However, he had to wage a long struggle in the Mumbai film industry to gain acceptance as a composer. In fact, he had virtually decided to return to Kolkata disillusioned as he was by the materialism in Mumbai, but was persuaded to stay back by actor Ashok Kumar.

Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman, Sachin's father, was a Dhrupad singer and sitarist. So, it was not unlikely that music ran in Sachin's blood as well. His father belonged to a royal family in Tripura. A trained classical singer Sachin Dev continued his taleem under Ustad Badal Khan and Bhismadev Chattopadhaya after having learnt the basics from his father.

His strength lay in his intrinsic understanding of folk and light classical music. As a result, his film compositions in the later years were often influenced by his huge repertory of Bangla folk-tunes.

Sachin made his film debut as a singer for Yahudi Ki Ladki as early as 1933, but all the songs were scrapped and re-sung by Pahadi Sanyal. He spent the early days of the 1930s and 1940s struggling as a singer, most notably with the dulcet Dheere se jaana bagiyan mein, and as a music director in Bengali films. The same number was recomposed for the immortal comedy Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and Kishore Kumar rendered the same as a stanza in Paanch rupaiya barah anna.

In Bombay, he began with Filmistan's Eight Days (1946) but his breakthrough came the following year with the company's Do Bhai (1947). The song Mera sunder sapna beet gay, sung by Geeta Dutt, is well remembered even now. In fact, the song turned out to be the turning point for Geeta Dutt as well.

Burman composed the music for Dev Anand's Navketan Productions' first film Afsar (1950). With the success of their second film, Baazi (1951) he finally made it to the top.

Burman could at once be a light and a serious in-depth composer. When Guru Dutt made comparatively light-weight films like Baazi and Jaal (1952), Burman reflected their mood with compositions like Suno gajar kya gaye and when Guru Dutt made his somber masterpieces Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), he was right on target with Jinhe naaz hai hind and Waqt ne kiya kya haseen situm.

Burman also promoted other singers. Manna Dey's career flowered after he sang Upar gagan vishal for Burman in Mashaal. Hemant Kumar's earliest Hindi success is Yeh raat yeh chaandni from Jaal. And Kishore Kumar had his first hit courtesy Qusoor aapka, huzoor aapka in AVM's Vyjayanthimala vehicle Bahaar. Sachin was also responsible along with OP Nayyar into shaping Asha Bhonsle as a singer of repute.

The temporary fall-out with Lata, benefitted Asha tremendously, because the composer now lavished his best on her (Kaali ghata chhaye, Achchaji main haari). Not one to meekly follow trends, Burman did only six films between 1965 and 1969. Even when the orchestration fever raged in the 1960s, Burman stuck to soft songs that relied on vocals like Mehbooba teri tasveer or Raat akeli hai.

Sachin Dev proved that age is no impediment for creativity. He was the only great composer who remained in great demand till the end of his life, unlike his contemporaries who gradually faded away. In 1975, the musician slipped into a coma, which led to his death on October 31.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent