Chhote Nawab

For me, as for most of Rahul Dev Burman's fans, "Chote Nawab" is notable for the fact that it marked the arrival of RD into the Indian film industry as an independent composer. Prior to this, Pancham (as he is known to fans and friends alike) was an assistant to his illustrious father, S.D. Burman and was responsible for a lot of the sparkling orchestration and tuning that we saw in Dada Burman's movies.

If the brilliant but whimsical Guru Dutt had stuck to his promise, a movie called "Raaz" would have been RD's first movie. Pancham even composed a few songs for this movie, but Dutt shelved the movie. Hearing this, Pancham's good friend, Mehmood approached him with "Chote Nawab".

The movie maybe nothing much to write about – a man falling in love with a courtesan – but what a brilliant debut by R.D. Burman! Each song is a sparkler, right from the first song he recorded for this movie – the haunting and soulful, "Ghar aaja ghir aaye", to the peppy "Matwali aankhon waale", or the full of life "Aaj hua mera dil matwala", it is RD's movie all the way, and my vote for the movie is only for his super music.

This movie is all about RD! Can't believe someone can compose gem of a song as "Ghar Aja Ghir Ayi" in hsi debut! Similarly, "Matwali Ankhonwale" sounds so fresh even today and carries a typical RD signature all over it. Credit should be given to Rafi for the amazing voice modulation at the beginning of the song. I like the other two songs as well - "Aaj hua mera dil matwara" and "Aam Chhum Taam chhum".