RD Burman had to wait longer than he expected to get 'Khoya Khoya Chand' lyrics: Here’s the interesting story

RD Burman was as popular as any film star of his era, which is a testimony to his genius as a music composer. Pancham Da, as he was lovingly called, has given music for some of the greatest songs ever. And one such song is 'Khoya Khoya Chand' from the superhit movie 'Kala Bazar', which was actually composed by Pancham Da’s father, SD Burman.

There’s an interesting story behind Khoya Khoya Chand, one which RD Burman himself narrated in an interview. Shailendra, the song's lyricist, was so busy at the time that he had no time to pen the lyrics when the producer and lead of the film, Dev Anand, approached him. SD Burman had to wait for several days, and when the wait seemed unfruitful, he asked his son to visit Shailendra’s office and not return till he got the lyrics.

According to the legend himself, Shailendra, who hadn’t written a word until then, made him wait for an entire day, driving from location to location and smoking cigarettes all the while. The day had turned to night, but there had been no words. At around 11 pm, when Pancham Da was about to give up, Shailendra asked him for a matchbox to light another cigarette. The renowned lyricist began smoking, looking at the night sky, and suddenly, he started to write the song on the cigarette pack foil paper.


Shailendra asked Pancham Da to go home and inform Dada (SD Burman) that he’d be there in the morning with the entire song. That’s how Khoya Khoya Chand came to be!

1. Who directed the film Kala Bazar?
   Vijay Anand
2. Who wrote the song Khoya Khoya Chand?
   Shailendra