Keeping the initial phase apart, if we divide the history of Hindi films broadly into two segments, namely before and post the ‘90s, when the cable and digital revolution made its foray in India, then only two legendary artists, Amitabh Bachchan and R. D. Burman, have been able to leave a mark on every generation of these times through their amazing body of work. So either we talk about people born in the ‘60s, ‘70s or the ‘90s, these two legends have millions of fans from different age groups and are still continuing to win hearts in the present decade.
Incidentally the latest proof of this continuing love affair is the release of two new films in the week when this piece went to press. Wherein one is ‘Piku’ starring Amitabh Bachchan in the key role of a cute, eccentric father and second a comedy ‘Kuch Kuch Locha Hai’ featuring a remixed song of R. D. Burman, ‘Jaane Do Na’ from the film ‘Saagar’ (with all newly conceived antras/verses) picturised on the infamous Sunny Leone and Ram Kapoor.
However, returning to our key subject, the master composer is widely known for his melodious tracks, innovative orchestrisation and wide range of compositions made for various film and non-film projects. But not many are aware of the fabulous background scores composed by the veteran in his illustrious career apart from the evergreen familiar sounds of the epic ‘Sholay’. And one of those lesser-known projects, largely depending upon its background music alone, was O. P. Ralhan’s comic-thriller ‘Hulchul’ released in 1971.
In fact, it’s the only film of R. D. Burman that had no songs as such but just a title track with the word ‘Hulchul’ sung by RDB and Asha Bhosle. Plus a more than seven-minute long, superbly choreographed dance sequence (beginning with the commentary by Amrish Puri) performed by Helen on a well-composed instrumental track representing various cultures of the world and our own traditional dance forms with RDB singing some abstract phrases occasionally.Based on a mysterious plot of a husband planning to kill his wife, ‘Hulchul’ was promoted with a tag line ‘Most Unusual Motion Picture Ever Made’ introducing both Kabir Bedi and Zeenat Aman on screen (as mentioned in its titles)and had an unpredictably entertaining climax, which was never seen before in a Hindi film. The timely use of its title track at regular intervals with an apt background score did bring up the thrilling moments in the film quite beautifully and thus one has to acknowledge RDB’s evident contribution made to its mysterious story progression.
So if you are a true, die-hard RDB fan, then either you must have already seen ‘Hulchul’ or would be going for it at the earliest to witness the only project of the maestro with no songs but a powerful background score making a solid impact.
Bobby Sing
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(This article of BTC was published on IBNLIVE website on 13th May 2015 with the following title)
"When an R. D. Burman film had no songs in it" - By Bobby Sing
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Did You Know facts about Hindi Cinema at bobbytalkscinema, Unknown Hindi Films Facts by Bobby Sing, Lesser known facts about Hindi Cinema by Bobby Sing, RD Burman and his only film with no songs, RD Burman's background scrore, Bobby Sing at IBN Live, Rare Facts on Bollywood by Bobby Sing
