Born on June 27, 1939, Rahul Dev Burman was an Indian film score composer, and one of the most influential music directors of the Indian film industry. It is well-known that RD's father Sachin Dev Burman was a renowned composer-singer, but his mother Meera was also a lyricist. (All photos/mid-day archives)

Rahul Dev Burman was popularly known by his nickname Pancham. In his early years though, he was nicknamed Tublu by his maternal grandmother.

There are various versions as to how RD got his nickname Pancham. According to one tale, he was nicknamed so because, as a child, whenever he cried, it sounded like the fifth note (Pa) of the Indian musical scale. The word Pancham means five.

In picture: Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. Pic courtesy/Vishwas Nerurkar, R.D. Burman: The man, The Music.

As a nine-year-old, RD composed his first song, Aye meri topi palat ke aa, which his father SD Burman used in the film Funtoosh (1956). In pic: RD with SD Burman.

The tune of the cult song Sar Jo Tera Chakraaye was also composed by RD. Although SD did not give his son the credit when he used it in Pyaasa (1957), director Dev Benegal did so when he used the song for his film Road, Movie.

RD was the music assistant in many popular films during his early days in the Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Bandini(1963) and Guide (1965).

Pancham played the mouth organ for his father's memorable composition Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara in Solva Saal 1958.

RD was signed on as music director for the first time for Raaz in 1959. It was being directed by Guru Dutt's assistant Niranjan. Unfortunately, the film never got made.

Pancham's last work 1942: A Love Story released three months after his death. Pancham da breathed his last on January 4, 1994.

From the 1960s to 1990s, RD composed music for well over 300 movies. Post his death, several of his original tracks and remixed versions have been used in films like Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), Jhankaar Beats (2003) and, more Khiladi 786 (2012).

Let's have a look at some more interesting facts of RD Burman's work. Click on the next slide!

Inspired by Pancham -- Over the last two decades, Bollywood has constantly sought inspiration from the legendary musician's work. Here is a glance:

The Balma song in Khiladi 786 has Claudia Ciesla dancing to R. D. Burman's bongo beats. The late musician's snaps are interspersed with the song shot in a nightclub.

The 2003 movie Jhankaar Beats was the story of musicians who were deeply influenced and obsessed by R. D. Burman's work.

In the romantic sci-fi thriller Aa Dekhen Zara (2009), lead actor Neil Nitin Mukesh lent his voice to the title track, which was a remixed version of the original composition by R. D. Burman, for 'Rocky'.

Several of Pancham's hit songs were re-arranged in the film Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002). The movie was basically made as a tribute to him.

Vishal and Shekhar, who are self-confessed fans of Burman, remixed the super hit song Bachna ae haseeno from 'Hum Kisise Kum Nahin' (1977), and used it in an aptly titled Yash Raj Film 'Bachna Ae Haseeno' (2008). The song picturised on Ranbir Kapoor became quite a rage.

The sound that introduces Shah Rukh Khan's character G.One in the superhero film Ra.One is a piece of music from the 1972 film Apna Desh, for which R. D. Burman had composed music.

In the film Khwahish (2003), Mallika Sherawat's character is shown as a R. D. Burman fan. The movie in fact has many references to Burman.

Vishal Bharadwaj's 'Kaminey' had two tracks of the R. D. Burman-Asha Bhosle combine -- 'Duniya mein logon ko' and 'Do labzon ki hai yeh dil ki kahani'.

Burman's composition 'Bade achche lagte hain yeh dharti, yeh nadiya' featured in the Salman Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer Main Aurr Mrs. Khanna.

Pancham's memorable composition Chura Liya Hai featured in Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding' (2001).

In 2010, a 113-minute documentary titled Pancham Unmixed: Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai was produced and directed by Brahmanand S Singh, and received critical acclaim.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's state-of-the-art sound studio at his office in Mumbai is fondly named 'PANCHAM' after the legendary musician.

Panchamda is being truly missed!