying by her relative Shukla Dasgupta who recently visited her.
Dasgupta told IANS on phone: "She is a very sensitive woman. She does not want to leave the second floor room at Sharan. She is unable to express her desires and needs."
S.D. Burman, born to the royal family of Tripura, first met Meera in 1937 at a music conference in Allahabad before marrying her. She was the granddaughter of Justice Roybahadur Kamalnath Dasgupta of Kolkata.
The couple had a son, R.D. Burman, who like his father, made a name for himself in Bollywood. But Meera lost her husband in 1975 and her son in 1994.
"She was shifted here by Asha Bhosle. Now two attendants take care of her as she is frail and cannot walk," an official of Sharan said on telephone from Mumbai.
The Tripura government has decided to felicitate her at a function in 'Sharan' Sep 15. Tripura's Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Anil Sarkar will do the honours.
"The state government will celebrate the 101st birth anniversary of S.D. Burman on Oct 1 with a colourful function here and release a commemorative book on the music genius," Tripura information director Subhash Das said.
Bondhu rangila re Amare chadiye re bondhu koi gela re.!!
Tripura to release a stamp on S.D. Burman
Agartala, Sept. 30 (PTI): On his 101th birth anniversary, Sachin Deb Burman could be seen on a stamp as well, as the Tripura government has decided to release a commemorative stamp on the legendary music composer on October 1.
Besides the stamp, a biography of Burman, a descendent of Tripura's royal family, will also be released and a cultural programme would be held, Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Department Director Subhas Das said on Saturday.
Eminent singer Asha Bhosle, daughter-in-law of Burman, was invited to the function, but she expressed her inability to come as she was to be in London around that time, he said.
Sachin Deb Burman was born on October 1 in 1906 at Comilla (now in Bangladesh) where his father, the eldest son of Maharaja Ishan Chandra Manikya, had shifted after being denied a chance to become the king of Tripura.
Burman left Comilla in 1924 to earn a Master's degree from Calcutta University.
In Calcutta, he was drawn into the music circle and shaped himself as a musician before leaving for Mumbai.
As the marriage between Sachin and Meera Deb Burman was not accepted by the royal family, he broke away and settled in Mumbai, his biographer Panna Lal Roy said.
Ailing Meera Deb Burman, a lyricist, was felicitated by Tripura government in Mumbai on September 15.
The government had faced criticism for ignoring her during the birth centenary celebrations of S D Burman.
SD Burman's wife and muse is fading out in old-age home
Meera Dev Burman, 92, has been sent to a private residence for the elderly in Navi Mumbai; she can neither speak nor move around Madhumita Mookerji & Sameera Kapoor.KolKata & Mumbai
Meera Dev Burman, SD Burman's valued collaborator and wife — and the mother of RD Burman, who enriched Bollywood music with the popular Western twang — is now a largely speechless resident of a Navi Mumbai old-age home. At 92, Meera is frail and cannot walk. But she seems spiritually intact as she faces life at Sharan, a Vashi-based private home for the elderly.
She was brought here six months ago by her guardians, an occupant of the home told. DNA The guardian in question is Asha Bhonsle. An attendant takes care of Meera round-the-clock, but she is oblivious to the world around her. "She can barely manage to even sit. That's why I think she was sent here," the occupant said.
Today, few music aficionados are aware of Meera's existence despite her contribution to India's cultural repertoire. Her accomplishments are recognised in SD Burman's grateful testimonial: "In my musical life, the help rendered by Meera through her collaboration, assistance, inspiration, and sacrifice are omnipresent."
But she may receive some public acclaim when Tripura, SD Burman's home state, felicitates her at Sharan later this month. A team of officials and parliamentarians will visit her at the behest of Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar.
Asha Bhonsle's secretary, however, said that the felicitation's arrangements were not clear. "A month or so ago, a Tripura government official told us about the plan to honour Mrs Burman," Vivek Naik said. "I asked for the proposal in writing. I haven't heard from them since."
Meera, once an accomplished singer and dancer, was trained by such stalwarts as Bhismadeb Chattopadhyaya and Ustad Faiz Mohammad Khan. For four decades, Meera was SD Burman's most abiding and inspiring influence. She lost him in October 1975. But a harder blow was the death of her beloved son in January 1994. RD Burman's demise pushed the quiet Meera into the private retreat of grieving silence.
She is believed to have recently told a relative: "I shall die in the old-age home. I will not go elsewhere, though I am not happy here." Meera's aunt, Sukhla Das Gupta, recently met her at Sharan. "She is a very sensitive person and doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. She wants to leave, but she is unable to say so directly," Das Gupta said.
Anilda had a close association with Sachinda too. Do you recall any special impressions Anilda had of Burmanda? Any special favourites.
Anilda's association with Burmanda went back a long way. He was a great admirer of Sachinda's singing. You know, the biggest compliment you can give to a singer is that his/her sur is immovable. That is what both of us used to feel about Dada Burman. His sur was unshakeable. He never went out of sur. Anilda always said one had to listen to SD Burman's songs not from the ears but from the heart.
Anilji and I had many common favourites. In Burmanda's songs both of us really liked 'Sun Mere Bandhu Re'.
The question that would follow then would be, in your opinion who is better SDB the singer or SDB the Music Director?
Cannot make a choice. I would say both!
Dada Burman is also remembered for his very unique personality.
