1 O haseena zulfonwali jaane jahaan (Teesri Manzil)
The biggest hit of their careers would not have happened if Shammi Kapoor had disapproved of RD. SD Burman, the original choice, fell ill and suggested Nasir Hussain give RD a chance. But Shammi Kapoor had Shankar-Jaikishan on his mind. During an audition, RD Burman played three of his best compositions 'O haseena' 'O mere sona re' and 'Aaja aaja' for the star. It sealed the deal, and launched one of the biggest hits of RD and Nasir Hussain's career.
2 O mere sona re sona re (Teesri Manzil)
The song is iconic for both its composer and its singers. Till Teesri Manzil, Asha Bhosle was used to playing second fiddle to her regal sister, Lata Mangeshkar. It was RD Burman who identified the unique versatility of Asha's voice and gave her this wonderful romantic number. The song was a hit, and Asha would go on to become RD Burman's muse and companion.
3 Aaja piya tohey pyaar doon (Baharon Ke Sapne)
The pedigree of an Indian music composer is often judged by the number of songs Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar has sung for him/her. In Nasir Hussain's Baharon Ke Sapne, RD Burman brought forth the sweetness of Lata's voice through this beautiful song.
4 Tum bin jaoon kahan (Pyar ka Mausam)
Nasir Hussain is among the few directors who tapped into RD Burman's western roots exceptionally well. For the romantic Pyar Ka Mausam, the director asked RD to compose one song for two separate occassions in the film. The result was the soulful 'Tum bin jaoon kahaan'. The happy version is sung by Kishore Kumar, while Mohd. Rafi takes on the more melancholic version. A rare instance where two of India's greatest singers took on the same song.
5 Piya tu ab to aaja (Caravan)
RD Burman grew up in Tripura, training in classical and Hindustani raga form under his father, the great SD Burman. But his diverse interest in music forms such as rock, R&B and jazz would soon set him apart as a unique style in Bollywood. Considered to be one of the greatest cabaret numbers in Indian cinema, 'Piya tu ab to aaja' would've been incomplete without the cinematic eye of Nasir Hussain. The garish sets and Helen's seductive movements only add to the composition of RDB's finest work.
6 Chura liya hai tumne (Yaadon ki Baraat)
This one song did more to build Zeenat Aman's charm and appeal than any of her thousand outfit changes. In his magnum opus Yaadon Ki Baraat, Nasir Hussain ordered Pancham Da to try a new sound that captured the trend of rock music. Pancham struggled for days without finding a sound, till he accidentaly played a tune with a spoon on his tea glass. Et voila! The tune for 'Chura liya hai' was born.
7 Dil lena khel hai dildar ka (Zamane ko dikhana hai)
For a film about rebellious youngsters in love, RD Burman tapped into a versatile soundtrack that had everything from disco to qawwali. Nasir Hussain's fantastical sets, with their disco-ball stages and dancing contests, gave him the perfect platform for the songs. This one, sung by Pancham Da himself, is a standout with its daring tone and voice modulation.