The Establishment Of Pancham

                                 The Establishment Of Pancham Da

As mentioned in the previous blog Pancham Da got his first break from the Movie Chhote Nawab(1961) and he stepped into the shoes of an independent music composer. Chhote Nawab had the actor Mehmood in the Main lead. Mehmood impressed by Pancham Da's music chose him for his next movie Bhoot Bangla which was written,directed and produced by Mehmood himself. Apart from composing Music for the film Pancham Da also acted in the film on the request of Mehmood. When SD Burman got to know about this he restricted Pancham from acting in further films and ask to choose between acting and music and without any hesitation Pancham Da chose music because he knew music was his forte. 

Now coming to Pancham Da's first biggest hit film which gave him an recognition in the industry that is the movie Teesri Manzil (1966). It was under the production banner of Nasir Hussain Flims. Nasir Hussain worked with OP Nayyar,  Usha Khanna, Shankar Jaikishan(SJ) all these composers in his previous films. He wanted someone new to compose the music of Teesri Manzil. He had heard the music of Chhote Nawab and wanted RD Burman to compose the music of the film. Shammi Kapoor was the lead hero in the movie and the 'KAPOORS' including Shammi Kapoor chose Shankar Jaikishan or OP Nayyar most of the times for composing songs of their films. Shammi Kapoor's first choice for Teesri Manzil were Shankar Jaikishan and he was not keen on working Pancham Da. Nazir Hussain tried to convince him but yet he was skeptical on agreeing that Pancham should be given a chance. Jaikishan from (SJ)and screen play writer Sachin Bhowmick came to Pancham's aid, requesting Shammi to give Pancham an opportunity to showcase his skills, So after all this Shammi Finally agreed and decided to listen to Pancham Da's tunes for the film. Pancham Da with his rhythm assistant Maruti Rao Keer were present in the studio and Shammi Kapoor arrived and asked Pancham to begin with the tune he has composed. Pancham Da was on the harmonium and he started humming the the first two lines of a Nepali tune, which was later remade as Deewana Mujhsa Nahin when Shammi interrupted him and completed the rest of the lines 'Deotara mattali oina' and said I'll give this number to Jaikishan. In those times it was common for actors to request composers to make songs for them based on tunes they had heard or liked.

Pancham Da was shattered and astonished at the same time and he left the room. After few minutes he re-entered the the music room and payed the tunes he had reserved for the occasion:O Mere Sona Re, Aaja Aaja Mein Hun Pyar Tera, O Haseena Zulfowali. Shammi kapoor stopped him and said, "You have passed. You are my music director." This how Pancham Da got the film and the 'Rest Is History'.

There's one more Trivia I would like to share that is Manohari Singh RD Burman's music arranger and assistant who was a mind-blowing Saxophonist said that O Hassena Zulfon Wali had been recorded even before Shammi Kapoor's arrival at the Studio, at the the behest of Nasir Hussain.

There's a Classical song in the movie Chhote Nawab(1961) sung by the nightingale of India 'Lata Mangeshkar' the Song is 'Ghar Aaja Ghir Aayi Badra Saawariya' the video of the song is mentioned below.