Yes! I remember that along with music his other great love was paan. He could not do anything without his paan. His 'Paan ka Dabba' was probably his most precious possession [laughing]. I have vivid memories of occasions when Dada would come to me with a worried expression, 'Meena! We are not going to have a rehearsal today' 'What happened Kaka? I would ask'…'Oh I can't find my paan ka dabba!!'.
Infact it was not only rehearsals, he would cancel recordings at times too if his paans were not locatable! Another thing he was very fond of was watching football. He would avidly follow his favourite team.
If you were to take your top pick from SD Burman's oeuvre. What would they be?
Just one song? That's not possible!
Not at all… your list can be as long as you like!
Guide is undoubtedly my favourite soundtrack. That is number one. Almost all the songs were stellar. Then there was 'Prem Pujari'. Munimji esp the Kishore song 'Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Rahi'. Actually I like almost all his songs. Its a difficult task. I also love 'Tere Naina Talaash Karen' and yes… 'Khayi hai re hamne kasam'. There so many songs. Then there is 'Waqt Ne Kiya' which could be my most favourite song. It is also my favourite song of my good friend Geeta Dutt. I also like a lot of his Bangla songs like 'Alo Chhaya Dola' that was used as 'Pawan Diwani' later.
Debut with SD Burman
"A pig tailed school girl, barely in my teens. That's what I was when I first worked with Sachin Kaka' recalls Meena Kapoor. Today over half a century later this extremely talented, but reclusive singer still maintains the effervescence of those early years. She also retains the same lilting sonorous voice that lit some of Burmanda's early tunes.
Married to music maestro Anil Biswas, Meena Kapoor moved to Delhi in the early sixties when Anilda quit films for a job with All India Radio. She bid good-bye to her career in films without a backward glance. What she did not bid good-bye to are the many cherish able memories of her early days in films. We met this graceful lady at her cosy residence and over a glass of refreshing nimbu-paani sprinkled generously with her tinkling laughter we rewound to her days with Sachin Karta.
Is it true Burmanda gave you your break?
Not completely. My first song was recorded for music director Ninu Majumdar for the film 'Pul'. However the first film to release my song was 8 days (also Aath Din) with music by Burmanda. So effectively he was the music director of my first released film.
What are your earliest recollections of Burmanda?
Burmanda was my grand-father's friend. I trace my lineage to the royal family of Assam and Burmanda was a scion of the royal family of Tripura so our families had connections. He was a familiar figure since my childhood. As you know SD Burman came to films very late. Before that he was very well-known as a singer in Bengal. We would hear his records in the early days.
How did you end up singing for him?
Burman Dada was very well acquainted with my father (New Theatres actor Bikram Kapoor). He would always say to my father 'Bikram, this girl has such a beautiful voice, you are spoiling her voice. You should let her sing in films'. 'But Dada," my father would protest, "she's still in school, she has her exams how can I have her sing for film?'. 'Oh come on, one film will not do any harm!' he would retort. It was probably the outcome of a similar conversation that led to my singing for him finally.
What were your early impressions about SD Burman?
I was just a young girl when I first started singing. I did not really take the whole art seriously. And then SD Burman was such a senior personality in both age and stature that I never had the guts to really ask him questions or interact with him. I would call him Sachin Kaka(uncle) and treat him with a lot of deference.
While working with him, as singer what did you find notable?
I think Sachinda's biggest asset was the fact that he was a singer and that too a highly accomplished one. He could shape the song out for the singer. I remember he would sing on the harmonium and we would follow him. The other quality that I find notable about him is his emphasis on the phonetics of the lyrics. He would always like 'nice sounding words'. I remember for my first film, him directing Raja Mehndi Ali Khan to write phonetically pleasing words with his own examples. This is why I always feel his songs sound so sweet and pleasing.
Credit - Adi
Last edited by melody_archive1 on Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mumbai: Legendary music director Sachin Dev Burman's wife, renowned singer Meera Dev Burman, who was in the news recently for languishing at an old-age home here, died on Monday after prolonged illness. She was 84.
"Pancham's (R.D. Burman) mother was seriously ill since the death of her husband, acclaimed music director S.D. Burman. Pancham took care of her till his death," Meera's daughter-in-law and noted playback singer Asha Bhosle told reporters here.
"Her condition was deteriorating over the years due to advanced age and had to be frequently hospitalised. I had just brought her from Lilavati Hospital, two days ago, to her Santacruz home.
She passed away at 5:00 a.m. this morning." Ms. Bhosle had shifted Meera to Sharan, an old-age home for rehabilitation of paraplegics in Mumbai's Vashi area, about seven months ago.
However, she was moved to R.D. Burman's house in September.
Meera Roy was born in Comilla in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in March, 1923 and later settled in South-end Park in Kolkata.
She was a music student of Amita Sen, who was trained in Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan.
S.D. Burman, born in the royal family of Tripura, fell in love with Meera when they met at the All India Music Conference in Allahabad in 1937.
She became Burman's student and married him the same year. S.D. Burman died in 1975. R. D. Burman died in 1994.— PTI
she passed away on 15th oct 2007 and not 17th oct as given in the article. SDBurman's students used to call her Meerama. Meera Burman was a very talented and accomplished artist herself true....she was a student of KC Dey as well Bhismadev Chattopadhya and performed at various music conferences in the 30s...she was also involved in Barmanda's music. We can say that she is maybe the unsung and forgotton talent of the Burman family.
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