New Delhi, Jun 27 (IANS): Young singers like Arjun Kanungo and Prakriti Kakar raised a toast to legendary composer R.D. Burman, fondly known as Pancham Da, on his 80th birth anniversary on Thursday.

"Bheegi bheegi raaton mein", "Dum maro dum", "Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko", "Yeh dosti hum nahin todenge" and more songs from the 1960s to the 1990s are some of his popular compositions that are still hummed by many and various singers have also covered them.

"It is his sense of melody, his sense of lyrics and the combination of the two that make his songs evergreen because it's an evolved sense of both," Arjun told IANS.

Singer Akasa of "Kheech meri photo" fame considers Pancham Da one of the important icons in shaping Bollywood music. "Almost like the most important ingredient in its success. His songs are evergreen and I've never done a gig without his songs. Happy birthday to the legend," she added.

For Prakriti, it's his sense of melodies and pure soul writing that makes his music evergreen. "What also makes his music immortal is the sense of individuality and originality his music has. One can always get inspired and learn after listening to his songs," said the singer, whose favourite Burman song is "O hansini".

Lisa Mishra, popular for singing the unplugged version of "Tareefan", finds R.D. Burman's work timeless and that it has been the musical glue in her family her whole life. "Some of my earliest memories are of my mother singing the soundtrack of '1942: A Love Story' when I was a baby. It came out the year I was born and inspired a love of singing in me from the very start."

Rapper Ikka said Burman's music had the depth that cannot be expressed in words. "My favourite song of R.D. Burman is 'Meri bheegi bheegi' which was sung by Kishore Kumar."