Sunil Kaushik: ‘Neele Neele Ambar par’ was one of my most challenging works

Rotary Bangalore Aagneya presents a fundraising concert, Yaad Aa Rahi Hai – Pancham Forever, featuring veteran guitarist Sunil Kaushik and others who have worked with the legendary RD Burman

Sunil Kaushik, a veteran guitarist from Mumbai, will perform in Bengaluru as part of the Rotary Bangalore Aagneya’s annual concert, “Yaad Aa Rahi Hai – Pancham Forever”. For those who are struggling to place him, here is a clue —  he is the man who played the guitar on the RD Burman composition, ‘Neele Neele Ambar Par’, sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1983 film, Kalaakaar. Sunil has also had a long musical stint with Burman, or Pancham as he was affectionately called, and has an extensive body of work in the world of Hindi films.

Sunil went on to create a niche in the music industry and today his name is synonymous with the title track of the cartoon series, Chota Bheem, for which he also composes the background score.

The veteran speaks over a call from Mumbai on his way to a studio to record music for Chota Bheem. Sunil says he is looking forward to performing in Bengaluru for the annual fundraiser. Every year, Rotary Bangalore Aagneya, conducts an RD Burman musical concert to raise funds for its projects, which mainly focuses on education. The annual concert is the brainchild of the late rotarian, R Shankar Narayan, who passed away in December 2023. This year’s concert is a tribute to Shankar and the late drummer, Franco Vaz, who has had a long association with Burman and performed in Bengaluru at many of Aagneya concerts.

Talking to Sunil is like listening to old melodies on a radio as the musician often breaks into tunes with every song he recalls or every note of Burman he explains. “Coming to Bengaluru is like coming to my family. The credit for this feeling goes to Shankar, who always made us feel so loved and cared for. He was a dear friend and bonded over music and we were fans of Pancham da.”

Sunil took to playing the guitar because his elder brother, the late Satish Kaushik, played it. “I would also listen to Pancham da’s songs and dream of getting a chance to work with him.”

Taking to music was not tough as his father, JP Kaushik, started his career in KA Abbas’ film Shehar Aur Sapna. “The ambience at home was just music. My father played many musical instruments and was also a student of Ali Akbar Khan.”

Sunil has learnt to play the drums and congo. “I was a good friend of Kesri Lord (arranger, conductor and composer) in the late ‘70s. Kesri worked extensively with Pancham and one day, Pacham asked Kesri to do the background score for the film Shalimar (1978).”